A. Zachary Faison Jr. (born April 13, 1980) is an American academic administrator and attorney. In 2018, he became the 30th President and CEO of

Edward Waters University Edward Waters University is a Private university, private Christian college, Christian Historically Black colleges and universities, historically Black university in Jacksonville, Florida. It was founded in 1866 by members of the African Metho ...

in Jacksonville, Florida. Faison previously served at

Tuskegee University Tuskegee University (Tuskegee or TU; formerly known as the Tuskegee Institute) is a private, historically black land-grant university in Tuskegee, Alabama, United States. It was founded as a normal school for teachers on July 4, 1881, by the ...

as General Counsel and Vice President of External Affairs.

Early life

Faison was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He is the son of Alderman Faison Sr. and Dr. Jewel J. Faison.

Education

After high school, Faison graduated ''

magna cum laude Latin honors are a system of Latin phrases used in some colleges and universities to indicate the level of distinction with which an academic degree has been earned. The system is primarily used in the United States. It is also used in some Sout ...

'' from

Albany State University Albany State University is a Public university, public Historically Black College and University, historically black university in Albany, Georgia, United States. In 2017, Darton State College and Albany State University consolidated to become ...

with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...

, where he was an ASU Presidential & Foundation Scholar, ASU Velma Fudge Grant University Honors Program Graduate, ASU National Merit Scholar Graduate, an inductee of the

Alpha Kappa Mu The Alpha Kappa Mu National Honor Society () is an American collegiate honor society recognizing academic excellence in all areas of study. History Alpha Kappa Mu was founded on at Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State College in Nashville ...

honor society and, upon graduation, was awarded for being the highest-ranking student in the university's Department of English & Modern Languages. He attended the

University of Georgia School of Law The University of Georgia School of Law (Georgia Law) is the law school of the University of Georgia, a Public university, public research university in Athens, Georgia. It was founded in 1859, making it one of the oldest American university law ...

(Georgia Law) where he earned his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree in 2006 and was a member of Georgia Law's Executive Moot Court Board & Moot Court team. Faison completed post-doctoral study as a graduate of the

Harvard University Graduate School of Education The Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) is the education school of Harvard University, a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1920, it was the first school to grant the EdD degr ...

's Institute for Educational Management (IEM) and was a Millennium Leadership Initiative (MLI) Institute Fellow of the

American Association of State Colleges and Universities The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) is an organization of state-supported colleges and universities that offer degree programs leading to bachelor's, master's or doctoral A doctorate (from Latin ''doctor'', meaning ...

(AASCU) &

Association of Public and Land-grant Universities The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) is a research, policy, and advocacy organization of public research universities, land-grant institutions, state university systems, and higher education organizations. It has member c ...

(APLU). Additionally, he is a graduate of AASCU's New President's Academy and is a Gamma Cohort Fellow of the Higher Education Leadership Foundation (HELF). Faison also holds the Certification in Fundraising Management (CFRM) designation from The Fundraising School of Philanthropy at Indiana-University-Purdue-University at Indianapolis (IUPUI).

Career

Faison is a licensed member of the State Bar of Georgia, Georgia Court of Appeals, Georgia Supreme Court, and the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia. Before becoming the 30th President and CEO of

, his career included being General Counsel & Vice President for External Affairs at

, Vice President for Enrollment Management & Student Affairs at

Virginia Union University Virginia Union University is a Private university, private Historically black colleges and universities, historically black university in Richmond, Virginia. History The American Baptist Home Mission Society (ABHMS) founded the school as Rich ...

, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Marketing & Communications at

Mississippi Valley State University Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU, The Valley or Valley) is a Public university, public Historically black colleges and universities, historically black university in Mississippi Valley State, Mississippi, adjacent to Itta Bena, Mississ ...

, and Chief of Staff and Special Assistant to the President for Legal & Legislative Affairs, Community Affairs and Economic Development at Mississippi Valley State University.

Personal life

Faison is married to Tyciee L. White Faison who is also an educator and an ordained seminary trained minister. He is the brother of Dr. Morgan Z. Faison, who is an assistant professor of education at the

University of Georgia The University of Georgia (UGA or Georgia) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university with its main campus in Athens, Georgia, United States. Chartered in 1785, it is the oldest public university in th ...

Honors and awards

*''

Jacksonville Business Journal American City Business Journals, Inc. (ACBJ) is an American newspaper publisher based in Charlotte, North Carolina. ACBJ publishes ''The Business Journals'', which contains local business news for 44 markets in the United States with each market ...

'' – 40 Under 40 Top Business Leader *

National Bar Association The National Bar Association (NBA) was founded in 1925 and is the nation's oldest and largest national network of predominantly African Americans, African-American attorneys and judges. It represents the interests of approximately 67,000 lawyers, ...

– Nation's Top 40 Under 40 Lawyers & Legal Advocates *

– Top 40 Under 40 UGA Alumni *

– Top 50 Under 50 ASU Alumni *Featured in ''Diverse Issues in Higher Education'': ''Redefining the Narrative at Edward Waters College - Young HBCU Leaders Look to Carry the Torch''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Faison, A. Zachary Jr. Edward Waters University faculty 1980 births Living people