College Alumni Award recipient Joëlle Khouzam

For more than 100 years, Bowling Green State University has celebrated accomplished individuals for service to their professions, their communities and to the University. On March 18, 10 alumni were honored for their contributions at the 2017 College Alumni Awards.

A committee chose the honorees based on the recommendations of their peers, and each has achieved exceptional accomplishments in his or her career, bringing distinction to himself or herself and BGSU.

“We are pleased to honor each of these recipients and their contributions to their professional communities, and the world,” said President Mary Ellen Mazey. “I am humbled to be surrounded by so many talented and dedicated people. They serve as wonderful role models for our students.”

Outstanding College Alumni were chosen to represent each of the University’s colleges, highlighting the diverse disciplines of a comprehensive university. The Honors College Outstanding College Alumna chosen was Joëlle Khouzam ’85.

Now in her 25th year of practice, Khouzam, a partner with Bricker & Eckler LLP’s Employment and Labor group, counsels and defends management clients on complex employment issues. She also conducts in-house training to help clients avoid litigation, and is a frequent author and speaker on developing employment-law topics. She also has testified before Ohio House and Senate committees on various employment-law bills.  

“I am humbled to be surrounded by so many talented and dedicated people. They serve as wonderful role models for our students.”

- President Mary Ellen Mazey

Khouzam received her Bachelor of Arts in political science and German at BGSU before receiving her law degree. Her academic and life experiences, including countless friendships with BGSU international students, have informed her perspectives and life philosophy. As chair of her firm’s diversity and inclusion committee, Khouzam fosters conversations and education about how our unique gifts can collectively advance community goals and the practice of law. She also makes time for pro bono cases and serves on law-related boards and nonprofit boards in central Ohio, also making time to mentor students and aspiring lawyers.

Khouzam was a member of the Continuing Education Board of Advocates from 2006-2010. She has been active with the Columbus Bar Association serving on the Bar Admissions and Activities, Board of Governors from 2005 to 2009; as past Chair of the Labor and Employment Law Committee; and served on the Community Service Committee. She is a member of the Columbus Bar Association, Ohio State Bar Association and American Bar Association.

Some of Khouzam’s awards and recognitions include recipient of the Multicultural Leadership Award from the Ohio Diversity Council, October 2015; listed on The Best Lawyers in America (Employment Law - Management; Labor Law - Management) from 2010-2016; listed on the Ohio Super Lawyers (Corporate Counsel, Employment Law, Top 25 Women in Columbus) from 2007-2017; received an AV Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell rating; and named to the Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers. She was also honored by the Grandview Chamber of Commerce which established the Khouzam Workforce Development Scholarship in 2013.