Ira K. Blake officially recognized as UHCL’s fifth president

Ira K. Blake, the first woman and African-American to be appointed president of the University of Houston-Clear Lake, was officially recognized at her investiture ceremony held Sept. 20 in the Bayou Theater.

An investiture is defined as an academic “formal ceremony of conferring the authority and symbols of high office.” It is one of the oldest traditions in the world of higher education and began in early English universities.

Modeled after knighthood in the Middle Ages, an investiture represents the pursuit of knowledge. The ceremony is traditionally held to honor and celebrate the tenure of a new president of a university.  The ceremony is held either during or at the conclusion of a new president’s first year in office.

President Blake became UHCL’s fifth president in 2017 following a nation-wide search. Prior to joining UHCL, Blake served as senior vice-president for academic affairs at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania from 2009 to 2017.

Born the daughter of sharecroppers, Blake is a living testament that life can be fuller and richer for those who achieve their capabilities.  Parents Robert Thomas and Ira Watson Kincade Thomas traveled from Eudora, AR, to Fontana, CA, because they wanted a life better than their own for Ira and her eight siblings.

“I am the daughter of cotton sharecroppers with elementary school educations who believed that despite their own hard-lived hardships, this nation could provide better opportunity for better outcomes for their children,” Blake said. “I am their outcome but with added value.”

Blake’s parents encouraged Ira and her siblings to go as far as their potential would take them to reach the American Dream.  While her parents’ teachings were foundational, Blake recognizes that her mentors, role models and late husband have also been influential and insightful in her life journey. Blake thanked her late husband, Van Richard Downey Blake, Sr., for providing encouragement along the way.

“He reminded me that I had a responsibility to change the lives of everyday, regular people in order to make the world a better place for everyone,” Blake said.

The ceremony began with the processional, followed by musical performances to “Moonlight” by Ipek Bozkurt and “The Star-Spangled Banner” by the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses.

Guest speakers included: Renu Khator, chancellor of University of Houston System; Stephen Berberich, senior vice president for Academic Affairs and Provost; Tom Reid, mayor of Pearland; and Richard Walker, vice chancellor of Student Affairs and Enrollment Services.

Reid and Walker (on behalf of Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner) proclaimed Sept. 20 as Ira K. Blake Day in Pearland and Houston respectively. Khator, with the assistance of Berberich, presented the Insignia of Office to Blake.

Honorary guest and former UHCL President Thomas Stauffer spoke at Blake’s investiture and encouraged the faculty and student body to support the new president’s position. Stauffer joined UHCL in 1982 as its second Chancellor before the official title was changed to President.  He served as president of UHCL for eight years before leaving to accept the position of President at Golden Gate University in San Francisco.

“I hope that you will give her your ideas and your patience and your criticism when necessary, but that you will give her your support because everyone here today will be the beneficiary as the strength of the university continues to grow,” Stauffer said. “I’m quite secure that good things will in fact happen.”

Blake explained that as UHCL President, her aspirations remained grounded in three key areas, which originally attracted her to the university.  The first key area is the quality of students and faculty at the UHCL campus. Blake described them as a community of people who are committed to higher education and consider it a life changer.

Blake said she was attracted to the fact that the university, along with partnering schools, extends educational programs to incarcerated individuals as a second chance and referenced the intention of “college in the prison” programs that use education as a pathway for rehabilitation, while inmates are serving their prison term at a corrections facility.

The second key area is the realized potential of UHCL students, who consist of 68,000 accomplished alumni coming from an array of backgrounds, Blake said. UHCL has welcomed and assisted students with achieving their dreams and assuming meaningful roles, regardless of their circumstance of birth or social-economic position.

The third key area is the partnerships that UHCL holds with businesses, agencies, and organizations to provide jobs, job-shadowing, internships, mock interviews and resume advice because these services assist UHCL students with achieving successful employment and leadership.

Blake said she is committed to helping students succeed, developing business partnerships and making the UHCL community safe and prosperous.

“I call on all of us to keep leading for the betterment of our community, or society and yes, the world,” Blake said. “UH-Clear Lake is here to make a difference.”