Davidson County Juvenile Court Judge Sheila Calloway was named the 2023 Nashville ATHENA Traditional Recipient at the 33rd Annual Nashville ATHENA Awards & Scholarship Program ceremony, held on March 31 at Nashville’s Music City Center.
According to nashvillecable.org, “This prestigious award recognizes women leaders who inspire others to achieve excellence, and Judge Calloway is certainly an inspiration to us all. With nearly two decades of experience on the bench, she has made a significant impact on the lives of countless children and families in Nashville. Her commitment to justice, equity, and diversity is evident in her work as a judge, advocate, and community leader. We are grateful for her leadership and dedication to making our city a better place for all.”
"I am very honored to be selected as the 2003 Nashville Athena Recipient," said Judge Calloway. "To be among an outstanding group of women recognized throughout Nashville is certainly a privilege. I am grateful to be recognized for my work in Juvenile Court, work that is definitely my passion."
Judge Calloway, a native of Louisville, Ky., came to Nashville in 1987. She received her B.A. degree in Communications in 1991 and her J.D. in 1994, both from Vanderbilt University. After graduating, she worked at the Metro Public Defender’s Office in both the adult system as well as the juvenile system. In January 2004, she was appointed by Judge Betty Adams Green to the position of Juvenile Court Magistrate. She was elected Juvenile Court Judge in August 2014. She serves as an Adjunct Professor at Vanderbilt University Law School, Belmont Law School and American Baptist College.
Judge Calloway is currently a member of the Napier-Looby Bar Association, the Nashville Bar Association, and the Disproportionate Minority Local Task Force. She also serves on The Pencil Foundation Board and the Homework Hotline Board. She has previously served on the Board of the Nashville Prevention Partnership and the MNPS Academies Partnership Council, where she is a past chair of the Health and Public Services Partnership Council. She is a past chair of the Advisory Board of the Cane Ridge High School Academy of Law, a 2013 member of Leadership Donelson/Hermitage, a member of the 2016 Class of Leadership Nashville and served on the state-wide Advisory Board of Tennessee Voices for Victims. She is the former co-founder and co-director of The Voices of Justice – a choir comprised of Juvenile Court employees and others who work with juveniles. She has also worked with Project Prison Connect – a program designed to educate high school students across Davidson County about the criminal justice system. Judge Calloway is a member of the Temple Church. At Temple, she is an active member of the Music Ministry, the Women’s Ministry, and a regular volunteer at the Second Harvest Food Bank. She is happily married to Paul Butler Calloway, Jr. and the proud mother of one son, Paul Calloway, III.
According to nashvillecable.org, Nashville joins more than 500 global communities in honoring exceptional women leaders each March, in honor of Women’s History Month. These women leaders are nominated for embodying ATHENA’s spirit through exemplary leadership, superior performance, commitment to community, and unselfish assistance to women and women’s issues.
ATHENA offers a scholarship program, which honors the achievements of women in the greater Nashville area. This year, scholarships were awarded to high school seniors and non-traditional students, who graduated high school three or more years ago and wish to continue their education.
