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Joyce Searcy

Results-Oriented Community Relations Executive

Joyce Searcy is the Founding Director of Community Relations at Belmont University, a role she currently holds.12 Born in Yazoo City, Mississippi, to an entrepreneurial family that founded the first Black hospital in the state, Searcy moved to Nashville at 17 to attend Fisk University for her undergraduate degree and Peabody College of Vanderbilt for her graduate degree.2

Career Highlights

  • Taught in higher education, preparing students to become healthcare administrators2
  • Served as CEO of Bethlehem Centers of Nashville for 22 years2
  • Transitioned to Belmont University as Founding Director of Community Relations2
  • Received the 2024 Harold Love Outstanding Community Service Award1

Notable Achievements

  • Established the Fisk-Belmont Social Justice Collaborative1
  • Served as the first black president of the Nashville Public Library1
  • Founded a neighborhood community development corporation1
  • Launched a program to train minority women to serve on boards1
  • Served on the COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Taskforce1

Community Involvement

Searcy has served on numerous boards, including:

  • Nashville Chamber of Commerce
  • YWCA of the USA (Regional Vice-President of the Mid-States)
  • Girl Scouts of the USA
  • Metro Human Relations Commission
  • Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee Women's Fund
  • Nashville Public Library and Nashville Public Library Foundation2

Her dedication to diversity and inclusion has been recognized through various awards, including the Nashville Athena Award, Academy for Women of Achievement, and the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Diversity Award.2

Highlights

May 1 · belmont.edu
Belmont's Joyce Searcy Receives Harold Love Outstanding ...
Joyce Searcy, MS'78: Making Libraries Accessible
Joyce Searcy - Young Leaders Council
Joyce Searcy - Young Leaders Council
Aug 10 · news.belmont.edu
Searcy Serves in Leadership Roles Around Nashville
Searcy Serves in Leadership Roles Around Nashville

Related Questions

What inspired Joyce Searcy to transition from teaching to community relations?
How has the Fisk-Belmont Social Justice Collaborative impacted students at Belmont University?
What are some of Joyce Searcy's most notable achievements at the Nashville Public Library?
How did Joyce Searcy's upbringing influence her career in community service?
What role did Joyce Searcy play in the COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Taskforce?
Joyce Searcy
Joyce Searcy, photo 1
Joyce Searcy, photo 2
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Location

Nashville, Tennessee, United States