Donald W. Zacharias

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]

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]

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]

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.

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]

• List of Presidents of Mississippi State University

• Mississippi State University Gallery of the Presidents
• Zacharias Housing Village
• Mississippi State University General Information
• Obituary for Donald W. Zachrias
• A Tribute to Dr. Donald Zacharias