Donald W. Zacharias

Donald W. Zacharias (September 28, 1935- March 3, 2013)[1][2] was the 15th President of Mississippi State University from 1985 to 1997. He died of complications of multiple sclerosis on March 3, 2013, at 77 years of age.[3] Previously he served as the 6th president of Western Kentucky University from 1979 until 1985.[4]

Mississippi State University

Zacharias' 12 years leading the university is the second-longest tenure at Mississippi's flagship land-grant institution's 130-year history, ranking only behind Stephen D. Lee's 19-year stint as the first president of the university.[5] Zacharias retired following the Fall 1997 semester at the age of 62 due to his being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.[6][7] During his tenure enrollment rose to Mississippi's highest at almost 16,000. African-American enrollment more than doubled to 2,200, making up 15 percent of the student body, the highest percentage among SEC schools.[8] Upon his retirement from MSU, Zacharias said: "I saw things in Mississippi State University that others might not have seen. I felt that I had made the right decision to be at this university because I liked both what it stood for and its overall character. I liked its mission, and I liked the students and alumni. I saw the potential."[9] The Donald Zacharias Graduate Teaching Assistant of the Year Award is named for him[10] and The annual Donald W. Zacharias Distinguished Staff Awards, given to professional or support staff employees at Mississippi State, were established in his honor in 2013.[11] The Zacharias Housing Village, made up of 4 residence halls, was named in his honor in 2008.[12]

Western Kentucky University

Zacharias became president at WKU following the retirement of Dero Downing in 1979.[13] Zacharias Hall, a three story residence hall built in 1992 on the WKU campus that houses 206 upperclassmen and women, is named after Dr Zacharias.[14]

Early career

Zacharias began his career in higher education in 1963 at Indiana University where he was a faculty member in communication until 1969. He then went to work in the University of Texas communication department, attaining full professor rank before entering administration.[15] As an administrator with the University of Texas System, he held positions as executive assistant to the chancellor of the 14-campus statewide system and as assistant to the president of the Austin campus.[16]

Education

Zacharias received a bachelor's degree from Georgetown College in Kentucky in 1957, where he was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. He received a master's degree in 1959 and a doctorate in communication in 1963 from Indiana University. He held an honorary Doctorate of Law from Georgetown for distinguished contributions to the college.

Personal

Zacharias was born in Salem, Indiana.[17] He and his wife, Tommie Kline Zacharias, were married 53 years.[18] They had three children Eric, Leslie and Alan; and three grandchildren. He also had a sister, Mary Catherine Zacharias Collier, of Yucaipa, California.[19]

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See also
  • List of Presidents of Mississippi State University

References
  1. http://www.publicbackgroundchecks.com/SearchResponse.aspx?view=NM&fn=DONALD&mn=W&ln=ZACHARIAS&city=&state=&zip=&dob=19350928&age= Public Background Checks Search Results.
  2. Date information sourced from Library of Congress Authorities data, via corresponding WorldCat Identities linked authority file (LAF).
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-12-26. Retrieved 2010-12-26.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Mississippi State University Gallery of the Presidents
  4. WKU History & Traditions
  5. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/clarionledger/obituary.aspx?pid=163496538#fbLoggedOut
  6. http://www.bmc.edu/NewsDetail.asp?id=300 Blue Mountain College family remembers late MSU leader
  7. http://www.msstate.edu/web/alumnus/summer.97/18retire.htm Archived 2010-05-28 at the Wayback Machine Zacharias announces plans to retire by end of year
  8. http://obituaries.kjonline.com/obituaries/mainetoday-kennebecjournal/obituary.aspx?n=donald-w-zacharias&pid=163454489#fbLoggedOut Donald W. Zacharias Obituary
  9. http://www.cochran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/statements-speeches?ID=3524e877-84b0-44c1-9d93-5e71e9aec1e9 Remembering Dr. Donald Zacharias Congressional Record
  10. http://www.grad.msstate.edu/pdf/GTA_Nomination_Form_2013.pdf%5B%5D 2013 Donald Zacharias Graduate Teaching Assistant of the Year Award
  11. http://www.msstate.edu/web/media/detail.php?id=6090 MSU Zacharias Awards honor distinguished staff members
  12. http://www.msstate.edu/web/media/detail.php?id=4332 MSU to dedicate Zacharias Village, celebrate Sanderson Center
  13. http://www.wku.edu/wkuhistory/index.php WKU History & Traditions
  14. "WKU Housing and Residence Life - Zacharias Hall". Archived from the original on 2012-05-05. Retrieved 2012-03-13.
  15. http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/local/former-wku-president-zacharias-dead-at/article_0006b4d0-84f2-11e2-afa8-0019bb2963f4.html
  16. http://www.wku.edu/zacharias/ Dr. Donald Zacharias, WKU's sixth president, was a respected mentor.
  17. http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/local/former-wku-president-zacharias-dead-at/article_0006b4d0-84f2-11e2-afa8-0019bb2963f4.html Former WKU president Zacharias dead at 77
  18. http://www.wku.edu/zacharias/ Dr. Donald Zacharias, WKU's sixth president, was a respected mentor.
  19. http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/local/former-wku-president-zacharias-dead-at/article_0006b4d0-84f2-11e2-afa8-0019bb2963f4.html Former WKU president Zacharias dead at 77
Academic offices
Preceded by
James Douglas McComas		 President of Mississippi State University
1985–1997		 Succeeded by
Malcolm Portera
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