Spotlight On: Leocadia Zak, President, Agnes Scott College

Key points:

• • Agnes Scott is embedding AI, experiential learning, and global experiences into every student’s education.
• • The college is expanding health sciences programs to help meet Georgia’s growing workforce needs.
• • Strong partnerships with businesses and nonprofits are preparing students for rapidly evolving careers.

July 2026 — Focus: spoke with Leocadia Zak, president of Agnes Scott College, about the college’s launch of Universal AI, its expanding health sciences programs, the partnerships helping prepare students for a rapidly evolving workforce, and its broader culture of innovation. “I truly believe in partnering with our community, particularly with corporations, industry, and nonprofits,” Zak said.

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How has the past year been for Agnes Scott College, and what changes or milestones have had the deepest impact?

It’s been an outstanding year at Agnes Scott. We are thrilled with our student body, our faculty, our staff, and the continued innovation across our campus. One of the things we are incredibly excited about is that in March, we introduced Universal AI. 

Every second-year student completes a workplace immersion experience across metro Atlanta with one of our 22 partners, including nonprofit organizations, corporations, and other employers. This year, we added a new layer: Every first-year student will have an experience focused on artificial intelligence fluency. Whether a student is a STEM major or a history major, they will learn AI tools while applying the liberal arts approach to critical thinking, including when to use AI, when to question it, and when to rely on their own judgment. Our partners want graduates who are fluent in AI, and we also want students to think critically about it.

Additionally, every first-year Agnes Scott student participates in a meaningful Summit experience through a faculty-led trip, either abroad or within the United States, focused on a particular topic. The opportunity is not limited to those who can afford it; every student receives that global experience.

How are your health sciences programs progressing, and what impact do you expect them to have on the broader Atlanta workforce?

It is not surprising that Agnes Scott is ahead of the curve. We have been ranked No. 1 for innovation by U.S. News & World Report for eight consecutive years. We are always looking ahead and responding to what is coming next.

We have expanded our graduate offerings to include post-baccalaureate pre-medical studies, medical sciences, and clinical mental health counseling. We plan to launch our physician assistant program in fall 2026, which we are very excited about.

We bring the entire spirit and mission of Agnes Scott to our graduate programs as well, with a strong focus on Georgia. We hope students remain in Georgia and serve communities throughout the state, where there is a significant need for healthcare professionals. We are delighted to partner with major healthcare institutions, including Grady Hospital, to support these programs.

How are you working with industry leaders to ensure innovation at Agnes Scott evolves alongside changes in the economy?

I truly believe in partnering with our community, particularly with corporations, industry, and nonprofits. We have been a partner with the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce for many years, and I have served on its Innovation Council.

Preparing students for their second-year work experience includes asking our partners what they want to see from graduates, what skills are needed, and how we can better prepare students. We have a constant dialogue with those partners and with members of the Metro Atlanta Chamber.

We also have a significant partnership with the City of Decatur, helping develop its climate resilience plan. We have installed heat sensors throughout the city that are monitored by high school and Agnes Scott students. Together with the city, we have been recognized by Second Nature for that partnership and our work connecting students with real community challenges.

How are student expectations changing, and what value can a college still provide?

We are ranked among the Top 20 for best value, and students care deeply about value. They want to know where college will lead them, whether that is employment or graduate school, and how they can achieve those goals at an effective price point.

More than 40% of our students go on to graduate school. Many pursue medical school, pharmacy school, and other professional programs. Some continue into Agnes Scott’s own graduate programs. Others prepare to enter the workforce immediately.

An important part of that preparation is our alumni network. Our graduates have been recognized nationally for mentoring students, making introductions, and helping them navigate their careers. Students see that their connection to Agnes Scott extends well beyond graduation.

The work experience, the travel experience, and Universal AI fluency all provide something extra that employers want to see, and every student receives those opportunities.

How are your partnerships with the Atlanta business community continuing to strengthen experiential learning?

SCALE is our second-year experience within Summit, and we continue to have remarkably strong partnerships. This is the program that immerses students in an Atlanta organization to gain work experience. Almost immediately after our students complete their experience, our partners want to participate again.

They tell us their teams look forward to meeting our students and learning from them. It is a valuable opportunity for both our partners and our students. We continue to retain longtime partners while adding new organizations across Atlanta.

Which industries are generating the most interest from students?

We strive to provide students with a broad range of experiences. Many are interested in nonprofit organizations, including Zoo Atlanta, the Atlanta Botanical Garden, anti-trafficking organizations, and legal services.

Students are equally interested in organizations such as BlackRock, Coca-Cola, Jackson Spalding, and Mercedes-Benz. One of the biggest lessons they learn is that these organizations offer far more career opportunities than they initially expect. Beyond their core business, they need professionals in communications, marketing, human resources, and many other fields.

Students often discover career paths they had never considered.

How is Agnes Scott updating its curriculum to prepare students for emerging industries and future workforce needs?

Environmental and sustainability studies is one example. We have long offered the field as a minor supported by our Center for Sustainability, and it became a major beginning this fall.

Our students are deeply interested in the future of the environment, and we recognize that sustainability affects every sector. We are excited to expand opportunities in this area.

Looking ahead three to five years, what are your top priorities for Agnes Scott College?

We innovate because we care about our students and want to ensure their success. We recognize that the world is moving faster and faster, and that is the world our students are entering.

One priority is ensuring students spend four years in a culture of innovation that prepares them for lifelong success. They must learn to embrace change and look toward the future. Our partnerships with the business, nonprofit, and medical communities help us understand how quickly their industries are evolving, and we want our students to be prepared for those environments.

Innovation is central to that mission. It is why we launched Universal AI. We recognize AI will be an essential skill for the future, and we cannot wait to respond after the technology has already transformed the workplace. An important part of Agnes Scott’s mission is anticipating what comes next so our students leave ready for whatever the future brings.

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