Jim Day, professor of history, will give the University Scholar presentation Monday, March 16, at 7 p.m. in the J. A. Brown Room, Carmichael Library. His talk is titled “Wilson’s Raid through Alabama: A Sesquicentennial Retrospective.”
Day was honored as the University Scholar at the annual Founders’ Day activities in October 2014. The award is given once each year to a member of the UM faculty who has demonstrated a strong, career-spanning commitment to scholarship or creative work of the finest caliber. It is among the highest awards UM bestows on its faculty.
Day served 16 years on active duty in the U.S. Army, during which he taught history at the USMA, served in leadership positions from North Carolina to the Federal Republic of Germany and graduated from Airborne, Ranger, Jumpmaster, Air Assault, Pathfinder and Jungle Operations schools as well as Command and General Staff College.
Day joined the faculty at the University of Montevallo in 1997 and has not only taught a myriad of history courses, but also has served UM at various times as chair of the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, dean of graduate studies, and assistant vice president for academic affairs.
A member of numerous professional organizations, honor societies and community service groups, Day serves as president of Leadership Shelby County and the UM chapter of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.
Day’s book, Diamonds in the Rough: A History of Alabama’s Cahaba Coal Field, (University of Alabama Press, 2013) was the winner of the Alabama Historical Association’s Clinton Jackson Coley Award for best work on Alabama local history (2014).
All are invited to this evening of discovery and conversation to celebrate Day’s work and learn more about his current projects. Refreshments will be provided courtesy of the provost’s office.