Q&A with Mike Meadows ’79, UM Foundation Board Member

August 27, 2026

Tell us about yourself.

I grew up in McCalla, Alabama, graduated from McAdory High School and began classes at the University of Montevallo in the fall of 1975. During my four years at Montevallo, I was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, served as an SGA senator and entertainment chairperson and worked as a resident assistant in Fuller Hall after being hired by Dean Wilkinson. I graduated in the spring of 1979 and spent my professional career as a corporate officer in the building products industry. Nearly five decades after arriving on campus, Montevallo remains an important part of my life. My wife, Sue, and I are grateful for the opportunity to stay involved with and support a University that has meant so much to us.

Why do you choose to support the University of Montevallo?

Montevallo had a profound impact on my life. I arrived in the fall of 1975 as a young man from McCalla, Alabama, and over the next four years I was given opportunities that helped shape the person I became.

My education was certainly important, but Montevallo gave me much more than a degree. I had opportunities to serve in student government, become involved in my fraternity, work as a resident assistant and build relationships with faculty, staff and classmates who invested their time and confidence in me.

I support Montevallo today because I remain deeply grateful for those experiences and for the people who helped me along the way. In many respects, giving back is simply my way of saying thank you — and helping make sure those same kinds of opportunities are available to the students who come after us.

What would you say to encourage those considering making a donation to the University?

I would tell them that you don’t have to make a transformational gift to make a difference. You simply have to make a difference where you can.

When we give to Montevallo, we’re investing in students — many of whom are at a point in their lives when an opportunity, a little encouragement or someone’s generosity can have an impact far beyond what we might ever see.

I also believe giving should be personal. Support the part of Montevallo that means something to you. It might be scholarships, academics, athletics, the arts, a particular program or simply an area of greatest need. The amount isn’t nearly as important as participating and staying connected to the University.

Someone invested in each of us while we were at Montevallo. Giving provides us an opportunity to do the same for someone else.

What is your vision for what your gifts will do for UM?

My hope is that our gifts create opportunities.

Sue and I don’t look at giving simply in terms of buildings, programs, equipment or scholarships. We try to think about the student on the other side of that gift. If something we support gives a student an opportunity to learn, compete, perform, lead, travel, discover a talent, build confidence or form a lifelong relationship, then it has accomplished something meaningful.

We also hope our giving encourages others to become involved. Montevallo has always been a relatively small university, and I think that’s part of what makes it special. Individual people really can make a difference here.

Ultimately, I hope we can leave Montevallo a little better than we found it and help preserve the opportunities and relationships that have made this University such an important part of our lives.