Southwest Tennessee Community College to Confer More Than 1,300 Degrees and Certificates at 28th Commencement
Facing unthinkable loss, graduate Dana Joyner turns grief into purpose on her path to a new career
For more information, contact Diana Fedinec, Southwest Tennessee Community College Director of Public Relations and Media, at 901-333-4247 or dfedinec@southwest.tn.edu.
(MEMPHIS, Tenn.) - Southwest Tennessee Community College will celebrate its 28th commencement ceremony May 14 at the Landers Center, 4560 Venture Drive, Southaven, Mississippi. The ceremony begins at 7 p.m. CDT.
President Tracy D. Hall will confer 1,058 associate degrees and 323 technical certificates to 1,271 candidates in the Class of 2026.
The keynote speaker will be Andrea Jacobo, program manager for the City of Memphis Mayor’s Office Innovation Team, where she leads resident-centered pilots addressing housing quality, energy burden and neighborhood wellness. A health equity scholar and community-centered strategist, Jacobo focuses on public health research, systems change and the arts to advance collective well-being.
Kristopher Miles, an English major who plans to continue his education in communications at the University of Memphis, is the student speaker. Miles returned to college after a successful career in real estate as a managing broker and service as a firefighter. He is the recipient of academic and service awards and a Phi Theta Kappa scholar.
Among the graduates receiving technical certificates—credentials that provide students with a direct pathway into the workforce—is Dana Joyner, who exemplifies the determination of many students to persevere despite all odds.
Joyner, 56, remained steadfast in her pursuit of a paralegal career. After 30 years as an accountant with an associate degree in business, she discovered a calling in the legal field and became a criminal secretary in the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office. She enrolled in Southwest’s paralegal program in August 2024.
What followed was profound tragedy.
Within months of starting classes, her daughter died in the hospital. Soon after, her son died from an overdose while incarcerated in the Shelby County jail —in the same building where Joyner worked each day.
“When people say life happens and they can’t do something, they’re wrong,” Joyner said. “Life happens for you.”
As a 56-year-old adult learner, Joyner’s journey is not over. She is taking additional courses to complete her associate degree in paralegal studies this fall.
“Dana’s story captures the heart of Southwest,” Hall said. “Our students come to us from all walks of life, often overcoming tremendous challenges. Dana represents the perseverance and determination we see every day in our graduates.”
Joyner’s graduation is more than earning a credential. It is an act of defiance against loss—a way of honoring her children, those who have passed, as well as her two surviving children and four grandchildren, through endurance and hope.
As part of its commencement tradition, the college will present two awards recognizing excellence in teaching, leadership and service. The William W. Farris Faculty Service Award will be presented to Emily Ford, associate professor of languages and literature. The Alumnus of the Year award will be presented to Shilpa Desai, chair of allied health.
For those unable to attend, the ceremony will be livestreamed on the college’s Facebook page (@SouthwestTN) and available for on-demand viewing on its YouTube channel, Southwest Tennessee Community College.