Leocadia Zak, President, Agnes Scott College

Leocadia Zak, president of Agnes Scott College, spoke with Focus: about the institution’s role in the future of Atlanta. “We prepare students for change, and teach them how to innovate and evolve as they move forward in their careers. We believe higher education will drive employment and act as an engine for economic development in the city,” Zak said.

What developments or changes over the past year have had the greatest impact on Agnes Scott’s students and the community?

It has been a challenging year nationally; however, for Agnes Scott, it is amazing how the campus continues to come together and work with the community. Our campus is thriving by embracing innovation, strengthening our community connections, and staying true to our mission.

Over the past year, we’ve achieved wonderful milestones. An alumna and her husband provided a transformational gift of $15 million for a new physician assistant program. They believe deeply in Agnes Scott and its future in the community. Our expansion into medical sciences and health is a clear demonstration of our commitment to serving communities, especially underserved neighborhoods. Our goal is to bring students from the community into our graduate programs so they can serve the community. Also, this past year, we were proud to have five Fulbright Scholars, which is a testament to our focus on global learning and leadership development. We prepare our students to become leaders in the community, fanning out across the globe. We are thrilled to see our students prepared to engage the world, ready for their next job, and the ones after that.

What does innovation mean for Agnes Scott College, and how does it translate into experiences for students inside and outside of the classroom?

Innovation is part of our DNA. We have a strong foundation in the liberal arts and believe it is the education for now and for the future. Within the liberal arts, we can innovate and provide experiential learning opportunities that complement the academic curriculum. Through our SUMMIT experience, every first-year student has a faculty-led global trip that prepares them to be global leaders. Every second-year student participates in our Sophomore Class Atlanta Leadership Experience (SCALE), where they have the opportunity to observe leadership in Atlanta. These experiences expose our students to our community, and the community to our students. As a result, our students have the opportunity to see leaders in action and find role models. Students often find internships at these locations, and many will be hired after graduation. It is a broad education focused on the skills of today. We also teach critical thinking, leadership development, and writing skills, giving students the tools to prepare for the careers of the future. We prepare students for change and teach them how to innovate and evolve as they move forward in their careers.

Agnes Scott is a women’s college that has been ranked No. 1 in innovation for the seventh year in a row. We were just ranked No. 2 for students making an impact by The Princeton Review. We are recognized for the impact we have on our students, and the impact our students have on the world.

Agnes Scott is also one of the most diverse colleges in the country. We have no majority on our campus. Everybody is welcome and included. This model is what drives innovation. We have a diversity of cultures, backgrounds, and thoughts, all of which come together to share ideas, have conversations, and build something better. Our campus is a beautiful place to be because of the amazing energy of our students.

How is technology reshaping education, and how are you leveraging technology to address the challenges and opportunities with tools like AI?

Technologies like AI and machine learning are here to stay, and we need to embrace them in a reasonable way. The skills provided in a liberal arts education, like critical thinking and embracing change, will serve our students well in this environment. The technology has to have certain guardrails, including being able to apply technology for ethical and social good. We are currently seeing the benefits of technology, and it is important to be able to step back, look at history, and see how technology is affecting the world. AI can produce and analyze data at speeds we’ve never seen before, but at the same time, we do have to be careful not to lose our creativity to AI and to ensure ethical solutions are in place. There has to be a balance, and we need people to help bring that balance.

Looking ahead, what are your top priorities for Agnes Scott College in the coming years?

We want to continue to meet the needs of our students and the Atlanta community. That means ensuring our undergraduate curriculum continues to be top notch and our graduate programs focused on medical sciences serve a broad community.. We believe higher education drives employment and acts as an engine for economic development in the city.

What do you hope to see in the next generation of Agnes Scott graduates, both as individuals and as citizens?

I see a group of people who are engaged in the world around them, engaged in thought and understanding of other cultures, and who are willing to engage in conversation and think critically. They are willing to take the time to explore and innovate with a willingness to try new things and embrace change.

What are your final thoughts for this discussion?

The key takeaway is the importance of education to the economic development of a community as a whole. Colleges and universities can no longer be ivory towers. They have to be actively engaged in the community, and the community has to be equally engaged. Our SCALE program engages students with for-profits and nonprofits that not only enjoy having our students but also embrace change. Greater engagement and acknowledgement of education as an economic development partner in Atlanta are extremely valuable. Agnes Scott is focused on our students’ success at the college and after they leave. Higher education can’t just be for education’s sake. Students need the skills to succeed and thrive throughout the rest of their lives. With this early exposure, students gain confidence and focus on starting their careers. One-third of our student population is first generation, and many receive Pell Grants. Agnes Scott provides them opportunities they might not have had elsewhere, creating social mobility.