Joyce Small Delk
Joyce Small Delk, Class of 1972, is a retired Public Service Administrator with the Illinois Department of Human Services where she provided more than 30 years of service to the agency, leaving an indelible impact on the lives of many. Joyce, a Sociology graduate from Tougaloo College, obtained the Masters of Public Administration from Governor’s State University.
Joyce is a Life Member and Golden Soror of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, Alpha Xi Omega Chapter, Dallas. She is also an active member of Friendship West Baptist Church, Dallas, TX. Although retired, Joyce has remained active and affiliated with many organizations engaged in her profession. She is an active member of the Governors State University Masters in Public Administration Pi Alpha Alpha National Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration, American Society of Public Administrators (ASPA), Black Administrators in Child Welfare (BACW) where scholarships are awarded to Tougaloo Students yearly in the name of the late and endeared Tougaloo Alum, Addie Armstrong Hudson.
Joyce is passionate about youth programs that provide support and direction to tomorrow’s leaders. She was actively engaged with ETA Creative Arts Foundation, where she served on the Board for many years and was Past President of the Parents’ Activity League; and other school parental support groups. For many years, she served on the Advisory Board for the Foundation of the Mid South.
She has volunteered for almost 30 years with the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), where supporting under-represented students in their efforts to “move to and through college” is their primary mission. Joyce has served and continues to serve UNCF in several capacities including current President of the National Alumni Council (NAC) North Texas Inter-Alumni Council (NTIAC), Past President of the (CIAC-UNCF), CIAC-UNCF Pageant Co-Chair, Member of the Leadership Council, Chicago Area Development Office-UNCF, Assistant Midwest Regional Representative – National Alumni Council (NAC)-UNCF, and Midwest Regional Representative – NAC-UNCF. She currently serves as the Southwest Regional Representative, NAC-UNCF and the NAC Fundraising Chair. Additionally, she established the Houston Inter-Alumni Council (HIAC-UNCF).
Joyce’s commitment to Tougaloo College is demonstrated, in one way, through her annual giving and recruitment efforts. Most recently, she established the “Rev. Sid Small, Jr. Scholarship Fund” in memory of her father. Her love and leadership can be traced over the last 50+ years as an alumna. Joyce is the Past President of the Chicago Tougaloo Alumni Chapter where she served approximately 14 years. Additionally, she served as Midwestern Regional Representative; Chair of the TCNAA Membership Committee; Vice Chair of the TCNAA Hall of Fame Committee; Chair and Vice Chair of the TCNAA Board of Directors; and Vice President of TCNAA. Joyce is not a person consumed with titles but is a person of action. Reflectively, as she completes one term as TCNAA President, Joyce has been instrumental in increasing revenue for TCNAA (Hall of Fame exceeding goal last 3 years and TCNAA Retail store), which has led to an increased annual TCNAA contribution to the College; increased alumni giving, increased membership on all levels (annual, subscribing life, and life) while ensuring that life members receive their life membership cards; initiated the “Kickback at the Loo,” the Alumni House Project (with over $40K banked), and an official TCNAA Facebook and Instagram pages; increased communication with chapter presidents and TCNAA leadership with Tougaloo College leadership via quarterly meetings. As President of TCNAA she serves as a member of the Tougaloo College Board of Trustees.
Joyce sees one of her tasks as “President” as an opportunity to facilitate assistance to the College. Most recently, she galvanized alumni support to donate to the student debt relief and the College Infrastructure funds. She did this by way of example…donating personally before encouraging others.
Joyce, a 2004 Alumna of the Year and 2013 Hall of Fame Inductee, is married to her college sweetheart, Dr. Alvin Delk, Jr., ’70. They are the proud parents of Alvin, Jocelyn Adams (son-in-love, Frederick). They are the proud grandparents of Harmony Lelani Adams. Joyce, a TCNAA Life Member and an active member of the Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter of TCNAA.
