Gene Zdziarski

Dr.  Gene Zdziarski retired as Vice President at DePaul University in 2025 after serving in the role for 11 years.  He previously served as Vice President and Dean of Students at Roanoke College, Dean of Students at the University of Florida, and positions in housing and the Dean of Student Life Office at Texas A&M University.  

Gene was responsible for the coordination and training of the Division of Student Affairs Critical Incident Response Team at Texas A&M University.  At the University of Florida, Gene chaired the Division of Student Affairs Crisis Response Team, served as a member of the University Counseling Resource Network, and as a member of the university’s Emergency Operations Team. At Roanoke College and at DePaul University, Gene led campus crisis management initiatives.  

Gene served as a subject matter expert in a collaborative effort between the U.S. Department of Education Office of Drug and Safe Schools, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Behavioral Analysis Unit, and the U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center to study incidents of targeted school violence in institutions of higher education.  He has co-authored three books on crisis management:  Campus Crisis Management: A Comprehensive Guide to Planning, Prevention, Response (First and Second Editions),  Crisis Management: Responding from the Heart, and In Search of Safer Communities:  Emerging Practices for Student Affairs in Addressing Campus Violence.