Dr. Ronald Zaccari became Valdosata State University’s seventh president on January 7, 2002. VSU is one of the two regional universities in Georgia located near the Florida border and has an enrollment of nearly 11,000 students. Since his appointment, vision, strategic planning, and assessment have been guiding principles of his administration.
The American Association of State Colleges and Universities, a Washington based organization representing America’s public colleges and universities, appointed Dr. Zaccari to work with eleven university presidents from across the nation and charged the group to respond to the challenges facing higher education and developing a visionary plan and action steps. Following eighteen months of work, the Commission’s report, “Renewing the Promise: The Public Universities in a Transforming World” was published in November 2005.
Dr. Zaccari was named one of “The 40 most influential South Georgians” for 2003-2004 by the South Georgia Business Magazine. He is the recipient of many awards for outstanding leadership and service as an administrator in the field of higher education. In 1999, he received Pennsylvania State University’s Excellence in Education Award for distinguished service, one of the highest awards bestowed upon a graduate of Pennsylvania State University’s College of Education.
Prior to his first presidential appointment at West Liberty State College, Dr. Zaccari was Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Southeastern Louisiana University. He has held art professorships at Edinboro State University and the University of Colorado. His higher education degrees are from institutions in the northeast, including a master’s degree in education from the University of Pittsburgh, and a doctorate from Pennsylvania State University.
He is a practicing artist who continues to produce works of art and participate in numerous exhibitions. This past year, 60 new works were completed for a major exhibition.