The University of Montevallo is expected to select its next president this week from two finalists, according to University spokesperson Cynthia Shackelford.

The finalists are Maravene Loeschke, who is currently president at Mansfield University in Mansfield, Penn., and John Stewart, who is vice president for institutional advancement at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Fla.

Shackelford said the finalists have had a busy week at UM, meeting with students March 1 and with faculty, staff, alumni and community members March 2.

Today, the finalists will meet with the UM Board of Trustees at 9 a.m. The Board of Trustees will then meet again at 1:45 p.m., when they are expected to vote on the next president.

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.

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.