News

November 15, 2024 | Faculty Spotlight

Featured Falcons: Dr. Scott Varagona

What is your name and current title with the University of Montevallo? Scott Varagona, professor of mathematics. Where are you from and what city do you currently reside in? I was raised in Birmingham and — aside from when I was a student at Auburn — I have lived in the Birmingham metro area my […]

September 24, 2024 | Faculty Spotlight

Featured Falcons: Dr. Kelly Wacker

What is your name and current title with the University of Montevallo? Dr. Kelly Wacker, professor of art. Where are you from and what city do you currently reside in? I grew up in the Western U.S. — my home state is Colorado and some of my childhood was spent in California. I currently live […]

August 27, 2024 | Faculty Spotlight

Featured Falcons: Dr. Shafqat Ali Shad

What is your name and current title with the University of Montevallo? Dr. Shafqat Ali Shad, assistant professor of data analytics in the Michael E. Stephens College of Business. Where are you from and what city do you currently reside in?I’m originally from Islamabad, Pakistan, a city known for its beautiful scenery and lush greenery […]

June 6, 2024 | Faculty Spotlight

Featured Falcons: Alexander Mechitov 

What is your name and current title with the University of Montevallo? Dr. Alexander Mechitov, professor of management information systems in the Stephens College of Business. Where are you from and what city do you currently reside in? I have been living in Montevallo for the last 23 years. My wife and I came here […]

May 29, 2024 | Faculty Spotlight

GREAT MINDS: Richardson Talks Psych, Pain and Passing the Torch

It’s true that one college class can shape your entire future — in Dr. Elizabeth “Betsy” Richardson’s case, it was an introduction to psychology course. While the Florence native didn’t start out as a psychology major, her interest sparked when learning about the physical side of the subject. “There was one chapter that we covered […]

February 20, 2024 | Faculty Spotlight

Featured Falcons: Dr. Paul D. Mahaffey

What is your name and current title with the University of Montevallo? Paul D. Mahaffey, Chair of the Department of English and World Languages Where are you from and what city do you currently reside in? I am from Thorsby, Alabama and currently reside in Calera, Alabama If you hold any degrees, what are they […]

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 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 […]

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 […]

March 10, 2023 | Faculty Spotlight

Featured Falcons: Dr. Gregory Samuels

Birmingham Business Journal 2023 Leader in Diversity What is your name and current title with the University of Montevallo? Dr. Gregory Samuels, associate professor of secondary education since 2014 and chief diversity and inclusion officer since 2020. Where are you from and what city do you currently reside in? I am originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. […]

June 9, 2021 | Faculty Spotlight

Samuels leads University’s diversity, inclusion efforts

By Emily Reed After being named UM’s chief diversity and inclusion officer in 2020, Dr. Gregory Samuels has spent much of his time working to promote an all-inclusive campus environment. “My goals center around having a campus that strengthens, advances and sustains increased diversity, equity and inclusion and actively promotes social justice,” Samuels said. Samuels […]

September 12, 2019 | Faculty Spotlight

Dr. Joseph Landers creates opera in celebration of Alabama Bicentennial

In 1936, on assignment for Fortune Magazine, writer James Agee and photographer Walker Evans spent eight weeks documenting the lives of impoverished tenant farmers living in Tuscaloosa and Hale counties.  Though the article was never printed, Agee’s descriptions of life as a sharecropper under the weight of the Great Depression and Evans’ striking photography were eventually […]

June 26, 2019 | Faculty Spotlight

University of Montevallo names Armstrong provost

University of Montevallo names Dr. Mary Beth Armstrong provost Dr. Mary Beth Armstrong has been named provost and vice president for academic affairs at the University of Montevallo. This marks the latest advancement in Armstrong’s long history of service to UM, where she has been working in many capacities since she was hired by the […]

May 8, 2019 | Faculty Spotlight

From Montevallo
to Carnegie

Dr. Melinda Doyle offers students hands-on experience BY MADISON GRIGGS ’17 Dr. Melinda Doyle, associate professor of music and director of choral activities at UM, conducts the Concert Choir and University Chorus and teaches undergraduate choral conducting and choral methods. Through her position in the Department of Music, Doyle has enabled countless students to explore […]

April 19, 2019 | Faculty Spotlight

Faculty Friday: Tiffany Wang

If you mention the name ‘Dr. Wang’ across campus, you will be greeted by many excited students who boast “that’s my advisor!” Dr. Tiffany Wang started teaching communication studies at the University of Montevallo in 2012. As an associate professor in the Department of Communication, she teaches a variety of courses in communication theory, training […]

April 12, 2019 | Faculty Spotlight

Faculty Friday: DeAnna Smith

DeAnna Smith, instructor of accounting in the Michael E. Stephens College of Business shares more than just her 20 years of diverse experience in the field of accounting. She also shares the importance of social entrepreneurship and sustainability in the area of management, non-profit and environmental studies. DeAnna and her students are the individuals responsible […]

March 22, 2019 | Faculty Spotlight

Faculty Friday: Dr. Donna Bell

Dr. Donna Bell, assistant professor and program coordinator for Family and Consumer Sciences at UM, began her academic career at the University of Montevallo in the early 1980s pursuing her undergraduate degree. In 2006, Bell returned to campus to teach retail merchandising courses, including visual merchandising, textiles, retail buying and fashion forecasting.   While Bell’s primary goal in the classroom is teaching students how her field […]

March 15, 2019 | Faculty Spotlight

Faculty Friday: Amiee Mellon

Mellon says it’s finding your fit in the mix Dr. Amiee Mellon began her teaching career at the University of Montevallo in 2014. Dr. Mellon teaches a variety of marketing topics within the Stephens College of Business. Prior to teaching, Mellon spent several years working in advertising agencies and eventually freelancing while earning her Ph.D. […]

February 22, 2019 | Faculty Spotlight

Davis has the Montevallo Connection

Dr. Jennifer (JiJi) Davis is no stranger to the brick streets on campus. She started her Montevallo path as a student in 1995. Davis began teaching as an adjunct for the University in 2006 and became a full-time faculty member in 2008. Now, Davis not only teaches at the University of Montevallo, but she also […]

January 9, 2019 | Faculty Spotlight

Connections Bloom

Dr. Kristen Gilbert’s Career Blossoms from Montevallo Tradition by Madison Griggs ’17 Few faculty are as deeply rooted at the University as Dr. Kristen Gilbert, professor of psychology. Her academic journey has taken her across the U.S., but also continuously strengthened her connections at UM and encouraged her to grow. In addition to her role […]