FAMU Journalism Professor appointed to the Florida Virtual School Board of Trustees by former Governor Charlie Crist

Former Gov. Charlie Crist, in one of his last acts in office, appointed three women to the Board of Trustees for the Florida Virtual School (FLVS). Dhyana Ziegler, a journalism professor in the Florida A&M University (FAMU) School of Journalism and Graphic Communication, (SJGC) is the only reappointed member of the board. This is her fourth consecutive term, which ends in 2014.

“I am thrilled to continue my service”, said Ziegler. “The school has been a phenomenon with its continued success and I am sure the next four years will be filled with more innovation and students having the opportunity for virtual education.”

FLVS board members work to help fulfill the school’s mission to provide students with technology-based educational opportunities through the development and delivery of online and distance learning education. The school was founded in 1997 as the country’s first state-wide Internet-based public high school. Today, the FLVS is an option for students in grades K-12 worldwide serving more than 200,000 students last year.

“We are extremely pleased that Dr. Dhyana Ziegler has been reappointed to the Florida Virtual School Board of Trustees,” said FLVS President and CEO Julie Young. “Dr. Ziegler brings a wealth of knowledge and experiences to help further our success.”

About Dhyana Ziegler
Prior to joining FAMU in 1997 as the Garth Reeves Eminent Scholar in SJGC, Ziegler spent 14 years at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. While there, she became and remains the only African-American elected as president of the Faculty Senate; where she recently spoke at the university’s 50th anniversary of African-American undergraduates. She has held several administrative positions at FAMU including: assistant vice president for Academic Affairs and Instructional Technology, acting vice president for Research, and acting director for the Office of International Education and Development. Throughout her academic career, she has received several honors and awards for her achievements, including being knighted as a Dame of Justice by Chivalric Order of the Knights of Justice at the University of Cambridge in England; named Top 50 African-Americans in Technology by Blackmoney.com; and Top 100 in The Black Engineers and Information Technology magazine.