FMU honors five distinguished alumni at Awards Gala

Francis Marion University honored five of its most distinguished alumni at its annual Alumni Award Gala at the FMU Performing Arts Center on Thursday night.

Dr. Marion Fowler (’78) of Lake City, S.C.,  was recognized as the University’s 2020 Outstanding Alumni.

Fowler earned his bachelor of arts from Francis Marion, where he was named an All-American golfer multiple times. Fowler is the CEO of the Darla Moore Foundation in Lake City, a position he’s held since 2016.

In 1982, Fowler graduated with his medical doctorate, and served as a medical doctor. He graduated with his Juris Doctorate in 1988, and has practiced as a trial lawyer for more than 30 years.

Dr. Australia Greene received the Professional Industry Award in Medicine and Health. Greene (’11, ‘15, ’18) graduated from Francis Marion with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master’s of Science in Nursing, and was a member of the inaugural class of FMU’s first doctoral program, graduating with a Doctorate of Nurse Practice. She is currently practicing as a family nurse practitioner.

Rufus Jackson received the Professional Industry Award in Business and Industry. Jackson (’00) graduated from Francis Marion with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management Information Systems. He is currently the chief information officer at HopeHealth, Inc.

Dr. Taylor Poston received the Professional Industry Award in Natural and Behavioral Sciences. Poston graduated from Francis Marion with his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, and is currently an infectious disease immunologist at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. 

Dr. Jennifer Lyles received the Benjamin Wall Ingram III Young Alumna Award. Lyles (’09) graduated from Francis Marion with her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. After receiving her Ph.D., Lyles returned to Francis Marion as an assistant professor of Biology. Lyles is a member of a distinguished FMU family. Her grandfather was one of FMU’s first faculty members and her father Seth is the Pee Dee Electric Cooperative Professor of Physics at FMU.