Rate My Professor Anne Zayaitz

Dr. Anne Zayaitz served as a distinguished professor in the Biology Department at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania for over three decades, culminating in high-level administrative leadership until her retirement in January 2021. A native of Emmaus, Pennsylvania, she earned her B.A. in Botany from Duke University in 1979, followed by an M.S. in 1981 and a Ph.D. in Food Microbiology in 1984 from Cornell University. Zayaitz joined Kutztown University in 1985 as an assistant professor of biology, marking her as the first woman hired into a tenure-track position in the department. She advanced to associate professor and taught a range of courses for 14 years, including microbiology, food microbiology, cell biology, and general biology for both majors and non-majors. During this time, she advised more than 70 students annually, served as medical technology coordinator and pre-professional health adviser for two decades, and acted as university ombudsperson for two terms. Her dedication to student success and academic mentoring was evident in her support for women in STEM fields, including initiatives like the Women in Science Project.

In 2008, Zayaitz transitioned to administration as interim associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, becoming associate dean in 2009 and dean in 2011. She later served as acting provost and vice president for academic and student affairs before her permanent appointment as provost and vice president for academic affairs in 2016, overseeing all academic programs, research initiatives, and student success efforts during her 36-year tenure. Key accomplishments included securing two new accreditations, launching new bachelor's and master's programs, announcing the university's first doctoral programs, and hiring the four current academic deans. She contributed to university governance through service on the Women’s Center Advisory Board, Commission on Human Diversity, and University Safety Committee. Zayaitz's scholarly contributions include co-authoring the Endospore Stain Protocol for the American Society for Microbiology in 2007 and earlier research such as Proteolytic Inactivation of Thermonuclease Activity of Staphylococcus aureus During Recovery from Thermal Injury in 1982. Her career exemplified commitment to academic excellence, diversity, and institutional growth at Kutztown University.