With less than a month of the Zaccari era remaining, the state’s Board of Regents announced Wednesday that Valdosta State University’s next chapter will start in July.

Dr. Patrick Schloss, president of Northern State University, Aberdeen, S.D., will become VSU’s eighth president next month, following Dr. Ron Zaccari’s retirement from the post June 30.

“Dr. Schloss has the right combination of leadership skills temperament and experience needed to take Valdosta State University to the next level,” said Regent Eldridge McMillan, who served as chairman of the Special Regents’ Committee charged with interviewing Schloss and two other finalists for the VSU presidency. “He is the perfect fit for Valdosta State.”

Schloss has served as NSU’s president since 2004. He also served Bloomburg University of Pennsylvania as acting president in 2004, provost and vice president for academic affairs from 1999 to 2004, and assistant vice president and dean of graduate studies and research from 1992 to 1994. Schloss served as professor and chair of the Department of Special Education at the University of Missouri from 1988 to 1992. He was the professor-in-charge of special education at Penn State University in State College from 1982 to 1987.

Schloss holds a Ph.D. in rehabilitation psychology and special education conferred in 1979 by the University of Wisconsin in Madison; a master of science degree in counseling earned in 1976 and a bachelor of science degree earned in 1974, both conferred by Illinois State University in Normal.

“He is a scholar of tremendous accomplishment, a bold and strategic academic administrator, and someone with the innovative ideas to strengthen all aspects of VSU,” said Dr. Susan Herbst, University System of Georgia executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer. “The future of VSU is bright, and Dr. Schloss is the person to lead the way.”

Still, at this writing, it is hard imagining anyone filling Zaccari’s shoes. Zaccari became not only a dynamic president of VSU but a vibrant personality and mind within the leadership of Valdosta-Lowndes County. Yet, only six years ago, when Zaccari was first tapped as president, it was hard to imagine anyone being able to assume the position held by his predecessor, Dr. Hugh Bailey.

Both Zaccari and Bailey’s presidencies were successes for VSU. Successful enough for their terms to be considered eras within Valdosta State’s history. We wish the same level of excellence and success for VSU’s Schloss era.