Dr. DeBorah Zackery accepted the position of Dean of Educational Services at Anoka-Ramsey Community College (ARCC) in October.

In this position, Zackery will oversee the English, journalism, reading and study skills, English as a second language, fine arts, humanities and social sciences areas.

Zackery, a long-time resident of Eagan, Minn., comes to the position after more than two decades teaching in Minnesota's public school system and several years in administration at four-year institutions.

"Anoka-Ramsey Community College is pleased to welcome Dr. Zackery and her extensive experience in meeting the educational service needs of diverse students," said Dr. Patrick M. Johns, ARCC president.

"Dr. Zackery's life-long dedication to teaching and supporting both students and faculty will be a great benefit to Anoka-Ramsey. Her understanding of the needs of preschool through12th-grade students and families combined with her experience at higher education institutions will be invaluable in enabling students to use Anoka-Ramsey as a bridge between primary and higher education."

"This position is a good mix with everything I've done in regard to special education, diversity and student needs at the preschool through 12th-grade levels and in four-year colleges." said Zackery.

"I've come full circle. I see my role as one of service to students, faculty and the college community. I am here to support students and faculty however I can. The only goal is excellence, and I will do the work necessary to achieve it."

Zackery taught special education in the Rochester Public School District for more than 20 years while simultaneously writing a bi-weekly column on diversity for the Rochester Post-Bulletin.

She moved to the Twin Cities area to pursue her doctoral degree at the University of Minnesota and held principal positions in the Apple Valley, Rosemount and Minneapolis School Districts.

After earning her doctoral degree in education in 2000, Zackery entered the Minnesota State Colleges and University System (MnSCU) as Education Director and Chairperson at Metropolitan State University (MSU) and subsequently as Associate Dean of Educational Services at St. Cloud State University.

Zackery earned her undergraduate degree at Wartburg College and her master's degree in Special Education at the University of Illinois-Champaign Urbana.