Nominate the 2027 Alumni of the Year!
Meet our Alumni of the Year 2026!
Shilpa Desai
Alumna of the Year
Shilpa Desai's story is one of passion, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to serving others. After moving to the United States in 1999 from India, she chose Southwest Tennessee Community College as the foundation for her healthcare career, enrolling in the Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) program with a clear goal: to become a licensed Clinical Laboratory Professional and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
Guided by supportive faculty whom she credits with her success, Shilpa thrived at Southwest and went on to work in clinical laboratories at hospitals across the Mid-South. Never one to stop growing, she earned her Master of Arts in Secondary Education from the University of Memphis in December 2011, all while working full-time.
Her dedication led her back to the place where it all began. Hired as Southwest faculty in the MLT program, Shilpa rose to become Chair of the Allied Health Department in the Health and Natural Sciences Division, where she continues to champion student success every day. "I want to pay it forward in the same way as my professors did for me," she says.
A graduate of the 2022–2023 Southwest Leadership Academy and 2025–2026 President's Leadership Academy cohorts and a recipient of the 2025 Faculty Community Service Award, Shilpa is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Adult Education at the University of Memphis. Her dissertation research focuses on how mentorship helps reduce gender inequality in STEM education. Her journey, from international student to department chair, stands as an inspiring testament to what is possible with heart, drive, and a community that believes in you.
With this honor, Shilpa joins a distinguished list of past Southwest Tennessee Community College recipients who have exemplified excellence, service, and the enduring impact of a Southwest education.
Past Alumnus of the Year Winners
2025 Teresa Dickerson
2024 Lisa Hadley
2023 Calvin Sanford
2022 Ron Claxton
2020 Stanley Blue
2019 Tameka Perry
2018 Alfred M. Washington
2017 Timeki M. Dennis
2016 Pamela L. Finnie
2015 Linda Fay Chism
2014 Steven G. Leake
2013 Darrell K. Thomas
Winners 2001-2012
Sylvester Tate 2011
Steve Ballard, D.D.S. 2010
Jo Chandler 2009
Denny Glasper 2008
Gordon Lintz 2007
Paul Mason (deceased) 2005
Dale Lane 2004
Alfred Chung 2003
Pamela Riddick Cobb (deceased) 2002
Linder J. Lemmons 2001
Related Links
- Alumni Services
- Outstanding Alumni
- Constitution of the Southwest Alumni Association
- Donate to the Southwest Foundation
- Alumni Testimonials
Contact Us
The Alumni Association is on LinkedIn, the professional networking site. Join us and network with other Southwest graduates. To join, just go on to your LinkedIn site and click on groups. This is a great place to find out what other graduates are up to and build your own professional networks. The Association is also building another social media site just for Alums to connect.