News

December 11, 2023 | Press Releases

UM's Fall Commencement Ceremony Honors Class of 2023

The University of Montevallo celebrated the academic achievements of 156 graduates as they received their degrees during the Fall Commencement ceremony on Dec. 8 in the McChesney Student Activity Center. “You graduate today from a very special university — one that has placed an indelible mark on you during your years here as a student […]

December 11, 2023 | Faculty Spotlight

Featured Falcons: Dr. Ji Ji Davis

What is your name and current title with the University of Montevallo? Dr. Ji Ji Davis, associate professor of elementary education in the Department of Teaching, Learning and Technology and program coordinator for elementary, elementary/collaborative and deaf and hard of hearing education in the College of Education and Human Development. Where are you from and […]

December 8, 2023 | Press Releases

Dr. Donna Ploessl Named Dean of College of Education and Human Development

Dr. Donna Ploessl, associate professor of special education at the University of Montevallo, has been promoted to the Dean of the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD). She has served as the interim dean of the college since June 2022 and has demonstrated a strong commitment to preparing highly skilled and knowledgeable students for careers […]

December 6, 2023 | More Montevallo Stories

Graduate Opportunities Continue to Grow for UM Alumni

The University offers graduate programs and certificates for anyone seeking to further their education, whether they just completed an undergraduate degree on the bricks or are coming back to school after years of career work. You still belong at Montevallo. UM offers graduate programs in business, counseling, education, English, exercise science, instructional technology and speech […]

December 6, 2023 | More Montevallo Stories

UMNAA Award Winners Recognized on Founders' Day

The UM National Alumni Association held its annual awards reception and dinner on Oct. 12 to honor the outstanding service of a staff member, faculty member and alum, closing the celebration of the University’s founding. Outstanding Staff Service Award Kira Thomas ’12, director of University Marketing & Communications, received the Outstanding Staff Service Award, which recognizes a […]

December 6, 2023 | More Montevallo Stories

UM Founders' Day Recognizes 127 Years of Forward Momentum

The University community convened on Oct. 12 to celebrate the institution’s 127-year history on Founders’ Day. This year’s theme was “Momentum,” which rang true as the day’s events recognized various forward strides that the University is taking. The festivities began with the morning convocation, where the senior class donned their graduation robes for the first time […]

December 6, 2023 | Alumni Profile

Donor Profile: Bob Baker

As a transfer student from Walker College in Jasper, Bob Baker ’78 came to UM for the quality accounting program and a chance to play on the men’s basketball team. He didn’t know he would be leaving with an affordable education that would help him thrive in the business field and friendships that would last […]

December 6, 2023 | Faculty Spotlight

Faculty Profile: Dr. Ashley Wurzbacher

Before Dr. Ashley Wurzbacher was a writer, she was a reader. While delving into the worlds of Latin American magical realism, literary fiction centered on complicated women and short story collections, the Titusville, Pennsylvania, native discovered an eagerness to tell her own stories. Wurzbacher, associate professor of English, published her debut novel in August. “How […]

December 6, 2023 | More Montevallo Stories

Featured Falcons: Kevin Harvey

Before being recruited to play lacrosse here, senior Kevin Harvey had never heard of the University of Montevallo. After his first visit to UM, an 11-hour drive away from his hometown of Parkland, Florida, he immediately knew that he belonged on the bricks. “I absolutely fell in love with the size,” he said. “I’ve always […]

November 27, 2023 | Faculty Spotlight

Featured Falcons: Dr. Jennifer Alexiou-Ray

What is your name and current title with the University of Montevallo? Jennifer A. Alexiou-Ray, Ph.D., director of graduate studies, program coordinator of Instructional Technology & Educational Master’s Programs and professor of instructional technology & leadership. Where are you from and what city do you currently reside in? I grew up in Helena and attended […]

November 15, 2023 | Press Releases

WalletHub Ranks UM Third Among Top 10 Alabama Colleges and Universities

WalletHub recently released its 2024 College & University Rankings report, which placed the University of Montevallo in third place on its list of the top 10 colleges and universities in Alabama. WalletHub compared more than 800 institutions in the U.S. across 30 key measures. The data set is grouped into seven categories – student selectivity, […]

November 13, 2023 | More Montevallo Stories

Featured Falcons: Dr. Susan Caplow

What is your name and current title with the University of Montevallo? Dr. Susan Caplow, associate professor and program coordinator of environmental studies. Where are you from and what city do you currently reside in? I’m originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and I currently reside in Montevallo – I love to walk or bike to work! […]

November 13, 2023 | Press Releases

2023 Elite Night Honors Outstanding UM Students

The University of Montevallo hosted its annual Senior Elite Night on Nov. 8 in Palmer Auditorium to honor students who have demonstrated outstanding academic and leadership abilities during their time on campus. Photo Gallery The event is a longstanding tradition dating back to 1933. Faculty in each academic department select the student Senior Elite honorees, […]

November 9, 2023 | Press Releases

UM Hosting 51st Annual Alabama-Mississippi Social Work Education Conference

The University of Montevallo is hosting the 51st Annual Alabama-Mississippi Social Work Education Conference Nov. 9-10 at Embassy Suites in Hoover. This is the first time in 23 years that UM has hosted the conference. From 1969 to 1971, social work faculty from the southern states have met four times a year as part of […]

October 31, 2023 | Press Releases

UM Receives High Ranking in New York Times College Access Ranking Tool

The University of Montevallo receives high rankings among Alabama colleges according to the New York Times Build Your Own College Rankings online tool. Created earlier this year ahead of the New York Times College-Access Index, this interactive tool allows students and parents to rank what qualities of a college are most important to them — […]

October 30, 2023 | More Montevallo Stories

Featured Falcons: Sue Garrett

Sue Garrett never planned to become an online sensation. When the Harpersville native began posting pictures of her meals on her personal Facebook account, she didn’t imagine that her passion for cooking would rapidly evolve into a culinary adventure that she’d share with hundreds of thousands of people via social media. Garrett, known to internet […]

October 23, 2023 | Press Releases

UM Hosting Dr. J. Drew Lanham as Fallin Lecture Series Guest

The University of Montevallo will welcome Dr. J. Drew Lanham as the guest speaker Thursday, Nov. 2 for the third annual lecture of the Dr. Wilson Fallin Jr. Lecture Series on the Rebecca J. Luker Stage in the Discover Shelby Theatre at the Alan and Lindsey Song Center for the Arts. The event will begin […]

October 17, 2023 | More Montevallo Stories

Featured Falcons: Easton Fothergill

Just over a month after undergoing emergency surgery to remove an infected abscess on his brain, University of Montevallo senior Easton Fothergill won the 2023 Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s by catching 11 pounds, 13 ounces on the final day at Milford Lake. The Grand Rapids, Minnesota, native earned a spot in the 2024 Academy Sports + […]

October 16, 2023 | Press Releases

UM MBA Program Moving to New Location in Hoover

The University of Montevallo recently moved its Master of Business Administration program to a new location at the Shelby-Hoover Campus of Jefferson State Community College on Valleydale Road, making the program convenient for Birmingham-metro residents who prefer an in-person learning environment rather than an online-only option. UM currently provides several flexible options, with JSCC’s Shelby-Hoover […]