JOHN WESLEY STEWART III

Station 6001, University of Montevallo

Montevallo, AL 35115 USA

Telephone: (205) 665-6001

E-mail: presidentsoffice@montevallo.edu

 

EDUCATION

Ph.D., 2003 — The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS. English. Major areas of study: African and Caribbean literature, Harlem Renaissance, Post-Colonial theory. Major authors: Chinua Achebe, Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes. Dissertation topic: Benevolent Economies: An Exploration of the Patron-Writer Relationship During the Harlem Renaissance

M.A., 1993 — Washington College, Chestertown, MD. English

B.A., 1983 — Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC. Major: History

H.S., 1979 — The Tatnall School, Wilmington, DE

 

EXPERIENCE – HIGHER EDUCATION

2010–present, President, University of Montevallo, Montevallo, AL

 

2005-2010, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Flagler College, St. Augustine, FL

• Increased total fund raising from $1.3 million to $22 million in first two years
• Raised $30,000,000 from July 2005–Spring 2008
• Secured largest gift in the history of the college ($7.5 million)
• Secured gift to name Ringhaver Student Center
• Closed largest alumni gift in the history of the college
• Closed largest planned gift in the history of the college
• Increased alumni giving participation rate from 17.5 percent to 25 percent
• Tripled President’s Society donors ($1,000 or more) to 300
• Secured 18 of 19 available capital-level naming opportunities in new student center
• Secured principal gift to name renovated art building ($2.5 million)
• 75 percent of the class of 2009 gave their first gift to the college before graduating
• Met fund-raising goals during the recession
• Fully funded $5.5 million Molly Wiley Art Building through fund raising
• Secured 9 of 11 available capital-level naming opportunities in renovated art building
• Secured gift to name Drysdale Field, the Flagler College baseball stadium
• Advisor to the Office of Admissions
• College Finance Committee
• Strategic Planning Committee
• Taught African-American and Post-Colonial literature
• Worked with Deans in Academics, Admissions and Student Services to create a culture of philanthropy at Flagler College
• Initiated successful pledge/stewardship systems and managed expenses below budget
• Worked closely with President to establish new strategic plan and vision statement for the college
• Leader in planning and globalization effort for the college
• Cultivated donors to fund national championship “Students in Free Enterprise” team

 

2003–2005, Vice President for Development, William Carey University, Hattiesburg, MS

• Increased endowment by 32.3 percent
• Negotiated largest gift in the history of the university
• Negotiated capital gift to fund construction of a new museum
• Secured new funding for School of Nursing from multiple health-care providers
• Increased alumni giving participation by 10.8 percent
• Increased significantly the number of deferred gifts
• Led negotiation to market estimated $60,000,000 Coast Campus property
• Worked to develop extension campuses
• Negotiated gift to name the Milton Wheeler Baseball Stadium
• Served on President’s cabinet
• Taught graduate creative writing, literature and business communications (M.B.A. program)

 

2002–2003, Director of Capital Giving, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA

• Successfully supervised all capital fund-raising efforts in association with $230 million campaign
• Trained and managed staff and volunteers to strengthen $900 million endowment and promote campaign priorities
• Collaborated with Board members, President and advancement team to close capital-level and principal gifts
• Responsible for campaign kickoff events in Philadelphia, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles
• Successfully cultivated new donors from $100K to $1 million
• Closed capital/planned gifts in collaboration with various college departments

 

2001–2002, Director of Major Gifts and Director of Development Operations, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS

• Secured major gifts in association with $100 million comprehensive campaign – closed 28 Honor Club level commitments (major gifts) in the first eight months at this position, many from non-alumni
• Managed selected office and professional staff at the USM Foundation
• Teamed with campus leaders and board members to facilitate corporate and foundation solicitations
• Promoted campaign through speaking engagements and appearances
• Supervised annual fund and telethon/call center efforts for the university
• Engaged USM Foundation Board members, Deans and volunteers to secure major gifts from individual prospects for the comprehensive campaign
• Partnered with research department to identify major-gift prospects
• Taught African-American literature

 

2000–2001, Director of Development/Assistant Professor of English, William Carey University, Hattiesburg, MS

• Chief Development Officer reporting directly to the President
• Secured major gift to fund the first new building on campus in 25 years (new nursing facility)
• Identified, solicited and secured major gifts from donor prospects
• Successfully supervised all development activities
• Organized inaugural celebrity challenge golf tournament
• Reported on development efforts to the Board of Trustees
• Hosted development receptions and dinner events in the Southern U.S.
• Worked with donors and prospects in estate, trust and insurance planning

 

1999–2000, Assistant Director of Development/Assistant Professor of English, William Carey University, Hattiesburg, MS

• Successfully identified prospects and cultivated new donors to the university
• Assisted President in coordinating development efforts and grant writing
• Successfully initiated and developed corporate sponsorship program
• Sponsored estate and financial planning seminar for supporters
• Worked closely with alumni relations and publications to grow university
• Taught American and world literature

 

1997–1999, Academic Services Coordinator/Instructor of English, William Carey University, Hattiesburg, MS

• Managed comprehensive tutoring program and retention effort
• Served students with disabilities and “at risk” students
• Taught composition and American and world literature

 

INDUSTRY

1990–1997, Vice President of Operations and Business Development, J.W. Stewart Inc. Industrial Contractors, Middletown, DE

• Leader in doubling growth of annual sales
• Responsible for management and productivity of 200 employees
• Initiated and developed new commercial division in Mid-Atlantic
• Developed new business with DuPont, Texaco, Chrysler, HP, GM, Kraft
• Negotiated contracts with clients, subcontractors, vendors and labor
• Expanded industrial business operations into New Jersey and Maryland

 

1983–1997, Marketing Representative/Project Manager, J.W. Stewart Inc. Industrial Contractors, Middletown, DE

• Implemented company’s first intensive marketing efforts
• Negotiated and closed industrial and mechanical construction projects
• Managed special projects and negotiated contracts with industry
• Led company into hospital and health-care market

 

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTS

Awards/Publications/Speaking Highlights:

• Mississippi Humanities Council/William Carey University Co-Professor of the Year
• Featured speaker – annual meeting of the Mississippi Center for Non-Profits
• A Strategy for Teaching Multi-Cultural Literature; article for The Journal of the Mississippi Council of Teachers of English, fall 1998
• Book review; International Social Science Review
• Co-Editor, The Journal of the Mississippi Council of Teachers of English, fall 1998
• Speaker – WCC Conference on Autism

Committee Highlights:

Flagler College

• President’s Cabinet
• President’s Advisory Council
• Admissions Committee
• SACS/Accreditation Leadership Committee
• Strategic Planning Committee

William Carey University

• College Development Committee (chair)
• Executive in Residence/Learning and Leadership Committee (chair)
• Intercollegiate Athletics Committee
• SACS Accreditation – Distance Learning Committee
• Search Committee for Communications Department Chairperson
• Search Committee for Forensics Coach and Theatre Professor

Swarthmore College

• Swarthmore E-commerce and Website Development Committee
• Swarthmore College Engineering Council
• Advancement Retreat Committee

Related Service

• Trustee – Health, Welfare and Pensions Funds, United Association
• Negotiator – Delaware Mechanical Contractors Association
• Member – South Mississippi Estate Planners Association
• Representative – Hattiesburg, MS Area Development Partnership
• Officer – Mississippi Council of Teachers of English, 1999 and 2000

 

SAMPLE CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION:

• CASE: Summit for Advancement Leadership, New York City
• CASE: District Conference, New York City
• CASE: Summer Advancement Management Institute, Georgetown University
• New York Mutual Advanced Estate and Business Planning, New Orleans, LA
• Minorities and Philanthropy in Higher Education, Oxford, MS
• Robert Sharpe: Major Gift Planning, Washington, D.C.
• FIU Writers/Publishing Conference, Key West, FL
• Retention through Resiliency in Higher Education Conference, Louisville, KY
• International Conference for Women Writers of Color, Ocean City, MD
• Conference for International Students on College Campuses, Starkville, MS

 

COMMUNITY SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS:

• Chair – Small Business Development Committee, Hattiesburg, MS Area Development Partnership (Chamber of Commerce)
• Board member – The Florida Ballet
• Board member (vice chair) – The Dubard School for Language Disorders
• Board member – Administrative Board of Bethel United Methodist Church, Lewes, DE
• Co-Chair – Campus United Way Campaign (WCC)
• Volunteer – Caribbean Christian Center for the Deaf
• Co-Chair – William Carey University Autism Conference
• Representative – All American Cities competition

 

TEACHING:

• Post-Colonial Literature (African-Caribbean) – Flagler College
• Graduate English, Creative Writing and M.B.A. – William Carey University
• African-American Literature/World Literature – Delaware State University
• African-American Literature, Composition – The University of Southern Mississippi

 

ENRICHMENT COURSEWORK/PERSONAL INTERESTS:

• Graduate-Level Higher Education Administration
• Graduate-Level French and Spanish
• Independent study at The University of West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica
• Independent research and reading in Ernest Hemingway
• Sailing/travel
• Saltwater fishing (member, The Billfish Foundation)
• Fisheries and waterfowl management
• Caribbean literature and culture

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