Alabama college founded for women names first female president in its 130-year history
Dr. Michelle Johnston will be the University of Montevallo’s 16th president.
Mason Reed 
The University of Montevallo has reached a historic milestone. For the first time since its founding in 1896, the institution has selected a woman to serve as its president.
A Historic Appointment
Following a specially called meeting on May 22, the UM Board of Trustees officially approved Dr. Michelle R. Johnston as the university's 16th president. This decision marks a significant turning point for the school, which was originally established as the Alabama Girls’ Industrial School.
The university, which later transitioned to Alabama College in 1923 and eventually became the University of Montevallo in 1969, maintained an all-female student body until 1959. Now, Dr. Johnston will lead the campus into a new era.
Leadership and Experience
Dr. Johnston’s appointment concludes a year-long search to find a successor for John W. Stewart III, who stepped down last July after 15 years of service. Dr. Terry Roberson had been serving as the interim president leading up to this week's announcement.
According to the official press release from the university, Johnston brings over 30 years of higher education experience to Montevallo. She most recently served as the president of Georgia Southwestern University since 2024. Additionally, she is familiar with the campus culture, having held multiple senior leadership roles at Montevallo between 2007 and 2014, including serving as senior vice president for administrative affairs.
As she steps into this new role, the university indicated that her primary focus will include bolstering student success, maintaining academic excellence, and growing strategic partnerships and donor engagement.
