GREENVILLE, Pa.—Mike Zawoysky ’79, the former CEO and Board Director of Shoe Sensation, recently returned to Thiel College Board of Trustees.
Zawoysky retired as the CEO and Board Director of Shoe Sensation Inc. in 2017. He continues to stay partially active in the business world as a consultant and investor. During his tenure as CEO of Shoe Sensation, Zawoysky successfully led an expansion effort from 61 retail locations to more than 162 locations in 19 midwestern states. In 2015, he led the successful sale of Shoe Sensation. Throughout his 37-plus years in business, he has worked in the steel, scientific, waste and retail industries with more than half of that time in retail. Prior to his role at Shoe Sensation, Zawoysky was the Executive Vice President-Chief Financial Officer of AC Moore Arts and Crafts and before that he was the Executive Vice President-Chief Financial Officer of Foot Locker Europe. He has spent time working and living in Europe, Asia and several U.S. cities, moving 11 times in his career. In addition to his career commitments, Zawoysky has been involved in many local and national charities including United Way, Toys for Tots, Vickie’s Angels, Clark County Youth and Family Services, Goldheart Golden Retriever Rescue and the Two-Ten Footwear Foundation.
Zawoysky has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and business administration from Thiel College. During his first nine-year tenure as a member of the Board of Trustees, he was the Chair of the Audit Committee in addition to being a member of the Advancement and Governance & Trusteeship committees. He was also the co-chair of the successful David Miller Endowment Fund campaign, which raised $1 million to endow a chair in accounting in honor of David M. Miller ’61 H’20. Miller taught at Thiel for 57 years, the longest tenure in the College’s history. He retired in 2020 and passed away in 2022.
Zawoysky and his wife, Vicki, reside in Mechanicsburg, Pa. with their two golden doodles, Ollie and Finn. They have an adult daughter, Calla, and one a grandson, Freddie.
The Board of Trustees is responsible for the oversight of Thiel College. The Board adopts rules, regulations and policies governing Thiel College and has authority over curricular development, use of property, development of facilities and fiscal and human resources management. The Board of Trustees meets formally three times a year on campus.
About Thiel College
Thiel College is an independent college founded in the Lutheran tradition. Located in Greenville, Pa., the College offers 60 majors and minors, 24 varsity sports, and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The College is also home to a new Master of Science in speech-language pathology and 2Master of Business Administration. Both master’s degree programs offer innovative and accelerated five-year paths which allow students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. The speech-language pathology program also has an accelerated 15-month graduate-level program. The M.B.A. program also has a 12-month post-graduate program.A dedicated faculty paired with dynamic research and internship opportunities produce numerous graduate school and job placements. Coeducational from its beginnings, the College remains committed to combining tradition with innovation as it celebrates 150 years.