Blenda Wilson

Blenda Wilson (born January 28, 1941) is a retired American 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 Jacqueline Wilson
3rd President of California State University, Northridge
In office
September 1, 1992 – June 30, 1999
Preceded byJames W. Cleary
Succeeded byJolene Koester
3rd Chancellor of the University of Michigan–Dearborn
In office
July 1988 – August 1992
Preceded byWilliam A. Jenkins
Succeeded byJames C. Renick
Personal details
Born (1941-01-28) January 28, 1941
Perth Amboy, New Jersey
Spouse(s)Louis Fair, Jr.
Alma materCedar Crest College (BA)
Seton Hall University (MA)
Boston College (PhD)
ProfessionCollege administrator

Early life and education

Blenda Jacqueline Wilson was born 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 Allentown, Pennsylvania in 1962, her master's degree from Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey 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). In 1988, she was appointed the first female chancellor at the University of Michigan-Dearborn.[1]

California State Northridge

In 1992, Wilson was appointed the third president of California State University, Northridge (CSUN). She was the first woman and first African-American to hold the position.[2] Wilson was the first African-American woman to become president of a large (over 25,000 students) American university.[3][4][5]

She was president of CSUN during the 1994 Northridge earthquake, one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history.[6] 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.[7][8]

While Wilson received local and national praise for her work in earthquake recovery at CSUN,[7][8][9] she also was criticized for scandals that marred her presidency.[8][10][11] 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."[12]

Nellie Mae Education Foundation

In 1999, Wilson was appointed president and chief executive officer of the Nellie Mae Education Foundation in Quincy, Massachusetts, where she served until 2006.[13][14]

Community service

Wilson has served as a 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 has been married to Louis Fair, Jr. since 1985.[16][17]

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. 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.
  4. "First Black Woman President of CSUN Faces Weighty Problems in New Post". Los Angeles Sentinel. May 28, 1992. p. A26.
  5. Enriquez, Sam (April 26, 1993). "CSUN President Mixes Personality and Power". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  6. 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.
  7. Gross, Jane (February 15, 1994). "On Quake-Ravaged Campus, Classes Go Outdoors". New York Times. p. A14.
  8. Moore, Solomon (March 3, 1999). "Wilson to Leave CSUN for New Job". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  9. Phillip, Mary-Christine; Hayes, Dianne Williams (February 10, 1994). "At The Epicenter, A President Stands Her Ground". Black Issues in Higher Education.
  10. Garvey, Megan (July 24, 1998). "Use of CSUN Earthquake Funds by President's Husband Alleged". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. "Blenda Wilson". National Center for Higher Education Management Systems. Archived from the original on May 17, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  14. 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.
  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. Forman, Liora (December 2, 1992). "Devoted to the task: CSUN President Wilson finds her responsibilities all consuming". Daily Sundial. Northridge, California. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  17. 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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