Dr. Jeremy Stovall Named Next Director of Bands at Jacksonville State University
Story courtesy of Jacksonville State University
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. — Jacksonville State University has announced that Dr. Jeremy Stovall will become the next Director of Bands, succeeding longtime director Dr. Ken Bodiford, who will retire at the end of the current marching season on Jan. 1, 2026. The appointment marks a significant milestone for both the university and its acclaimed Marching Southerners, a program Dr. Stovall has helped shape for more than two decades.
“Dr. Stovall is an exceptional educator and musician whose talent, professionalism, and leadership have already made a lasting impact on our band program,” said Jax State President Don C. Killingsworth, Jr. “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 announcement was made during the Annual Southerners Reunion Dinner, which drew a record crowd of alumni, students, and supporters. Excitement was high following news of Dr. Bodiford’s retirement after 32 years leading the Marching Southerners and more than 40 years of service to the university.
https://weisradio.com/2025/09/29/jsus-dr-kenneth-g-bodiford-announces-retirement/
“Dr. Bodiford’s influence on this university and the world of marching music will be felt for generations,” Killingsworth added. “His mentorship and vision have built a legacy that Dr. Stovall is certainly qualified to carry forward.”
For Dr. Stovall, stepping into the role carries personal significance that spans more than half his life.
“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,” Stovall said. “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 Anniston, Stovall’s connection to Jax State began as a student marching under Bodiford’s leadership. He earned both his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education (2003) and Master of Arts (2005) from Jacksonville State University before completing his Doctor of Musical Arts in Wind Conducting at the University of Alabama in 2018. His career since then has been marked by a blend of artistic excellence, leadership, and deep dedication to the university community.
As Assistant Director of Bands and Associate Professor, Stovall has conducted the university’s Symphonic Band and Pep Band (Hardcorps), taught courses in conducting and marching band techniques, and instructed students both on the field and in the classroom. He has also contributed his musical direction to the Department of Drama and the Jacksonville Opera Theatre, serving as both Music Director and Pit Orchestra Conductor.
His work with the Marching Southerners has taken the ensemble to some of the nation’s and world’s most prestigious venues and events. Under his musical leadership, the band has performed at the Bands of America Grand National Championships in Indianapolis (2019), the World Peace Parade in Rome (2019), the 75th Anniversary Commemoration of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii (2016), and the London New Year’s Day Parade (2012). These performances have strengthened the Southerners’ reputation as one of the most recognized collegiate marching ensembles in the world.
Dr. Stovall’s contributions have earned him wide respect in the music community. In 2020, he was named the Jacksonville State University National Alumni Association’s Outstanding Faculty Member of the Year. He holds memberships in several distinguished professional organizations, including 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 his university work, Stovall’s influence extends throughout the marching arts. He served on the visual staff for the Spirit Drum and Bugle Corps from 2002 to 2007, later becoming Visual Caption Head. He worked with the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band from 2016 to 2017 and served as the visual designer for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2022 World Games in Birmingham. Today, he remains a sought-after adjudicator, consultant, and drill designer for high school and collegiate marching bands across the Southeast.
Dr. Stovall lives in Jacksonville with his wife, Noelle Millirons Stovall, and their daughter, Audrey.
As the Marching Southerners prepare to close out the current season and bid farewell to Dr. Bodiford, the appointment of Dr. Jeremy Stovall marks not only a transition, but a continuation of the spirit, excellence, and tradition that have defined Jacksonville State University’s band program for more than 65 years.
