Joy Richmond Bowen '97 is senior vice president of treasury management for Pinnacle Financial Partners, and prior to Pinnacle, she worked in various roles at First Tennessee Bank for 18 years. Since graduation, Bowen has served Rhodes as a faculty member, board member, and event leader. A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., she served on the alumni steering committee for the National Pan-Hellenic Council Plaza dedicated in 2024 on Rhodesβ campus. In addition to serving her alma mater, Bowen is active on boards in the community, including the Regional One Health Foundation.
Black Student Association's Distinguished Alumni Award
Established in 1998, the Black Student Association's Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes those African-American alumni whose record of outstanding personal achievement and service to others has inspired Rhodes students and brought honor to their alma mater. The BSA Distinguished Alumni Award is presented each year during Homecoming/Reunion Weekend.
Eligibility and Nominations
All alumni who were members of the BSA as students are eligible. Nominees for the BSA Distinguished Alumni Award are eligible and will be considered for the Distinguished Alumni Award, the Young Alumni Award, or the Distinguished Service Award as appropriate. Make your nomination today by filling out the online form on the front page.
BSA Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
2025 Joy Richmond Bowen β97
2024 Darrell Cobbins β97
2023 Wilfreda Lindsey β11, MD, MS
2022 Kathy Moore Cowan β78
2021 Florence Johnson β88
2020 Melanie A. Hilliard β92
2019 Dr. Sherry Turner β84
2018 Dr. Coby V. Smith β68
2017 Dr. Sandra Waller Shelton β76
2016 Aubrey Howard β72
2015 Roblin J. Boxill β99
2014 Steven L. Becton β88
2013 Patricia Spears Jones β73
2012 Dr. Lorenzo Childress Jr. β68
2011 Dorothy Sanders Wells β82
2010 Virgil Starks, III β85 (posthumous)
2009 Julian T. Bolton β71
2008 Vicki Gilmore Palmer β75
2007 Donald Duggan β86
2006 Charles Holt β89
2005 Ryan Mire β93
2004 Patricia Howard β70
Marcus Kimbrough β90
2003 Johnny Moore β88
2002 Julian T. Bolton β71
2001 Jerome Franklin β89
Russ Wigginton β88
2000 Herman Morris β73
1999 Anita Davis β90
1998 Joyce Broffitt β77