WKU News

Three leaders in military service, tourism, education and ministry will join WKU’s Hall of Distinguished Alumni this fall.

Lieutenant General (Ret.) Steven L. Basham, Deana Davenport Ivey and the late Rev. Dr. John E. Jones will be honored during WKU’s 2026 Homecoming Celebration.

The 35th class of noted alumni will be inducted into the Hall of Distinguished Alumni during the Hilltopper Excellence Awards on Thursday, Nov. 12 at WKU’s Knicely Conference Center. The Hilltopper Excellence Awards, presented by Franklin Bank & Trust, will include additional recognitions for alumni and supporters of WKU, which will be announced at a later date. For more information, call or text the WKU Alumni Association at (270) 745-2586.

Lieutenant General (Ret.) Steven L. Basham (’88)

Lieutenant General Steven L. Basham is a retired senior leader of the U.S. Air Force with more than 36 years of honorable service in various leadership roles across the Department of Defense.

Prior to retirement, Basham was Deputy Commander, United States European Command Headquarters, Stuttgart, Germany, where he oversaw more than 85,000 permanent and rotational military and civilian personnel. His other leadership roles include Deputy Commander U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa; Air Force Director of Legislative Affairs; Director of Strategy, Plans and Programs, U.S. Pacific Air Forces; and Commander 2nd Bomb Wing.

Basham is a decorated bomber pilot with more than 3,400 flying hours in the B-1, B-2, B-52, T-38 and T-37. He was competitively selected as one of the first non-instructor pilots for the B-2 Stealth Bomber program. He was one of the first four pilots to fly the B-2 into its combat debut, flying 31 hours non-stop from Missouri to Serbia and back during Operation ALLIED FORCE in 1999 and earning the Distinguished Flying Cross. Along with numerous other awards and decorations, Basham was awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal upon retirement.

A native of Bowling Green, Ky., Basham graduated from WKU with a degree in Electrical Engineering Technology in 1988. He was a member, and ultimately President, of Sigma Chi Fraternity, Zeta Mu Chapter. He commissioned as an officer in 1989. Basham holds graduate degrees from Webster University, Air Command and Staff College, Army War College and the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies. He is a graduate of distinguished leadership programs from the University of Virginia, George Washington University, Georgetown University and Harvard Kennedy School.

Following retirement, Basham has remained active in public service, including an appointment to the Bowling Green–Warren County Regional Airport Board, as well as volunteering on boards to support the Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center, Aviation Heritage Park and Museum and the Kentucky Center for Leadership. His career reflects exceptional leadership and a lifelong commitment to national security and public service.

Basham is married to Angie Fleenor Basham (’87), and they have two daughters, Sarah and Lauren.

Deana Davenport Ivey (’88)

Deana Davenport Ivey serves as President and CEO for the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation. For more than two decades, she has helped oversee and coordinate the organization’s marketing efforts as Nashville became a top global destination.

She played a pivotal role in branding Nashville’s identity as Music City, creating signature events that draw hundreds of thousands of visitors and helping bring Super Bowl LXVI to Nashville in 2030. The city’s tourism industry has reached an all-time high with 17.4 million annual visitors and $11.6 billion in direct visitor spending, which represents one-third of all visitor spending in Tennessee. Her previous roles with the organization include President, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer.

Ivey was listed in the Nashville Post’s In Charge 2026: Tourism Edition and was named to their list of Most Powerful Women in 2023. She ranked No. 4 in the Nashville Women Leaders Association’s Top 50 Women in 2026 and was recognized in the inaugural Variety 2025 Power of Women Nashville class. In 2025, she was named one of the YWCA Women of Achievement and was honored as a Power 100 Trendsetter by the Nashville Business Journal, which also recognized her with its Women in Music Award. Additionally, she received a Women in Business Award from Nashville Lifestyles and was ranked No. 7 on The Tennessean’s list of the Top 25 Most Influential Sports Figures.

She is a board member for the Academy of Country Music, Country Music Association, Music City Bowl, Nashville Sports Council, Nashville Predators Foundation, Nashville Zoo, Urban League of Middle Tennessee, Rhythms of the South and the Greater Nashville Hospitality Association. She also serves on the Executive Board of Directors for the U.S. Travel Association.

Ivey has also brought her expertise to the classroom as an adjunct professor at Belmont University. Before her work in Nashville, she spent 10 years in the tourism industry in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Ivey received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from WKU in 1988 and completed graduate-level work at WKU and the University of Tennessee.

Ivey and her husband, Brian, have one son, Ben.

The Rev. Dr. John E. Jones (’59)

Originally from South, Hill, Va., the late Rev. Dr. John E. Jones holds a notable place in WKU history as one of the first African American students admitted following the University’s desegregation in 1956. The first African American student to earn a graduate degree, he earned a Master of Arts in Education in 1959 and helped open the door for generations of students.

Dr. Jones possessed an unwavering belief in the transformative power of education and viewed learning as both a privilege and a responsibility. His pursuit of higher education was not solely for personal advancement—it was a commitment to creating opportunities for those who would follow.

As an educator, mentor and community leader, Dr. Jones continued to break barriers. In 1965, he was the first African American to teach a class at WKU, and in 1971 he became the University’s first African American tenured professor. He later served as an Associate Professor and Admissions Counselor, mentoring students and supporting recruitment efforts until his retirement in 1977.

Beyond campus, Dr. Jones was a respected community leader and longtime pastor of State Street Baptist Church in Bowling Green, Ky. His leadership was characterized by compassion, wisdom, integrity and a deep commitment to social justice and civil rights. Whether standing behind a pulpit, teaching in a classroom or mentoring young people, he consistently encouraged others to pursue excellence, serve their communities and walk with purpose. He later pastored Seventh Street Baptist Church in Bowling Green before retiring to Richmond, Va.

Dr. Jones held several degrees, including a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science, a Bachelor of Divinity and Master of Divinity, all from Virginia Union University. In 1957, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Divinity from Simmons University in Louisville. He continued his professional development through the Rank I certification and additional certificates for Standard High School, Provisional Guidance, Provisional Principal and Standard Commission for Supervised Teaching. He was also on the staff of Simmons University, and he provided training for ministers who attended Simmons at State Street Baptist Church. He used this preparation for his role as Principal of High Street Elementary School and Assistant Principal of High Street High School.

Dr. Jones is recognized not only for his historic achievements but also the enduring legacy of excellence, leadership, faith and service that continues to inspire countless individuals. He died on May 30, 1990.

- WKU -

Western Kentucky University prides itself on positioning its students, faculty and staff for long term success. As a student-centered, applied research university, WKU helps students expand on classroom learning by integrating education with real-world applications in the communities we serve. Our hilltop campus is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which was recently named by Reader’s Digest as one of the nicest towns in America, just an hour’s drive from Nashville, Tennessee.