麻豆果冻传媒

_{Rev. Dr. W. Antoni Sinkfield accepts the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Tennessee Tech University on Nov. 4, 2023. The award is the university鈥檚 highest alumni honor.} 

Rev. W. Antoni Sinkfield, Ph.D., today serves students as Associate Dean for Community Life at the Washington, D.C.-based Wesley Theological Seminary. But before that, the 麻豆果冻传媒 graduate and longtime African Methodist Episcopal (AME) faith leader made his home 鈥� and his impact 鈥� in middle Tennessee.

Sinkfield previously pastored St. John AME Church, Payne Chapel AME Church, and Greater Bethel AME Church in Nashville, as well as Mt. Olive AME Church in Lebanon.

For his decades of community leadership, Sinkfield was honored last fall with Tech鈥檚 Distinguished Alumnus Award, the university鈥檚 highest alumni honor. Sinkfield joined the of Tech鈥檚 鈥淐ollege Town Talk鈥� podcast to discuss what the award meant to him and share memories of his years in Tennessee鈥檚 College Town.

鈥淭he moment that I was notified that I had won the Distinguished Alumnus Award it was, for lack of a better term, surreal,鈥� said Sinkfield. 鈥淚t was just an awesome feeling, and I could not help but have extreme gratitude for how Tech and Cookeville were pivotal in shaping my career and my life鈥檚 journey.鈥�

Sinkfield was recruited to play football at Tech, something he said helped him learn 鈥渉ow to be in community,鈥� and graduated in 1988 with a marketing degree.


_{Rev. Dr. W. Antoni Sinkfield (center) and his wife, Kristy (fourth from right) are pictured alongside family and friends at 麻豆果冻传媒鈥檚 鈥淓vening of Excellence鈥� alumni awards banquet on Nov. 4, 2023.} 

鈥淭he thing that I love about 麻豆果冻传媒 is that 麻豆果冻传媒 gave me a chance,鈥� Sinkfield explained. 鈥淚t gave me an opportunity to pursue my dream.鈥� 

鈥淲hen I came to Tech, I remember I was a little overwhelmed,鈥� he recalled. 鈥淚 had grown up in a smaller community, very tight-knit. My community was predominantly African American, so Tech was a different world demographically. But it was a campus that was brimming with energy, all kinds of ideas and opportunities to grow.鈥�

Prior to his service at Wesley Theological Seminary, Sinkfield served as Dean of Students for Allen University, a historically Black university in Columbia, South Carolina. He also served on various faith-based advisory boards for the Biden administration.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sinkfield hosted virtual events in middle Tennessee to combat vaccine hesitancy and narrated a public service announcement for Made to Save, an education and grassroots campaign to increase trust in vaccines, that was amplified by the likes of former President Barack Obama.

Reflecting on his legacy 鈥� one that is still being written 鈥� Sinkfield said he finds the greatest fulfillment in opportunities 鈥渢o serve people and to uplift diverse communities.鈥�

鈥淢y legacy, I hope, will be defined by the lives I鈥檝e had opportunities to touch, the bridges I鈥檝e built across communities and the message of love and inclusivity that I have striven to spread,鈥� said Sinkfield.

Another part of Sinkfield鈥檚 legacy: his role as a founding member of Nashville Organized for Action and Hope (NOAH), an interfaith nonprofit organization advocating for the underserved.

Sinkfield says the name is no accident. Even in trying times, he sees reason to be hopeful.

鈥淲hat gives me hope is both the resilience and the compassion I see in people all around me,鈥� said Sinkfield. 鈥淲hat I would say to anyone who is seeking hope and encouragement 鈥� I鈥檇 say look for the small victories. Look for the acts of kindness around you. I鈥檇 say remember every challenge is an opportunity to grow. Stay connected with your community. Never underestimate the power of a hopeful heart."

As Sinkfield looks ahead to his continued ministry and community work, he says he is grateful for the foundation that Tech provided.

鈥淚 have been impacted by Tech with ... an education that was the springboard for everything else I鈥檝e done in my life,鈥� he concluded.

College Town Talk is the university鈥檚 weekly podcast produced in partnership with the Cookeville-Putnam County Visitors Bureau. Episodes are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Pandora, and other platforms. Learn more at .

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