Blenda Wilson

Blenda Wilson (born January 28, 1941) is a retired university administrator and educational executive who was the first African American woman to become president of a large (over 25,000 students) American university. She was president of California State University, Northridge (CSUN) during the 1994 Northridge earthquake, one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history. Wilson oversaw the rebuilding of CSUN over several years, costing nearly $400 million and repairing or rebuilding over 100 buildings on the campus.

Blenda Wilson
Born
Blenda Jacqueline Wilson

(1941-01-28)January 28, 1941
Perth Amboy, New Jersey, U.S.
OccupationUniversity Administrator
Spouse(s)Louis Fair, Jr.

Early life

Blenda Jacqueline Wilson was born on January 28, 1941, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Her parents were Horace Lawrence Wilson and Margaret Brogsdale Wilson.[1] She received her bachelor's degree from Cedar Crest College in 1962, her master's degree from Seton Hall University in 1965, and her Ph.D. from Boston College in 1979.[1]

Career

Wilson held a variety of administrative and executive positions at universities and non-profit organizations (including the Middlesex County, New Jersey Economic Opportunities Corporation, Rutgers University, Harvard University, Independent Sector, and the Colorado Commission on Higher Education) before she was appointed the first female chancellor at the University of Michigan-Dearborn in 1988.[1] In 1992 she became the third president (and first woman and African American) of California State University, Northridge (CSUN).[2] In 1999, Wilson became President and CEO of the Nellie Mae Education Foundation in Quincy, Massachusetts, and served until 2006.[3][4]

Impact

When Wilson came to California State University, Northridge in 1992, she was the first African American woman to become president of a large (over 25,000 students) American university.[5][6][7] She was president of CSUN during the 1994 Northridge earthquake, one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history.[8] Wilson oversaw the $400 million rebuilding of the campus over several years, where 107 buildings were damaged or destroyed, making it at the time the most expensive natural disaster to impact a university in the United States.[9][10] While Wilson received local and national praise for her work in earthquake recovery at CSUN,[9][10][11] she also was criticized for scandals that marred her presidency.[10][12][13] During a time of severe budget cutbacks, she was criticized for planning faculty layoffs. She responded by telling the CSUN Faculty Senate that "This is not an employment agency, this is a university."[14]

Community service

Wilson served on many nonprofit boards over the years, including trustee for the Getty Foundation, the James Irvine Foundation, Boston College, Cambridge College, the College Board, and Deputy Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.[1][15]

Personal life

Wilson is married to Louis Fair, Jr.[16]

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References
  1. Craddock, James, ed. (2013). Who's Who Among African Americans. Detroit: Gale. p. 1185.
  2. Chu, Henry (May 21, 1992). "New CSUN President to Keep High Profile". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  3. "Blenda Wilson". National Center for Higher Education Management Systems. Archived from the original on May 17, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  4. Carriuolo, Nancy; Rodgers, Aronda (2001). "Helping Low-Income and Minority Students Succeed in College: An Interview with Blenda Wilson". Journal of Developmental Education. 25 (1): 26–28.
  5. Enriquez, Sam (May 1, 1993). "Wilson Sworn In as CSUN President in Milestone Event : Inauguration: The only African-American woman to head a major university is honored". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  6. "First Black Woman President of CSUN Faces Weighty Problems in New Post". Los Angeles Sentinel. pg. A26. May 28, 1992.CS1 maint: location (link)
  7. Enriquez, Sam (April 26, 1993). "CSUN President Mixes Personality and Power". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  8. Bartholomew, Dana (January 11, 2014). "Northridge Earthquake: 1994 quake still fresh in Los Angeles minds after 20 years". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  9. Gross, Jane (February 15, 1994). "On Quake-Ravaged Campus, Classes Go Outdoors". New York Times. pg. A14.CS1 maint: location (link)
  10. Moore, Solomon (March 3, 1999). "Wilson to Leave CSUN for New Job". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  11. Phillip, Mary-Christine; Hayes, Dianne Williams (February 10, 1994). "At The Epicenter, A President Stands Her Ground". Black Issues in Higher Education.
  12. Garvey, Megan (July 24, 1998). "Use of CSUN Earthquake Funds by President's Husband Alleged". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  13. Enriquez, Sam (March 16, 1993). "2 Rallies Protest End of Fraternity Suspension: Students criticize Blenda J. Wilson's decision and voice anger at the group that distributed an offensive party flyer". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  14. Enriquez, Sam (February 19, 1993). "Faculty Senate Votes to Oppose Layoffs: School President Blenda J. Wilson is unmoved by teachers' angry demands for job guarantees amid the prospect of state funding cuts of up to 10%". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  15. Haller, Howard Edward (2008). "Overcoming Adversity and Leadership: Profile of Blenda Wilson, Ph.D., President, Nellie Mae Educational Foundation". The Leadership Success Institute. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  16. Marshall, Genevieve (November 16, 2007). "From plane to head of college: Blenda Wilson jumps straight into leadership role at Cedar Crest". The Morning Call. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
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