Texas Tech University

Mitzi Ziegner

Associate Director
Teaching, Learning, and Professional Development Center

Email: mitzi.ziegner@ttu.edu

Mitzi began serving as Associate Director of the Texas Tech Teaching, Learning and Professional Development Center in 2020. Previously, she served as Associate Chair of the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences and held a faculty position in the Texas Tech University College of Human Sciences. Mitzi has been teaching since 1998 and has experience ranging from pre-kindergarten to university students. In 1995, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies from the Texas Tech University College of Human Sciences, and went on to pursue a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Wayland Baptist University with specialization areas in reading and early childhood education. She holds a lifetime Texas teaching certificate and enjoyed 8 successful years as a teacher in both Head Start and primary classrooms in the Lubbock Independent School District. From 2005-2010, Mitzi served in a duel role as a faculty member in both the College of Human Sciences and the College of Education where she served as an instructor and university supervisor for teacher certification candidates. In 2010 she earned continuing appointment in the Texas Tech College of Human Sciences where she taught and developed both face to face and online Human Development and Family Sciences courses and is regarded by Texas Tech Worldwide eLearning as one of the university's top online instructors. Mitzi continues her teaching role at Texas Tech in the Honors College and Department of Human Development and Family Sciences. From 2009-2020, she served as a Program Director and faculty member for the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (GPIDEA), a consortium of distinguished, accredited universities including Texas Tech that develop and offer degree programs completely online. In addition, Mitzi is an independent professional development trainer and educational consultant, and has provided faculty and staff development trainings for the Lubbock, Frenship and Cooper Independent School Districts, the Lubbock YWCA YCARE and YCAMP programs, LakeRidge United Methodist Church's Parents Day Out, Preschool and Kindergarten programs, TEGA Kids Superplex, Live Oak Community Church's Student Ministry Program, the Texas Tech University Early Head Start and Christine DeVittand Helen DeVitt Jones Child Development Research Centers , WonderWell Early Childhood Education and The Early Childhood Christian Network.

Mitzi Ziegner was the 2020 College of Human Sciences nominee and recipient of the Texas Tech President's Excellence in Teaching Award. She has been selected by the Texas Tech J.T. and Margaret Talkington Leadership Academy and Texas Tech's Department of Athletics Faculty Engagement initiative to serve as a Game Day Professor for TTU football, volleyball, baseball, women's tennis and men's and women's basketball in recognition of her support of Texas Tech student athletes. Mitzi is a multiple year recipient of the Texas Tech Mortar Board Forum Chapter's Apple Polishing Faculty Mentorship Recognition. In 2019, Mitzi Ziegner co-led the first ever Texas Tech Study Abroad experience for the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, Child Development in London, with Dr. Stephanie Shine. She is the 2018 recipient of the College of Human Sciences Kathryn Burleson Faculty Service Award and the College of Human Sciences Excellence in Teaching Award. In 2017, Mitzi was the first non-tenure track faculty member to be elected to membership in the Texas Tech University Teaching Academy in recognition of demonstrated excellence in teaching and efforts toward furthering the development of the scholarship of teaching and learning. She was the 2009 recipient of the Texas Tech University Mortar Board and Omicron Delta Kappa's Faculty Recognition Award, the 2009 recipient of the YWCA Women of Excellence Award in Education and the 2004 Texas Tech University College of Human Sciences Distinguished Alumni New Achiever Award recipient.

Mitzi values community service, outreach and engagement, and currently serves as the President of the Lubbock High School Parent, Teacher and Student Association where she was recognized as PTSA President of the Year in 2022. She served previously as President of the Murfee Elementary and Hutcheson Middle School PTA executive boards and a two year term as President of the Lubbock YWCA Executive Board. Mitzi has served multiple terms for the Lubbock Independent School District as a board member for the LISD Foundation for Excellence. She served a three year term as a mayor appointed member of the City of Lubbock Appointments Advisory Board, as a board member for the Volunteer Center of Lubbock, as member of the Lubbock Area United Way speaker's bureau and in the role of Membership Vice President for the Lubbock Chapter of the National Charity League. Mitzi's service roles in Lubbock ISD also include a community advisory position on the Strategic Planning Action Committee for Professional Development and appointed membership on the Superintendent's District Parent Advisory Council. Mitzi is a sustaining member and committee advisor for the Junior League of Lubbock, Inc. where her leadership roles have included Executive Board Placement Vice President, Nominating Committee Chair, Pat S. Moore Award selection committee chair, Public Relations Chair and Holiday Happening Publicity Chair. In 2022, Mitzi received the Junior League of Lubbock's Sustaining Member of the Year award.

Mitzi's favorite roles by far are those she serves in her family. She has been married to her college sweetheart, Jonathan Ziegner, since 1995. Jonathan is a graduate of the Texas Tech Whitacre College of Engineering and is a licensed Civil Engineer. He has worked in roadway, rail, bridge, water and utility design and development in the Lubbock area throughout his career and was instrumental in the design and construction of the Marsha Sharp Freeway. The Ziegners feel richly blessed to be parents to their son Nathan, a student at Texas Tech and their daughter Viviana, a student at Lubbock High School. In their spare time they enjoy traveling together, attending Texas Tech sporting events and being with their dogs Zeke and Hank.

Photo Description

Teaching, Learning, & Professional Development Center

  • Address

    University Library Building, Room 136, Mail Stop 2044, Lubbock, TX 79409-2004
  • Phone

    806.742.0133
  • Email

    tlpdc@ttu.edu