JOHN WESLEY STEWART III Station 6001, University of Montevallo Montevallo, AL 35115 USA Telephone: (205) 665-6001 E-mail: presidentsoffice@montevallo.edu EDUCATION Ph.D., 2003 The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS. English. Major areas of study: African and Caribbean literature, Harlem Renaissance, Post-Colonial theory. Major authors: Chinua Achebe, Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes. Dissertation topic: Benevolent Economies: An Exploration of the Patron-Writer Relationship During the Harlem Renaissance M.A., 1993 Washington College, Chestertown, MD. English B.A., 1983 Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC. Major: History H.S., 1979 The Tatnall School, Wilmington, DE EXPERIENCE HIGHER EDUCATION 2010 present, President, University of Montevallo, Montevallo, AL 2005-2010, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Flagler College, St. Augustine, FL Increased total fund raising from $1.3 million to $22 million in first two years Raised $30,000,000 from July 2005 Spring 2008 Secured largest gift in the history of the college ($7.5 million) Secured gift to name Ringhaver Student Center Closed largest alumni gift in the history of the college Closed largest planned gift in the history of the college Increased alumni giving participation rate from 17.5 percent to 25 percent Tripled President s Society donors ($1,000 or more) to 300 Secured 18 of 19 available capital-level naming opportunities in new student center Secured principal gift to name renovated art building ($2.5 million) 75 percent of the class of 2009 gave their first gift to the college before graduating Met fund-raising goals during the recession Fully funded $5.5 million Molly Wiley Art Building through fund raising Secured 9 of 11 available capital-level naming opportunities in renovated art building Secured gift to name Drysdale Field, the Flagler College baseball stadium Advisor to the Office of Admissions College Finance Committee Strategic Planning Committee Taught African-American and Post-Colonial literature
Worked with Deans in Academics, Admissions and Student Services to create a culture of philanthropy at Flagler College Initiated successful pledge/stewardship systems and managed expenses below budget Worked closely with President to establish new strategic plan and vision statement for the college Leader in planning and globalization effort for the college Cultivated donors to fund national championship Students in Free Enterprise team 2003 2005, Vice President for Development, William Carey University, Hattiesburg, MS Increased endowment by 32.3 percent Negotiated largest gift in the history of the university Negotiated capital gift to fund construction of a new museum Secured new funding for School of Nursing from multiple health-care providers Increased alumni giving participation by 10.8 percent Increased significantly the number of deferred gifts Led negotiation to market estimated $60,000,000 Coast Campus property Worked to develop extension campuses Negotiated gift to name the Milton Wheeler Baseball Stadium Served on President s cabinet Taught graduate creative writing, literature and business communications (M.B.A. program) 2002 2003, Director of Capital Giving, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA Successfully supervised all capital fund-raising efforts in association with $230 million campaign Trained and managed staff and volunteers to strengthen $900 million endowment and promote campaign priorities Collaborated with Board members, President and advancement team to close capitallevel and principal gifts Responsible for campaign kickoff events in Philadelphia, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles Successfully cultivated new donors from $100K to $1 million Closed capital/planned gifts in collaboration with various college departments 2001 2002, Director of Major Gifts and Director of Development Operations, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS Secured major gifts in association with $100 million comprehensive campaign closed 28 Honor Club level commitments (major gifts) in the first eight months at this position, many from non-alumni Managed selected office and professional staff at the USM Foundation Teamed with campus leaders and board members to facilitate corporate and foundation solicitations
Promoted campaign through speaking engagements and appearances Supervised annual fund and telethon/call center efforts for the university Engaged USM Foundation Board members, Deans and volunteers to secure major gifts from individual prospects for the comprehensive campaign Partnered with research department to identify major-gift prospects Taught African-American literature 2000 2001, Director of Development/Assistant Professor of English, William Carey University, Hattiesburg, MS Chief Development Officer reporting directly to the President Secured major gift to fund the first new building on campus in 25 years (new nursing facility) Identified, solicited and secured major gifts from donor prospects Successfully supervised all development activities Organized inaugural celebrity challenge golf tournament Reported on development efforts to the Board of Trustees Hosted development receptions and dinner events in the Southern U.S. Worked with donors and prospects in estate, trust and insurance planning 1999 2000, Assistant Director of Development/Assistant Professor of English, William Carey University, Hattiesburg, MS Successfully identified prospects and cultivated new donors to the university Assisted President in coordinating development efforts and grant writing Successfully initiated and developed corporate sponsorship program Sponsored estate and financial planning seminar for supporters Worked closely with alumni relations and publications to grow university Taught American and world literature 1997 1999, Academic Services Coordinator/Instructor of English, William Carey University, Hattiesburg, MS Managed comprehensive tutoring program and retention effort Served students with disabilities and at risk students Taught composition and American and world literature INDUSTRY 1990 1997, Vice President of Operations and Business Development, J.W. Stewart Inc. Industrial Contractors, Middletown, DE Leader in doubling growth of annual sales Responsible for management and productivity of 200 employees
Initiated and developed new commercial division in Mid-Atlantic Developed new business with DuPont, Texaco, Chrysler, HP, GM, Kraft Negotiated contracts with clients, subcontractors, vendors and labor Expanded industrial business operations into New Jersey and Maryland 1983 1997, Marketing Representative/Project Manager, J.W. Stewart Inc. Industrial Contractors, Middletown, DE Implemented company s first intensive marketing efforts Negotiated and closed industrial and mechanical construction projects Managed special projects and negotiated contracts with industry Led company into hospital and health-care market PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTS Awards/Publications/Speaking Highlights: Mississippi Humanities Council/William Carey University Co-Professor of the Year Featured speaker annual meeting of the Mississippi Center for Non-Profits A Strategy for Teaching Multi-Cultural Literature; article for The Journal of the Mississippi Council of Teachers of English, fall 1998 Book review; International Social Science Review Co-Editor, The Journal of the Mississippi Council of Teachers of English, fall 1998 Speaker WCC Conference on Autism Committee Highlights: Flagler College President s Cabinet President s Advisory Council Admissions Committee SACS/Accreditation Leadership Committee Strategic Planning Committee William Carey University College Development Committee (chair) Executive in Residence/Learning and Leadership Committee (chair) Intercollegiate Athletics Committee SACS Accreditation Distance Learning Committee Search Committee for Communications Department Chairperson Search Committee for Forensics Coach and Theatre Professor Swarthmore College Swarthmore E-commerce and Website Development Committee
Swarthmore College Engineering Council Advancement Retreat Committee Related Service Trustee Health, Welfare and Pensions Funds, United Association Negotiator Delaware Mechanical Contractors Association Member South Mississippi Estate Planners Association Representative Hattiesburg, MS Area Development Partnership Officer Mississippi Council of Teachers of English, 1999 and 2000 SAMPLE CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION: CASE: Summit for Advancement Leadership, New York City CASE: District Conference, New York City CASE: Summer Advancement Management Institute, Georgetown University New York Mutual Advanced Estate and Business Planning, New Orleans, LA Minorities and Philanthropy in Higher Education, Oxford, MS Robert Sharpe: Major Gift Planning, Washington, D.C. FIU Writers/Publishing Conference, Key West, FL Retention through Resiliency in Higher Education Conference, Louisville, KY International Conference for Women Writers of Color, Ocean City, MD Conference for International Students on College Campuses, Starkville, MS COMMUNITY SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS: Chair Small Business Development Committee, Hattiesburg, MS Area Development Partnership (Chamber of Commerce) Board member The Florida Ballet Board member (vice chair) The Dubard School for Language Disorders Board member Administrative Board of Bethel United Methodist Church, Lewes, DE Co-Chair Campus United Way Campaign (WCC) Volunteer Caribbean Christian Center for the Deaf Co-Chair William Carey University Autism Conference Representative All American Cities competition TEACHING: Post-Colonial Literature (African-Caribbean) Flagler College Graduate English, Creative Writing and M.B.A. William Carey University African-American Literature/World Literature Delaware State University African-American Literature, Composition The University of Southern Mississippi
ENRICHMENT COURSEWORK/PERSONAL INTERESTS: Graduate-Level Higher Education Administration Graduate-Level French and Spanish Independent study at The University of West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica Independent research and reading in Ernest Hemingway Sailing/travel Saltwater fishing (member, The Billfish Foundation) Fisheries and waterfowl management Caribbean literature and culture