VALDOSTA — A former president of Valdosta State University has passed away.

Ronald M. Zaccari, who served as VSU’s president from January 2002 until June 2008, died Friday, the university said in a statement. Details of his death were not available.

He was the sixth president of the school, succeeding Hugh C. Bailey.

He previously held various faculty positions at Edinboro State College and the University of Colorado.  He spent 19 years (1977-1997) at Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, La., as professor of art and in various administrative positions, including dean of the College of Education, provost and vice president for academic affairs, according to VSU’s website.

Zaccari served as president of West Liberty State College, W. Va., from 1996 to 2001.

“Under his leadership, Valdosta State University updated its 10-year Master Plan which proposed major changes in academic programs, enrollment increases, facility planning, partnerships and increasing on-campus housing,” the website said.

During his tenure, Zaccari was sued by a student who claimed his expulsion violated his First Amendment and due process rights. In court documents, Zaccari said he removed Hayden Barnes from the school because he felt the student posed a danger to the campus amid a dispute over proposed parking decks at the college. In 2010, Barnes’s claim of First Amendment violations was thrown out but he won the claim of denial of due process.