Zach P. Messitte

Thirteenth president

2013-2021

He worked for the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, United Nations and Cable News Network (CNN) before academic appointments at St. Mary’s College of Maryland and the University of Oklahoma. He was widely published and hosted “World View,” an award-winning program on National Public Radio, from 2009-2012.

During his Ripon tenure, the Imagine Tomorrow campaign raised $67 million, the endowment nearly doubled and Willmore Center was renovated/constructed. He also oversaw numerous renovations and upgrades to facilities and the establishment of the Franzen Center for Academic Success, Catalyst curriculum, Center for Politics and the People, the Career Discovery Tour, Liberal Arts in Focus, and growth in diversity and inclusion in faculty, staff and near doubling in the student body.

In addition, he taught courses in international relations, media and Italian, and he co-edited two books, co-wrote one book and published numerous articles in state and national media.