About the Honoree

A 1972 graduate of the University of Florida, Anita Zucker has gone on to support her alma mater in myriad ways. A reliable donor to the institution since 1981, Anita has provided multiple leadership gifts across many areas of the university, including the establishment of the Anita Zucker Center for Excellence in Early Childhood Studies, an interdisciplinary center at the university dedicated to advancing knowledge, policy and practices in early childhood development. A former elementary school teacher, Anita also played a prominent role as chair of the “Starting Ahead. Staying Ahead” national early childhood summit that the university convened in February 2017.  Anita currently serves as a Board of Trustee at the University of Florida but has held numerous leadership roles in numerous education and philanthropic organizations including the College of Charleston, Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina, Clemson University, Tri-County Cradle to Career Collaborative, United Way, Yeshiva University and Trident Technical College.

“To merely say Anita Zucker is a champion for education is an understatement. Education is entrenched in her soul. She has devoted her life to making the world better through the advancement of education,” said W. Kent Fuchs, University of Florida’s president.

About the Award

The James L. Fisher Award for Distinguished Service to Education celebrates individuals, organizations, foundations, corporations or publications for their extraordinary impact on education nationally or globally, beyond service to a single institution or state. Presented for more than 60 years, the award was renamed in 1986 in honor of CASE’s second president.