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Dr. Jeremy Stovall Named Director of Bands at Jax State

Jacksonville, AL (11/15/2025) — Dr. Jeremy Stovall has been named the next Director of Bands at Jacksonville State University, President Don C. Killingsworth, Jr., has announced. A longtime member of the Jax State music faculty and a two-time graduate of the university, Stovall succeeds Dr. Ken Bodiford, who will retire at the end of the current marching season, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

"Dr. Stovall is an exceptional educator and musician whose talent, professionalism, and leadership have already made a lasting impact on our band program," said President Killingsworth. "He has played a key role in the Southerners' success for more than two decades, helping to shape the sound, spirit, and reputation that define the program today. It is a pleasure to name him the next Director of Bands at Jacksonville State University, ensuring the tradition of excellence continues.

The formal announcement was made during the Annual Southerners Reunion Dinner on Friday evening. The event drew a record crowd of alumni, students, and friends after Dr. Bodiford recently announced he will retire at the end of the current marching season after 32 years leading the Marching Southerners and more than four decades of service to Jax State.

"Dr. Bodiford's influence on this university and the world of marching music will be felt for generations," Dr. Killingsworth said. "His mentorship and vision have built a legacy that Dr. Stovall is certainly qualified to carry forward."

"It's an incredible honor to have the opportunity to step into this role and continue the legacy that has meant so much to me and to generations of Southerners," said Dr. Stovall. "Dr. Bodiford's mentorship over the past 21 years has shaped me as a musician and a leader, and I'm deeply grateful for the foundation he built over his remarkable 32-year career. Jax State and the Southerners have shaped my life, and I'm thankful for the opportunity to give back to and lead the program that has given me so much."

A native of nearby Anniston, Dr. Stovall has already devoted more than 25 years to the Marching Southerners, starting with his time marching under Dr. Bodiford's leadership as a student. A two-time graduate of Jacksonville State University, Stovall earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education in 2003 and his Master of Arts in 2005 before completing his Doctor of Musical Arts in Wind Conducting at the University of Alabama in 2018.

As Assistant Director of Bands and Associate Professor at Jax State, he has conducted the university's Symphonic Band and Pep Band (Hardcorps), taught courses in conducting and marching band techniques, and instructed the Marching Southerners both on the field and in the classroom. He has also served as Music Director and Pit Orchestra Conductor for the Department of Drama and Jacksonville Opera Theatre.

Under his direction, the Southerners have performed at some of the most distinguished national and international events of the past decade, including the Bands of America Grand National Championships in Indianapolis (2019), the World Peace Parade in Rome (2019), the Pearl Harbor 75th Anniversary Commemoration in Hawaii (2016), and the London New Year's Day Parade (2012).

In recognition of his teaching and service, Stovall received the Jacksonville State University National Alumni Association's Outstanding Faculty Member of the Year Award in 2020. He is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Beta Mu, the College Band Directors National Association, the National Band Association, the National Association for Music Education, and the College Music Society.

Beyond Jax State, Stovall's experience includes serving on the visual staff of the Spirit Drum and Bugle Corps (2002-2007), acting as Visual Caption Head for the ensemble, and working with the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band (2016-2017). He was also the visual designer for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2022 World Games in Birmingham.

Stovall is a sought-after adjudicator, consultant, and drill designer for high school and collegiate marching bands throughout the Southeast. He lives in Jacksonville with his wife, Noelle Millirons Stovall, and their daughter, Audrey.

About Jacksonville State University: Founded in 1883 as a state teachers' college, Jacksonville State University has grown from humble beginnings into the Alabama regional university with the highest percentage of accredited programs. Located in the Appalachian foothills midway between Birmingham and Atlanta, Jax State offers more than 150 courses of study, including over 40 online programs, at the undergraduate and graduate levels. To learn more, visit www.jsu.edu, call 1-800-231-JAX1, or e-mail jaxfacts@jsu.edu.

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