Joy McClendon, Outstanding Alumni Award

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business information systems, Joy McClendon returned to WMU to receive her MBA. She began her information technology career working as an account representative and technical consultant for ADP Network Services, a remote computing division of ADP, before joining the former Upjohn Corporation in 1980.

McClendon has held various positions in IT throughout her career including leader for the implementation of the first Pharmacia and Upjohn Intranet and leader of the Corporate Electronic Mail and Corporate Electronic Data Interchange services. As an IT strategic planner, McClendon was engaged in the redesign and transformation of corporate IT prior to and following the merger of Upjohn and Pharmacia.

Recently retired, McClendon served as senior director of business technology at Pfizer, Inc., one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies. In this role, she was responsible for IT at the manufacturing plants in Pfizer’s Established Products, Emerging Markets and Global External Supply businesses where she delivered services including IT strategy, planning and solution delivery to 37 manufacturing plants and more than 350 contract manufacturers located around the world. McClendon is now serving as a part-time instructor in the Haworth College of Business.

McClendon was a member of the board of directors for the National Council for Women and IT and also a member of the Pfizer F&BO Diversity and Inclusion Council. She has been actively involved in the Corporate Women’s Mentoring program, an effort focused on growing and retaining top female talent. McClendon was a development committee volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and former president and vice president for the Association for Systems Management.