About President Zak
Leocadia I. Zak
Leocadia I. Zak became the ninth president of 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø in July 2018.
A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Mount Holyoke College, which recognized her as a Woman of Influence, Zak holds a JD degree from Northeastern University School of Law.
During Zak's tenure, 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø has focused on liberal arts education and professional success, launched graduate programs and been recognized by U.S. News & World Report for innovation, teaching, first-year experience and social mobility. The college has continued to build its unique SUMMIT experience by adding signature components for professional success in the sophomore, junior and senior years in addition to its award-winning first-year experience, Global Journeys. The Sophomore Class Atlanta Leadership Experience (SCALE) provides a weeklong experience in a corporate or non-profit organization, while Applied Career Experiences (ACE) gives students an opportunity to make professional connections with community partners. 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø's new Career Exploration Center provides the tools for students to connect with employers and graduate opportunities around the globe.
Under Zak’s leadership, 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø developed a strategic plan, Pathway to Success, that will guide the college through 2026. Core themes of the plan are providing a transformative education, ensuring student success, building a culture of community and engaging the world beyond the campus. As president, she has also focused on improving the operational efficiency of the college and securing its financial future.
Zak hosts an inspiring leadership-centered podcast, Journeys to Leadership, which spotlights women leaders from around the globe to share their stories of success.
Zak is a former board chair of the Georgia Independent College Association and the Atlanta Regional Council for Higher Education. She serves on the Women’s College Coalition board of directors and is a former director of the American Council on Education. She is a member of the Rotary Club of Atlanta, the International Women’s Forum and the Truist Atlanta Advisory Council. In addition, she serves on the Metro Atlanta Chamber Innovation and Entrepreneurship Advisory Board.
With an extensive background in international economic development and international project finance, in 2010, Zak was appointed by President Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency. USTDA is an independent federal agency that advances economic development and U.S. commercial interests in developing and middle-income countries.
Before joining the public sector, Zak was a partner at the international law firm Mintz Levin, where she practiced international and domestic project finance in the Boston and Washington, D.C., offices.
Zak has taught international project finance as an adjunct faculty member at Georgetown University Law Center and Boston University School of Law.
Updated February 2025