Garth C. Reeves Eminent Scholar Chair, Dame Dhyana Ziegler, Ph.D.
Governor Rick Scott made an announcement of his reappointment of Florida A&M University’s faculty member, Dhyana Ziegler, Ph.D., to the Florida Commission on the Status of Women on Monday.
Ziegler is a tenured professor and is currently the Garth C. Reeves Eminent Scholar Endowed Chair of Excellence in the FAMU’s School of Journalism and Graphic Communication.
The Commission’s mission is to study and make recommendations to the governor, cabinet and legislatures on issues affecting women. These recommendations are presented in the form of an annual report that is disseminated in the first quarter of each year.
This announcement will make Ziegler’s seventh Governor’s Appointment from three different governors in the state of Florida.
Ziegler was humbled by the amount of confidence these governors have had in her ability to serve the state of Florida in these capacities.
“It has been an amazing professional experience to receive seven Gubernatorial Appointments from three different governors,” Ziegler said. “When you’re an appointee, your service is not only to the governor, but to the citizens of the state of Florida.”
Scott would also reappoint Ziegler to the Florida Virtual School (FLVS) Board of Trustees. She is currently Chair of the Board of Trustees for FLVS. Both reappointments will be four year terms that will end in September 2019.
What started as a virtual high school with 2,000 students has grown to a virtual K-12 serving more than 200,244 part-time students and nearly 6,000 full-time students during the 2014-2015 school year.
Ziegler was honored to be a part of this evolution that is now a multi-million dollar enterprise that serves students on a global level.
“As the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Florida Virtual School, it is my goal that we continue to be the leader in virtual education and ensure that our ‘brand’ is strong,” Ziegler said. “It is my job, with the assistance of the other FLVS board members, to keep us on top and to keep the light shining on Florida.”
The School of Journalism and Graphic Communications faculty members, such as Ruthie White, were excited once hearing the news of her colleague.
“Dr. Ziegler has shown me what a true leader and teacher should encompass because she is hardworking, innovative, caring and genuine,” White said. “We all appreciate Dr. Z along with her dedication to the university and the world around her.”
Students have described Ziegler as a genius and even FAMU alumni, such as Dia Blackmon, a Spring 2015 broadcast journalism graduate from Detroit, Mich., still praises her.
“Dr. Ziegler is a great representation for FAMU," Blackmon said. It shows the connection between the university and the state and her impact as a Historically Black College professor,” Blackmon said. “Dr. Z is so inspirational and this is a great honor."