MONTEVALLO, Ala. – Dr. John W. Stewart III, the University of Montevallo’s 15th president, announced his upcoming retirement at the UM board of trustee’s meeting on Monday, May 5.

He will retire on July 31 after 15 years at UM.

“Cindi and I are incredibly grateful to the UM community for so many wonderful years together,” Stewart said in a statement release by the UM Office of Marketing and Communications. “We appreciate the many meaningful relationships we’ve enjoyed with our students, faculty, staff and alumni, and we wish the UM family all the best in the future.”

Hired in 2010, Dr. Stewart is the second-longest serving president in UM’s 129-year history.

We appreciate the many meaningful relationships we’ve enjoyed with our students, faculty, staff and alumni, and we wish the UM family all the best in the future.

Dr. John Stewart, University of Montevallo President

As he made the announcement about his retirement, Dr. Stewart took off his iconic purple and gold tie in what he described as a symbolic gesture.

“As I look around here, I’ve worked in some way that pretty important or meaningful with almost everybody in this room at some point,” he said.

Dr. Stewart thanked members of the board, faculty, staff and students.

“I want to thank the students for the opportunity to lead you,” he said. “The students inspire us and amaze us, and I wish I could share all the stories of all the incredible young people that have come across our bow here in 15 years.”

During the board meeting, he said that the overwhelming majority of his time at UM had been “really awesome,” but he acknowledged that the last six months had been difficult, referring to the implementation of significant cost-cutting measures rolled out during the spring semester.

The board will begin the process of selecting an interim president at its upcoming June 13 meeting.