Dr. Lowry has been a trailblazer for the Southwestern Athletics Department and women’s athletics. She was announced as the first director of athletics in the history of the University in 1984 and also served as chair of the department of kinesiology, another female first for Southwestern. By the time she retired in 2001 she had added the titles of associate dean of students and director of wellness and leisure.

During her 17-year tenure, Lowry led Southwestern through the challenge of transitioning from a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) school to National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III institution. The change meant moving from an athletics scholarship granting university to a non-scholarship athletics department. Dr. Lowry not only guided the Pirates through this philosophical change, but also strengthened the department and its influence on student-athletes by increasing sport offerings, overseeing new construction and building renovation of the Corbin J. Robertson Center.

Not only an administrator, Dr. Lowry’s illustrious career includes stints as an athlete, teacher, coach and noted scholar.

A star on the basketball court, Dr. Lowry was an AAU All-America selection for the famous Wayland Baptist Flying Queens that won two AAU national championships. She also represented the United States on the gold medal winning 1959 Pan American Games team and in 1961 captained the US National Team that toured Russia.

Southwestern is the fourth institution to honor Dr. Lowry. She is a member of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, Wayland Baptist University Athletic Hall of Honor, and Houston State University Athletic Hall of Honor. Additionally, she has received several national honors including the NAGWS Pathfinder Award and the NACWAA Lifetime Achievement Award.

Dr. Lowry earned a bachelor of arts degree from Wayland Baptist College in 1961, a master of arts from Texas Woman’s University in 1963 and completed her doctorate degree from Texas Woman’s University in 1972.