Featured Falcons: Richie Thayer

October 14, 2026

What is your name and current title with the University of Montevallo?
Richard Thayer, instructor of business law and director of the Grainger Center for Professional Development in the Stephens College of Business.

Where are you from, and what city do you currently reside in?
I grew up in Decatur, Alabama, and currently reside in Hoover.

What degrees do you hold, and where did you earn them?
A Bachelor of Science in Finance from Birmingham-Southern College (1998) and a Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi in 2003.

How long have you worked at Montevallo?
I have had the pleasure of working at Montevallo for 10 years. For seven of those years, I served as an adjunct professor of business law, and I have been a full-time faculty member in the Stephens College of Business (director of the Grainger Center for Professional Development and Professor of Business Law) since fall 2024.

What originally brought you to Montevallo, and what has kept you here?
I first came to Montevallo in 2010 to fill in for a former law partner that was adjunctly teaching business law at the time. I discovered that I enjoyed teaching and enjoyed the faculty and staff in the Stephens College of Business. The next year, I was asked to take over one of the adjunct positions, which I agreed to do — and that is when I discovered that teaching, mentoring and connecting with students in a meaningful way was much more gratifying than corporate defense litigation.

Why do you think a liberal arts education is important in today’s world?
I firmly believe that a liberal arts education produces more leaders — in both professional and social settings. A liberal arts education offers students the opportunity to develop and apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills in a more meaningful way than a narrowly focused course of study allows. By encouraging students to explore areas of interest beyond a single degree plan, liberal arts institutions produce graduates who are well-rounded — both intellectually and socially — and better equipped to relate to, collaborate with and lead diverse groups of people amid a constantly changing world.

What is something about your role or department that people might not know, but should?
In addition to teaching and directing the Grainger Center (putting on career-development events, reviewing resumés, assisting students with their search for internships and employment opportunities), I am always willing and available to either advise, or just listen to students that find themselves struggling with difficult situations that they may face from time-to-time while attending college (and being away from the built-in support system back at home).

Are you currently working on, or have you recently completed, any interesting projects?
Although I cannot take the most recent event, the Stephens College of Business recently held its first ever Business Symposium on Sept. 24, which was a smashing success due to the vision and hard work of Dean Robicheaux, Melissa Brown and the contributions of the Stephens faculty and staff and the Stephens Leadership Ambassadors. Other projects the Grainger Center/Stephens College of Business are now working on include our annual “Meet the Firms” event (Sep. 30), our “So You Think You Might Want to Work in…” panel discussion series (“Insurance/Risk Management” on Oct. 6 and “Government/Public Affairs” on Nov. 2) and our Fall Speed Networking Event (Oct. 14).

You’ve had the opportunity to teach and mentor a lot of students during your time at Montevallo. What is the most rewarding part of watching students grow from when they first enter your classroom to where they are when they leave UM?
I enjoy seeing the progress of our students — from shy and timid freshmen to leaders on campus (and ultimately in the business world). That is definitely the most rewarding aspect of this job.

What do you hope students remember about you or take away from your classes beyond the material you teach?
I hope my students remember that: 1) I genuinely care about them; 2) I will continue to support them in their future endeavors; and 3) they must always think (and speak) for themselves while remaining kind and respectful to those with different views.

What is one piece of advice you find yourself giving students again and again?
Don’t just adopt the views of your mama, your daddy, your pastor or your professor for that matter — think for yourself!”

Complete this phrase: Montevallo Means More…
Montevallo means more genuine connections. My favorite thing about the University of Montevallo is the size of the campus, the quality of the faculty and staff and the genuine connections that are built between them.