University of Alabama

Join us every Wednesday of the Spring 2024 semester at 7:30 PM in Russell Hall Auditorium 159

As a ministry of Jesus Christ, RUF exists in step with the local church to see the flourishing of life at The University of Alabama through a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ, the breaking down of barriers among campus groups, and grace based community that seeks God together in order to serve the campus and Tuscaloosa for the Glory of God. If you are a student or would like to connect us to a student, reach out to us by email. Roll Tide!!

Connect

Students involved in RUF are connected to a few main churches, feel free to check them out. They are:

Trinity Presbyterian Church

Riverwood Presbyterian Church

Plum Grove Baptist Church

Capstone Church

Listen to our podcast!

Interested in what we listen to? Check out the RUF Bama Set List and Indelible Grace

Dating Article by former RUF Midsouth Coordinator, Les Newsom

Who is Jesus?

How can I know God?

Meet Our Team

Stewart Swain

Stewart Swain

Campus Minister

Stewart was born in Ohio but grew up in Glen Ellyn, IL, a small suburb 30 minutes west of Chicago. After graduating from Glenbard West High School Stewart moved to Texas and attended SMU. He was never looking for Jesus or a Campus Ministry until RUF found him at the end of a confusing, fun, and difficult freshman year. Through a long process of ups and downs after his sophomore year Stewart received the good news of the gospel. The life changing message of being able to know God through Jesus began to renovate his whole life and even made him consider entering into vocational ministry. Upon graduation from SMU in 2010 with a BBA in Marketing and a minor in Spanish he moved to Winston-Salem, NC to work for RUF at Wake Forest University. These years at Wake made him consider a more permanent calling so in June of 2012 he moved back to Dallas, TX to begin a Masters in Divinity at Redeemer Seminary and to continue working for RUF at SMU. During his last year in seminary Stewart worked as an accountant for a contract furniture design company. Stewart graduated from Redeemer in May of 2015 and has been the Campus Minister at The University of Alabama since June 2015. Stewart loves the energy of Alabama, the diversity of people on campus, and anything sports and people related.

Stewart’s wife - Mary Cannon - is from Nashville. She became a Christian in college and was involved in RUF as a student at Ole Miss. She holds her bachelors and masters degrees in Accounting and currently works for PriceWaterhouse Coopers. She is very excited to minister to college girls.

Mary Cannon and Stewart are so excited to welcome Baby Watson to God's good world. Watson was born in the summer of 2023.

Elle Shuford

Elle Shuford

Campus Staff

Elle is from Watkinsville, Georgia, and graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Advertising and Communication Studies. During her years in RUF as a student, she came to know the beauty and grace of Jesus. After graduation, Elle spent two years as an RUF Intern at the University of Florida. Her time as an Intern in Gainesville was so impactful, and the Lord used it to call her into the Campus Staff position at the University of Alabama. Elle enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing games, going on walks, singing, and creating Spotify playlists. She can’t wait to head to Tuscaloosa and see how God works!

Hunter Brooks

Hunter Brooks

Intern

Hunter graduated from Western Kentucky University where he studies theater, vocal music, and anthropology. He loves the outdoors, reading, watching movies, and getting coffee with friends. Hunter is excited to dive deeper into his faith while ministering to students in Tuscaloosa. Roll Tide!

Mary Claire Sides

Mary Claire Sides

Intern

Mary Claire was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, where she went to Highland Park High School. She continued on to attend the University of Texas at Austin where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. During her time at Texas, Mary Claire came to know the Lord at the beginning of her junior year and RUF quickly became a place where she asked questions, shared concerns, cried, laughed and most importantly, felt the love of Jesus through the staff and other students. Some of her favorite memories of RUF at Texas include time with her small group, prayer nights, early leadership team meetings, and all the conferences. Mary Claire can’t wait to move to Tuscaloosa to begin coffee hangs, Bible studies, large groups and so much more!

Daniel Tortorici

Daniel Tortorici

Associate Campus Minister

Daniel was born and raised in Birmingham, AL. After graduating from Mountain Brook High School in 2012, Daniel attended the University of Alabama where he met his wife Molly. Daniel graduated from Alabama in 2016 and went on to serve as an RUF intern at the University of South Carolina for 3 years. Daniel spent 4 years in Jackson, MS in seminary at RTS Jackson. While in Jackson, Daniel worked part-time for the RUF Intern department and served as the intern with the young adult ministry at First Presbyterian Jackson.

Daniel is excited to return to his alma mater -- what he calls “the promised land.” Daniel loves all things Alabama, Sacramento Kings, and anything to do with his wife or dog Weller.