Presidential Portraits on Display at KSU

The KSU Presidential Portraits project was developed by the Office of the President and the Department of Museums, Archives and Rare Books. Eight installations on the Kennesaw and Marietta campuses showcase portraits of the presidents of KSU and the former Southern Polytechnic State University by Shane McDonald Studios. The installations also include the presidential seal and a biographical panel describing the president's impact on university growth, student and community engagement, research, and infrastructure.

Use the map below to visit the portrait installations and learn more about each president by clicking their name in the dropdown menu.

Locations of Presidential Portraits

Locations of the Presidential Portraits on the Kennesaw Campus.

A map showing the locations of the Presidential Portraits on the Marietta Campus. The locations are listed below

Kennesaw Campus

  1. Betty L. SiegelSiegel
  2. Horace Sturgis
  3. Daniel S. Papp
  4. Pamela S. Whitten
  5. Kathy S. Schwaig

Marietta Campus

  1. Samuel S. Olens
  2. Stephen R. Cheshier
  3. Lisa A. Rossbacher

Learn More About the Presidents

Click on each portrrait below to, learn more about the KSU Presidents through the KSU Archives Scholarly Online Access Repository (SOAR).

About the Artist

Artist Shane McDonald with his portrait of President Schwaig in his art studio

Shane McDonald has created fine art oil and pastel portraits for patrons throughout the Southeast since obtaining his BA degree in Art from Kennesaw State University in 1992. His training in classical drawing and painting paired with his willingness to embrace the current trends in contemporary art has enabled him to maintain respect as a fine artist and instructor in the Atlanta area. Having served the art community as a mentor for youngsters by teaching and demonstrating at schools, as a facilitator of art critiques and open studio figure drawing groups, and as a leader for arts organizations, Shane lives his life around art. Currently Shane's fine art landscapes are represented by Robert Kent Gallery in Marietta, GA. Figurative works and still-life paintings can also be seen in his commercial studio and gallery in at the Artisan Resource Center in Marietta, GA. Proficiency in diverse subject matter and media has also enabled Shane to create masterful murals in public institutions and private residences, but his name is best known for his exquisite portraits in oil and pastel.


Shane has won numerous awards for his works at juried competitions. His paintings are in the permanent collections at the Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art, Kennesaw State University, the Dr. Jesse R. Peel LGBTQ Center at East Carolina University, and the Zuckerman Museum of Art.