Dr. John W. Stewart III, president of the University of Montevallo (UM), announced on Monday that he will step down at the end of July.
Stewart, the 15th UM president, is the second-longest serving president in the school’s 129-year history. He was inaugurated as UM president on Oct. 14, 2010.
“Cindi and I are incredibly grateful to the UM community for so many wonderful years together,” Stewart said. “We appreciate the many meaningful relationships we’ve enjoyed with our students, faculty, staff and alumni, and we wish the Montevallo family all the best in the future.”
As UM president, Stewart strengthened the University’s core mission by focusing on expanding new academic and athletic programs, promoting increased opportunities for interdisciplinary studies, and increasing funding for faculty salaries and development, as well as new academic buildings and facilities on campus. UM also saw an increase in first-year freshman and transfer applications and the number of students living on campus during Stewart’s tenure as president.
Under Stewart’s leadership, the University has added numerous programs to grow enrollment. He started the Outdoor Scholars program, which includes a bass fishing team that has won four consecutive Bass Pro Shops School of the Year titles, and the Montevallo MADE program, which has seen a 90 percent retention rate, among others.
Before arriving at Montevallo, Stewart served as vice president for institutional advancement at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida.
He graduated from Wake Forest University, has a master’s from Washington College and a doctorate from the University of Southern Mississippi.
The UM Board of Trustees will now begin the search for Stewart’s successor.
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