Joseph Landers, assistant professor of music at the University of Montevallo, has received the Distinguished Teacher Award for UM’s College of Fine Arts, an award based on student nominations.

A prolific composer, Landers teaches composition and music theory.

Meanwhile, Phyllis Davis, senior records assistant, recently received the Office Support Personnel Award for Excellence at a reception held recently in her honor. Davis has been employed at UM for almost 50 years.

DeAnna M. Smith has been named vice president for business affairs.

A summa cum laude graduate of UM, she is a CPA and a certified internal auditor.

She has served as the director of budget and assistant treasurer at Montevallo for more than a year. She has also held several leadership positions in the UM National Alumni Association.