Alumni Magazine & Dean's Report - I.U. School of Law - Indiana ...

Joyce Q. Rogers, ‘96
Named 2010 Outstanding Alumna of the Year
THE LAW SCHOOL’S ALUMNAE NETWORK
PRESENTED THE 2010 OUTSTANDING ALUMNA
OF THE YEAR AWARD TO JOYCE q. ROGERS,
‘96 at its annual luncheon on Friday, March 19 at the
Woodstock Club in Indianapolis. Rogers is the Vice
President for Development at Ivy Tech Community
College. Her colleague at Ivy Tech and a former recipient
of the Outstanding Alumna of the Year Award, Susan W.
Brooks, ’85, gave the tribute to Rogers.
Brooks introduced her friend and colleague by saying,
“Enthusiasm is faith on fire—when I read this phrase I
thought that this phrase epitomizes Joyce Rogers.” Brooks
has known Rogers for over 10 years, but shares a special
bond with her given their roles at Ivy Tech. “We’re the
only women, and lawyers, on the [Ivy Tech President’s]
administration cabinet,” Brooks said. “We like to ask
questions and challenge the status quo a bit.”
In her acceptance speech, Rogers said, “While law
school was without question one of the most challenging
times of my life, it was also a defining time in my life that
brought clarity to my inner self and my inner strength.”
Before joining Ivy Tech in 2007, Rogers worked at
Indiana Black Expo (IBE) from 2001-2007, first as Chief
Operating Officer and then as President and CEO. IBE
was founded in 1970 to advance social, economic and
cultural initiatives for African Americans and has grown
into one of the largest events of its kind in the country.
While still in law school, Rogers worked for the Indiana
Family and Social Services Administration, as Grants
Coordinator and Operations Manager, before becoming
Deputy Director and eventually Executive Director.
Rogers’ awards include Indianapolis Business Journal’s
Women of Influence, Woman of Great Esteem Award,
YWCA’s Phyllis Wheatly Award, Indiana Fever’s Inspiring
Women, Indiana Commission for Women’s Torchbearers
Award, Indiana Minority Business’s Coretta Scott King
Matriarch Award, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.’s
Community Leadership Award, Radio One – Indianapolis’s
Today’s Woman Leadership Award, Universal Ministries
Worldwide’s Community Service Award, Stacy Toran
Excellence Award, National Coalition of 100 Black Women
I U S C H O O L O F L AW S U M M E R A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E
Indianapolis Chapter, Inc.’s “A Breakthrough Woman”
Award, and the Sagamore of the Wabash designation.
An active member of the community, Rogers serves
on a wide variety of local and national boards, including
Regions Bank Advisory Board, Goodwill Industries Board,
WFYI Board, Nina Mason Pulliam Legacy Scholars
Advisory Board, Indiana State University Board of
Trustees, United Way Board Executive Committee, Circle
City Classic Executive Committee, Greater Indianapolis
Project Committee (GIPCI), Indiana Museum of African
American History Board, Private Industry Council/
Workforce Investment Board, Black Coaches Association
Advisory Board, Women’s Collaborative of Central Indiana,
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., National Coalition of a
100 Black Women, NAACP, National Council of Negro
Women, Inc., and the Indiana Convention & Visitors
Association Board of Advisors, as well as many others.
The Alumnae Network is a forum for women graduates to connect
with each other, current students and the law school community.