MONTEVALLO – Mary Ellen Heuton has been named Vice President for Business Affairs and Treasurer at the University of Montevallo. Heuton comes to UM from Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, where she has served as Senior Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer for the past five years. She will assume her duties at Montevallo in late August.
She is a Certified Public Accountant and holds an MBA from Auburn University and a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Prior to her role as Chief Financial Officer, Heuton served as Controller at Marshall, after working as a Controller and Director of Advancement Services at Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia. Heuton also held positions in software, public accounting and real estate before entering higher education.
“I am thrilled to be joining the team at UM. The wonderful traditions and mission of the University, along with the opportunity to be involved in exciting initiatives on campus and in the community, are exactly what I am looking for. I am impressed by the University leadership’s strong commitment to the success of Montevallo students both inside and outside the classroom. I’m eager to build on the great work the business staff has done in maintaining the financial health of the University,” said Heuton.
Having worked in a number of industries, Heuton has acquired a unique perspective and skillset that has proven useful in tackling the challenges facing institutions of higher education. At Marshall, she led the effort in developing a strategic budget model to safeguard and sustain the university’s financial health while maintaining a strong bond rating.
In announcing Heuton’s selection, UM president Dr. John W. Stewart III said, “we are so excited to welcome Mary Ellen Heuton to our family of learners. She brings incredible energy and a proven track record of accomplishment. Our faculty, staff, and students will be the beneficiaries of her enthusiasm and experience. We are truly fortunate to have her, her husband, and their daughters joining the UM family.”
Heuton replaces Montevallo’s former Vice President for Business Affairs and Treasurer, DeAnna Smith, who held the position for seven years. Smith stepped down from the position to transition into the role of an accounting faculty member in UM’s Stephens College of Business.