MONTEVALLO—The University of Montevallo will hold summer commencement Friday, Aug. 1, at 5 p.m. in Palmer Auditorium. A reception to honor graduates will be held at 4 p.m. in the lobby of Reynolds Hall. Both locations are on the UM campus.
John O. Hudson III will deliver the commencement address. Hudson is an attorney who serves as vice president of public relations and charitable giving at Alabama Power Company; president of the Alabama Power Foundation, one of the state’s largest corporate philanthropic organizations; and executive director of the Alabama Business Charitable Trust. In addition, he is chairman of the board of directors of A.G. Gaston Enterprises, a privately held investment company established in 1923, which continues the legacy of Dr. A.G. Gaston, a visionary 20th century African-American entrepreneur and Birmingham business leader.
Prior to joining Alabama Power, Hudson served as senior vice president for corporate diversity and public affairs at Regions Financial Corporation. He continues to have an association with Regions, the only Fortune 500 company headquartered in Alabama, as chairman of the organization’s Diversity Advisory Council.
Hudson is a member of the Alabama State Bar, the American Bar Association, the National Bar Association and the Alabama Lawyers Association. He serves as a member of the Alabama State Bar’s Diversity in the Practice Committee.
Hudson received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Alabama A&M University, is a cum laude graduate of Miles College School of Law, completed the Executive Accounting and Finance Program at Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, and has worked toward an LL.M. in taxation at the University of Alabama’s School of Law. He is a member of the boards of trustees of Alabama A&M University, Miles College, Miles College School of Law, and is a member of the board of directors of Jefferson State Community College Foundation.
University of Montevallo President John W. Stewart III stated, “The Montevallo family is honored to have John Hudson as our commencement speaker. His leadership in our community serves as a wonderful example to the Montevallo graduates he will address. We enjoy a tradition of hosting remarkable, substantive speakers on our campus and are proud that John Hudson will join these ranks.”
For more information about commencement, visit http://www.montevallo.edu/about-um/visitor-information/commencement/
—30—