The University of Montevallo Board of Trustees have unanimously recommended John Stewart III be named the school’s next president.

The recommendation came during a meeting today at the university.

Stewart attended Wake Forest University, Washington College and the University of Southern Mississippi. He worked at a variety of universities, including William Carey University, Southern Miss and Swarthmore College, before going to Flagler.

At Flagler, Stewart increased total fundraising from $1.3 million to $22 million in his first two years. He also secured the largest gift, $7.5 million, in the history of the college.

Stewart is among two finalists for the position. The other finalist is Maravene Loeschke, who is currently president at Mansfield University in Mansfield, Penn.

Loeschke attended Towson University and The Union Institute, and also worked at Towson from 1970-2002, rising to become the dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communications. From there, she became provost at Wilkes University and then president at Mansfield.

At Mansfield, she increased annual giving 66 percent since 2006 and increased enrollment by 6 percent in fall 2009.