1. The University of Alabama Libraries
  2. Libraries
  3. Special Collections
  4. Presidents of the University of Alabama

Presidents of the University of Alabama

This page contains an image gallery of all the Presidents of the University of Alabama, followed by a chronological list, which also includes acting and interim presidents.

The images are part of the UA Libraries digital collection University of Alabama Presidential Portraits. Some are of paintings housed at W. S. Hoole Special Collections Library (with the exception of the painting of George Denny, which hangs at Gorgas Library). The photograph portraits were provided by the President’s Office.

Ownership of all digital content in the gallery is retained by the institution, and reproduction is prohibited without permission. Please contact the W. S. Hoole Special Collections Library about reuse of these materials.

Gallery (Alphabetical)

John Abercrombie

John William Abercrombie

Fourteenth President of the University of Alabama, 1902-1911
Guy Bailey

Guy Hubert Bailey

Twenty-sixth President of the University of Alabama, 2012
Stuart Bell

Stuart R. Bell

Twenty-eighth President of the University of Alabama, 2015-
Judith Bonner

Judith L. Bonner

Twenty-seventh President of the University of Alabama, 2012-2015
oliver Carmichael

Oliver Cromwell Carmichael

Ninteenth President of the University of Alabama, 1953-1957
Henry Clayton

Henry DeLamar Clayton

Tenth President of the University of Alabama, 1886-1889
George Denny

George Hutcheson Denny

Fifteenth President of the University of Alabama, 1911-1936, 1941-1942
Richard Foster

Richard Clarke Foster

Sixteenth President of the University of Alabama, 1937-1941
John Gallalee

John Morin Gallalee

Eighteenth President of the University of Alabama, 1948-1953
Landon Garland

Landon Cabell Garland

Third President of the University of Alabama, 1855-1865
Josiah Gorgas

Josiah Gorgas

Eighth President of the University of Alabama, 1878-1879
Richard Jones

Richard Channing Jones

Eleventh President of the University of Alabama, 1890-1897
Burwell Lewis

Burwell Boykin Lewis

Ninth President of the University of Alabama, 1880-1885
Nathaniel Lupton

Nathaniel Thomas Lupton

Sixth President of the University of Alabama, 1871-1874
Basil Manly

Basil Manly

Second President of the University of Alabama, 1837-1855
David Mathews

F. David Mathews

Fifth President of the University of Alabama, 1969-1980
Matthew Maury

Matthew F. Maury

Twenty-first President of the University of Alabama, 1971
Raymond Paty

Raymond Ross Paty

Seventeenth President of the University of Alabama, 1942-1947
James Powers

James Knox Powers

Twelfth President of the University of Alabama, 1897-1901
Frank Rose

Frank Anthony Rose

Twentieth President of the University of Alabama, 1958-1969
Roger Sayers

E. Roger Sayers

Twenty-third President of the University of Alabama, 1988-1996
Carlos Smith

Carlos Green Smith

Seventh President of the University of Alabama, 1874-1878
William Smith

William Russell Smith

Fourth President of the University of Alabama, 1870-1871
Andrew Sorensen

Andrew A. Sorensen

Twenty-fourth President of the University of Alabama, 1996-2002
Joab Thomas

Joab Langston Thomas

Twenty-second President of the University of Alabama, 1981-1988
Robert Witt

Robert E. Witt

Twenty-fifth President of the University of Alabama, 2003-2012
Alva Woods

Alva Woods

First President of the University of Alabama, 1831-1837
William Wyman

William Stokes Wyman

Thirteenth President of the University of Alabama, 1901-1902

List (Chronological)

  1. Alva Woods, 1831-1837
  2. Basil Manly, 1837-1855
  3. Landon Cabell Garland, 1855-1865
    (Reconstruction, 1865-1870)
  4. William Russell Smith, 1870-1871
  5. Matthew F. Maury, 1871
  6. Nathaniel Thomas Lupton, 1871-1874
  7. Carlos Green Smith, 1874-1878
  8. Josiah Gorgas, 1878-1879
    William Stokes Wyman (Acting), 1879-1880
  9. Burwell Boykin Lewis, 1880-1885
    William Stokes Wyman (Acting), 1885-1886
  10. Henry DeLamar Clayton, 1886-1889
    William Stokes Wyman (Acting), 1889-1890
  11. Richard Channing Jones, 1890-1897
  12. James Knox Powers, 1897-1901
  13. William Stokes Wyman, 1901-1902
  14. John William Abercrombie, 1902-1911
  15. George Hutcheson Denny, 1911-1936
  16. Richard Clarke Foster, 1937-1941
    George Hutcheson Denny, 1941-1942
  17. Raymond Ross Paty, 1942-1947
    Ralph E. Adams (Acting), 1947-1948
  18. John Morin Gallalee, 1948-1953
    Lee Bidgood (Acting), 1953
  19. Oliver Cromwell Carmichael, 1953-1957
    James H. Newman (Acting), 1957-1958
  20. Frank Anthony Rose, 1958-1969
  21. F. David Mathews*, 1969-1980
    Richard Ashley Thigpen (Acting), 1975-1977
    Howard B. Gundy (Acting), 1980-1981
  22. Joab Langston Thomas, 1981-1988
  23. E. Roger Sayers, 1988-1996
  24. Andrew A. Sorensen, 1996-2002
    J. Barry Mason (Interim), 2002-2003
  25. Robert E. Witt, 2003-2012
  26. Guy Hubert Bailey, 2012
  27. Judith L. Bonner, 2012-2015
  28. Stuart R. Bell, 2015-
*Served as U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare during 1975-1977