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Former DSCC President, Dr. Karen Bowyer Receives Michael Bennett Lifetime Achievement Award

Press Release
Dr. Karen Bowyer, former Dyersburg State Community College (DSCC) President, will receive the Michael Bennett Lifetime Achievement Award at the Phi Theta Kappa’s Annual Convention, April 7‐9, 2022.

Dr. Karen Bowyer, former Dyersburg State Community College (DSCC) President, will receive the Michael Bennett Lifetime Achievement Award at the Phi Theta Kappa’s Annual Convention, April 7‐9, 2022, at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center in Denver, Colorado.

Retiring college presidents, campus chief executive officers, and state community college directors, nominated by their Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) chapter, are selected for this award based on many years of unwavering dedication to student success and mentorship of student leaders.

Dr. Brigham Scallion, Associate Professor of Biology at Dyersburg State and PTK Faculty Advisor stated, “During her tenure, Dr. Bowyer made it her mission to change the lives of students in our service area for the better. In the past seven years, I witnessed this with Phi Theta Kappa members and officers. She deserves two of these awards. We submitted her name for this award as a tribute to the support, encouragement, and service she has poured into the members of our chapter throughout her entire career.” 

Dr. Bowyer retired as president of the College on Jan 4, 2022, after 37 years of service to DSCC. As the first female and third president to lead the College, she has led DSCC through significant growth and has been instrumental in developing off-campus centers in Covington and Trenton. Enrollment has grown by more than 100% during her tenure, peaking at 3,751 in 2011-12. In addition, Dr. Bowyer was the first female president at a postsecondary institution in Tennessee and the first female and longest-serving president in the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) system.

To honor President Karen A. Bowyer, consider donating to her scholarship fund by visiting www.dscc.edu/annualfund and designate your gift to the Karen A. Bowyer scholarship fund. For additional information on giving options, contact Dr. Amanda Walker, vice president for institutional advancement and continuing education, at 731-286-3346.