John Blackburn (educator)
Encyclopedia
Dr. John L. Blackburn was a former administrator at the University of Alabama
who is in many ways responsible for the peaceful racial integration
of the school, despite efforts by then-governor George Wallace
. He died on July 3, 2009, of complications from myleodysplasia, a disorder that hampers the body’s ability to produce red blood cells.
Blackburn began his long association with higher education after serving in Indochina
during World War II
. First, he served as an instructor in the United States Air Force
; then at Florida State University
in 1951 and 1952, where he experienced the first of a series of events which placed him on the cutting edge of innovative change in higher education in the United States. As an administrator at Florida State University, one of his tasks was to assist in integrating male students into the previous Florida State College for Women.
He began his career at the University of Alabama] in 1956 as the Assistant Dean of Men and he became Dean of Men in 1958. In 1963, his dedication to progress and meticulous planning were credited as key elements in the historic peaceful integration of African Americans into the Capstone.
In 1968, the men’s and women’s student affairs functions were consolidated and Blackburn was named Dean of Students and the Office of Student Affairs assumed a much larger and more important role in the life of the University.
In 1969, Blackburn became Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of Denver
. Blackburn was able to develop his theories on the restructuring of college campuses as well as implement many of them. In 1972, under his direction, National Association of Student Personnel Administrators
conducted a conference on The Communitization Process in Academe, with Blackburn writing the introduction to 21 innovative communitization approaches.
Blackburn turned his attention to the burgeoning opportunities in university resources. In 1978, he returned to the University of Alabama as the Vice President for Education Development and over the next 12 years helped to raise more than $30 million dollars, once again finding himself in the forefront of a changing emphasis for public education into the world of private development.
Blackburn served as President of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators
from 1973-1974, President of the American Association of University Administrators from 1977–1979 and 1985–1986, and as Grand Senior President of Alpha Sigma Phi
fraternity from 1968-1970.
As past general secretary of the American Association of University Administrators, Blackburn found himself more interested in effective innovation in higher education. After retirement, Blackburn remained active in civic affairs and recently served as the Interim Chairman of Challenge 21, a community development program in Tuscaloosa
, Alabama
.
In 1995, Blackburn was honored by becoming the namesake of the new Blackburn Institute, an elite public service education program at the University of Alabama.
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
who is in many ways responsible for the peaceful racial integration
Racial integration
Racial integration, or simply integration includes desegregation . In addition to desegregation, integration includes goals such as leveling barriers to association, creating equal opportunity regardless of race, and the development of a culture that draws on diverse traditions, rather than merely...
of the school, despite efforts by then-governor George Wallace
George Wallace
George Corley Wallace, Jr. was the 45th Governor of Alabama, serving four terms: 1963–1967, 1971–1979 and 1983–1987. "The most influential loser" in 20th-century U.S. politics, according to biographers Dan T. Carter and Stephan Lesher, he ran for U.S...
. He died on July 3, 2009, of complications from myleodysplasia, a disorder that hampers the body’s ability to produce red blood cells.
Blackburn began his long association with higher education after serving in Indochina
Indochina
The Indochinese peninsula, is a region in Southeast Asia. It lies roughly southwest of China, and east of India. The name has its origins in the French, Indochine, as a combination of the names of "China" and "India", and was adopted when French colonizers in Vietnam began expanding their territory...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. First, he served as an instructor in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
; then at Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
in 1951 and 1952, where he experienced the first of a series of events which placed him on the cutting edge of innovative change in higher education in the United States. As an administrator at Florida State University, one of his tasks was to assist in integrating male students into the previous Florida State College for Women.
He began his career at the University of Alabama] in 1956 as the Assistant Dean of Men and he became Dean of Men in 1958. In 1963, his dedication to progress and meticulous planning were credited as key elements in the historic peaceful integration of African Americans into the Capstone.
In 1968, the men’s and women’s student affairs functions were consolidated and Blackburn was named Dean of Students and the Office of Student Affairs assumed a much larger and more important role in the life of the University.
In 1969, Blackburn became Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
. Blackburn was able to develop his theories on the restructuring of college campuses as well as implement many of them. In 1972, under his direction, National Association of Student Personnel Administrators
National Association of Student Personnel Administrators
NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education is the leading voice for student affairs administration, policy, and practice, and affirms the commitment of the student affairs profession to educating the whole student and integrating student life and learning...
conducted a conference on The Communitization Process in Academe, with Blackburn writing the introduction to 21 innovative communitization approaches.
Blackburn turned his attention to the burgeoning opportunities in university resources. In 1978, he returned to the University of Alabama as the Vice President for Education Development and over the next 12 years helped to raise more than $30 million dollars, once again finding himself in the forefront of a changing emphasis for public education into the world of private development.
Blackburn served as President of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators
National Association of Student Personnel Administrators
NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education is the leading voice for student affairs administration, policy, and practice, and affirms the commitment of the student affairs profession to educating the whole student and integrating student life and learning...
from 1973-1974, President of the American Association of University Administrators from 1977–1979 and 1985–1986, and as Grand Senior President of Alpha Sigma Phi
Alpha Sigma Phi
Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity is a social fraternity with 71 active chapters and 9 colonies. Founded at Yale in 1845, it is the 10th oldest fraternity in the United States....
fraternity from 1968-1970.
As past general secretary of the American Association of University Administrators, Blackburn found himself more interested in effective innovation in higher education. After retirement, Blackburn remained active in civic affairs and recently served as the Interim Chairman of Challenge 21, a community development program in Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama . Located on the Black Warrior River, it is the fifth-largest city in Alabama, with a population of 90,468 in 2010...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
.
In 1995, Blackburn was honored by becoming the namesake of the new Blackburn Institute, an elite public service education program at the University of Alabama.