Joy Hubbard (’01)

“One of my greatest memories at CBU was serving as President of the Black Student Association. I enjoyed meeting others and helping to serve. We did so much to help shape the community. Looking back, I can now see the great impact, and it makes me smile.”

Joy Hubbard is a native Memphian who was no stranger to hard work — she watched her mother and father labor every day to provide a life for her and her sisters and brothers. Her love for helping the community extended into volunteer events with churches and the Memphis Public Library, where she devoted time to the needs of others. She graduated from Central High School and enrolled at CBU in 1997, where she majored in Information Technology Management. She served as President of the Black Student Association and as a Cheer Co-Captain and was an active member of the Rho Gamma Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

After she graduated in 2001, Joy took a position as an Applications Instructor with New Horizons Computer Learning Center, where she earned several certifications. She was then hired as an IT Analyst at Ducks Unlimited and helped solve technology issues daily. In 2007, she started out at FedEx Services as a Technical Analyst and was later promoted to Senior Project Analyst. Joy’s current role is an IT Manager at FedEx Services, leading and impacting multiple departments daily across the information technology platform. She received several awards during her career there, such as the Bravo Zulu Award, the Managers Choice Award, and the Outstanding Engagement Award. She also enjoys coaching and mentoring others to reach their goals personally and professionally.

Being a mother of two young men, Joy also founded Moms Raising Gentlemen, an organization with a purpose to inspire young men, connect the community, and encourage moms. For the past four years, the organization has held monthly sessions and yearly summits to impact lives throughout the entire country. As a supporter of her own sons and others, Joy has also served as a School Parent Advocate for Jackson Elementary School, the Secretary of PTA for WEB DuBois Leadership of Public Policy School, and President of the PTA for WEB DuBois Leadership of Public Policy. These positions afforded her the opportunity to serve on Dr. Herenton’s Governance Board from 2016 to 2020, for which she was recognized with a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from Representative Steve Cohen.

With a grandfather who is a minister and many other relatives serving in various capacities in the church, Joy started serving in her church at an early age. Throughout her life, she has continued to serve in various positions. She is now the Children’s Church Leader at Community of Believers Baptist Church, where she has been a member for over seven years.

Joy says that one of the major lessons she learned at CBU is “Learn all you can and apply that to your life.”

When I interned at the Department of Energy at CBU, I took the lessons I learned in school and realized that you should build on what you already know. I was nervous, as I didn’t know everything being asked. But I realized that CBU gave me the tools to go out and learn to apply what was needed. You will not learn everything in life in college, but the lessons you learn will continue to help you along your journey.