The University of Alabama’s 29th president, Dr. Stuart R. Bell, announced in January his plans to step down from the campus leadership role this summer. As his tenure winds to a close, his visionary leadership leaves an enduring impression on a campus that has achieved remarkable progress, setting historic milestones and establishing transformative partnerships.
Bell’s focus on strategic growth and academic excellence solidified UA’s role as a driving economic force in Alabama while enhancing its reputation as a top choice for high-achieving students across Alabama and nationwide. His legacy is one of lasting influence that will continue to benefit students, employees, the state and beyond for years to come.
A Vision of Excellence: Strategic Planning and Leadership
Since the launch of the Advancing the Flagship strategic plan in 2016, Bell’s administration has adhered to four guiding pillars: student success, research expansion, community engagement, and faculty and staff support. This plan has paved the way for a new era, enabling UA to achieve unprecedented milestones across academics and campus life. By 2022, the strategic plan was refreshed to meet evolving needs, ensuring that UA’s mission remains dynamic and forward-looking.
Through this strategic vision, Bell fostered a culture of collaboration where faculty, staff and students work together in pursuit of excellence.
“Strengthened by the tremendous progress we’ve already made, this new forward-looking plan carries on the bold vision of our original plan. It allows us to dream bigger and achieve more,” Bell said.
Historic Enrollment Milestones and Student Success
During Bell’s 10-year tenure as president, UA experienced unprecedented enrollment growth, with 2024 marking a record-breaking year as total enrollment surpassed 40,000. This milestone includes UA’s largest in-state freshman class. Additionally, UA consistently ranks among the top institutions in National Merit Scholar enrollment, demonstrating its appeal to academically talented students nationwide.
“I have traveled often to visit with prospective students and families in cities such as Birmingham, Memphis, Huntsville, Nashville, Atlanta, Jacksonville, Montgomery, Chicago, Tampa, Long Island, Raleigh and Houston, just as a few examples,” Bell said. “At recruitment receptions I often refer to UA students as ‘the best and brightest.’ Once they’re here, we equip and empower them to lead in their fields and their communities. As president, I see the results firsthand, and the extraordinary investments of UA’s faculty, staff, students and alumni are evident in our surrounding communities — and, truly, worldwide.”
Bell has prioritized student support as a cornerstone of his administration’s mission, implementing initiatives and making personal connections to help students thrive from their first year through to graduation. Whether it was fireside chats with student leaders, handing out biscuits on the first day of classes or late-night breakfasts at dining halls with students ahead of finals week, Bell wanted all students to know their president was there to care for and always encourage them. Such a strong connection led some students to affectionately refer to Bell as “Stu.”
“We persist in recruiting, retaining and graduating all students who seek to become impactful global citizens — ready to make a difference,” Bell said. “We continue to educate and graduate more students than any other university in the state. Every student has a story. Each one is a Legend in the makingat The University of Alabama.”
Emphasis on holistic student development has also enhanced resources focused on health and well-being, ensuring that students have access to services that promote both academic success and personal growth. Transformational programs and personal relationships with Bell contributed to UA’s high second-year retention rate, which reached nearly 90% in 2024.
“UA faculty and staff are legend makers,” Bell said. “They are the architects of our impressive graduates, and we remain firmly committed to educating students from Alabama and beyond.”
Advancing Research Capacity and Innovation
A hallmark of Bell’s legacy is his strategic focus on expanding UA’s research capabilities. With a particular emphasis on fields critical to Alabama’s economy and well-being, such as water research, manufacturing resilience and materials, Bell has positioned UA as a national leader in impactful research. In 2018, the University achieved R1 status in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education for the first time, a recognition it still holds today.
“(UA) has grown its number of students and graduates, and our research has grown,” Bell said. “But remember, we engage our students in that process. We’re having an incredible capital campaign because we’re getting great chaired positions and will have great resources that will enable our students.
“It goes back to the most important thing that we do: help young people dream at a level larger than they think they can dream,” Bell added. “Then, we help them grow into incredible young people, which we do really, really well here.”
UA has become a world leader in water research through innovative facilities such as the Alabama Water Institute, USGS Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility, which opened in 2024, and the NOAA National Water Center. In 2022, AWI received a cooperative agreement for up to $360 million in support, the largest external award in UA history, acknowledging UA’s commitment to make water a signature research and academic focus.
Support for the High Performance Computing and Data Center and the Alabama Transportation Institute has further solidified UA’s role as a powerhouse in areas like artificial intelligence, data science and sustainable transportation infrastructure. His commitment to research integrity and addressing vital issues has attracted top-tier talent, boosted UA’s academic reputation and ensured that the university is well-equipped to tackle global challenges.
Expanding UA’s Infrastructure and Campus Footprint
One of Bell’s enduring contributions is his commitment to expanding UA’s infrastructure to support a growing student body and advancing research programs. Under his leadership, numerous state-of-the-art facilities and student-centered spaces were completed. In addition, 16 institutes and centers were established to support UA’s mission of teaching, research and service.
New facilities such as Hewson Hall, Drummond Lyon Hall, the Catherine and Pettus Randall Welcome Center and Holle Center for Communication Arts support UA’s academic mission and reflect Bell’s dedication to providing an environment where students, faculty and researchers can thrive. Each addition to UA’s campus stands as a testament to his vision for a campus that inspires innovation, encourages learning and anticipates the needs of a dynamic university community.
A Lasting Legacy of Innovation and Impact
As Bell’s transformative tenure draws to a close, his legacy reflects a period of unparalleled growth and innovation that has elevated UA’s stature nationally and internationally. His leadership through challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and his commitment to preparing the next generation of leaders and innovators leave an indelible mark on the University.
In 2021, UA launched The Rising Tide Capital Campaign, an ambitious campaign to support scholarships, faculty programs, campus expansion and innovation, with record contributions from alumni and friends of UA. As the campaign reached its initial $1.5 billion goal, Rising Tide 2.0 was introduced to build on this success, supporting experiential learning, mental health and other initiatives critical to student success.
In the final months of Bell’s presidency, Rising Tide 2.0 surpassed its $1.8 billion goal with a gift from alumnus J. Frank Barefield Jr. to name the College of Arts and Sciences. The Rising Tide 2.0, which will continue through September 2026, is the most successful capital campaign ever for higher education in the state of Alabama.
“Serving as president of this world-class institution has been one of the greatest honors and joys of my life,” said Bell. “With the collective efforts from countless students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends, I’m proud of the positive transformation the University has experienced over the past decade, and I look forward to what the next chapter has in store.”
Bell’s vision and dedication will live on through the students, faculty and alumni who carry forward UA’s mission of excellence, contributing to Alabama’s prosperity and advancing knowledge for generations to come.