From Shuttered to Spiritual: Florida Evangelist Transforms Historic Vermont College into Z University

The 115-acre Green Mountain College campus in Poultney, Vermont sat empty for years after the college closed in 2019. Its 26 buildings, dormitories, athletic facilities, and over 100 acres of farmland represented both a loss and an opportunity. A Florida evangelist named Tommie Zito saw potential where others saw abandonment. He recently completed his purchase of the property, with the backing of whiskey entrepreneur Raj Bhakta, to establish Z University, a Christ-centered liberal arts institution.

What makes this story compelling is the alignment of vision and values. Green Mountain College was originally founded over 200 years ago as a Methodist institution with the motto“Lux Fiat”—Let There Be Light. When Bhakta purchased the property at auction after the college’s closure, he wasn’t looking to flip it for profit. Instead, he sought someone who understood the importance of restoring faith-based education to a campus that had lost its way. Zito’s arrival represents a genuine return to those roots, not a commercial venture in disguise.

Zito’s ambitions extend far beyond Vermont. He envisions Z University as the flagship of a global network of faith-centered campuses across Canada, Italy, Dubai, Poland, Sri Lanka, Japan, Ireland, and the U.K. The curriculum will emphasize evangelism, leadership, business, government, communication, and digital media with artificial intelligence integration. Tuition will remain affordable and comparable to established Christian colleges like Grand Canyon University. In a higher education landscape often dominated by secular institutions, this project signals a genuine movement toward accessible faith-based learning. Do you think faith-centered universities can compete with mainstream colleges, or is this a niche market with real staying power?