Elizabeth “Bettina” Blake was the academic dean at UMN Morris from 1979 to 1995. In her time as dean, she helped bring the campus into a new era with a fresh appreciation for UMN Morris's role as a public liberal arts college and she promoted the school's national reputation as an exemplar of liberal learning. As the first woman to serve as Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs and Dean, Blake was committed to the advancement of women faculty and staff both on campus and within the academy.
Chronology
Born in New York State
Earned BA from Barnard College
Received a Fulbright Award
Earned MA in French from the Middlebury College Graduate School in Paris, France
Began working as a French instructor at Barnard College
Began working as an instructor and foreign student advisor at Wellesley College
Earned PhD in French Literature from Columbia University
Became Dean of Academic Programs at Wellesley College
Became Academic Dean at UMN Morris
Granted tenure as a French professor at UMN Morris
Retired as Dean and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Retired as a professor of French at UMN Morris
Established the UMN Morris Distinguished Visiting Professorship for the Liberal Arts
Received the President's Award for Outstanding Service
Personal Life
Elizabeth, “Bettina,” Blake was born in April of 1930 in New York to Elizabeth and William Blake.[1] In her family there were many Elizabeths who all came to be nicknamed “Betty”. Since at birth she was obviously the smallest of the family’s many “Bettys,” she was quickly dubbed “Bettina”.[2] Bettina’s mother, Elizabeth, was a successful portrait artist and until her marriage, she managed a studio in New York for professional portraiture students. At the time of Bettina’s birth, Elizabeth had just completed her term as President of the National Association of Women Artists. William, Bettina’s father, spent the early years of their marriage teaching and working on his Ph.D. in speech and drama at Columbia. Bettina Blake received much of her early education at the Bronx’s Horace Mann School where her father taught and in 1948 she graduated from Horace Mann-Lincoln High School.[3]
Bettina Blake earned her B.A. summa cum laude from Barnard College in 1952.[4] In her time at the college, she was part of the Honor Board, served as sophomore class president, and was elected president of the student government her senior year.[5]
After completing her undergraduate degree, Blake won a Fulbright Scholarship and began a year of studying French at the Sorbonne. She went on to receive her M.A. in French from Middlebury College Graduate School of French in Paris in August of 1953.[6]
Blake decided to stay an extra year in France and earned a French Government teaching assistantship to teach English at a girls’ high school. In 1954 she returned to the US and began her Ph.D. studies in French Literature, first at the University of California, Berkeley and then at Columbia University.[7]
In 1956, Blake was hired as a full time instructor for French at Barnard College where she also directed the Lehman Language Laboratory. In 1963, she went on to Wellesley College where she worked as an instructor and the foreign student advisor for four years. In 1967 she earned her Ph.D. in French literature from Columbia University with a dissertation titled “Some Aspects of Phonemic Reinforcement in the Poésies of Stephane Mallarmé”. Then, in 1974, she stopped teaching and became the Dean of Academic Programs at Wellesley. She remained in this position until 1979 when she was named Academic Dean of the University of Minnesota Morris.[8]
Research
Blake’s research from her earlier career focused primarily on the French language. In 1972, Her article called “A Self-Correction Checklist for French Vowels” was published in the academic journal The French Review.[9] She published an article titled “Inter-Language Contrast in the Teaching of French Pronunciation” in the same journal the following year.[10] She also wrote articles about educational practices at the university level.[11]
Besides her service as vice chancellor and dean, Blake was active in the French discipline at UMN Morris.[12] One of her contributions included the establishment of the French Poetry Reading Contest tradition at UMN Morris.[13] In 1983 she received tenure as a Professor of French.[14]
Community Involvement
Blake was an especially active participant in a variety of Morris area community organizations. She served on the Boards of Directors for the West Central Minnesota Initiative Fund, the Stevens Community Medical Center, the Arts Council of Stevens County, and the Morris Developmental Achievement Center. She also served the community as part of the Morris Area Chamber of Commerce.[15]
Blake worked to provide opportunities for the residents of the wider Morris area. One example was the creation and implementation of the “An Evening With A Professor” program in which faculty gave talks to students, faculty, and residents of the area for free. With this program Blake helped foster a wider understanding and appreciation for the liberal arts and the Morris campus.[16]
Blake was involved in organizations outside the Morris area as well. She was a member of Phi Betta Kappa, a keynote speaker for the Bush Collaborative, a leader on the American Council on Education's National Identification Project for Women Administrators, a commissioner-at-large for the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and a past president of the Minnesota Fulbright Society.[17]
As a former Fulbright Award recipient, Blake remained involved with the Fulbright Program during her professional career. In 1987 she attended a conference titled “Develop the Future: Minnesota’s Stake in International Education” celebrating the 40th anniversary of the program and Minnesota’s impact abroad through Fulbright. She was a panelist at the conference where she addressed the topic “Cooperation between Higher Education and Secondary Schools”.[18]
She also attended conferences supporting higher education and the liberal arts beyond the UMN Morris campus. In 1982 she gave the welcome address at the second annual Women’s Leadership Network Conference at UMN Morris. The conference sponsored workshops for leaders across the Midwest and focused on women’s advancement.[19] In 1992, she was also recognized for her outreach and focus on the advancement of women in higher education by the Minnesota Women in Higher Education. She was one of four women recognized by the organization for her identification and advancement of promising women scholars.[20]
Campus Contributions
Throughout her career as UMN Morris's academic dean Blake served as a powerful voice for the liberal arts, and her service to the campus was marked by a renewed commitment to the campus's liberal arts mission. In her first address to the campus in 1979, Blake outlined her views on the values of liberal learning and the need for students to take charge of their own education. The speech was described as bold and a highlight for the students at orientation.[21] She stressed the value of the liberal arts in other speeches and forums. At the first annual UMM Alumni Women’s Luncheon, Blake delivered an address in which she spoke about the value of the liberals arts for women and encouraged alumni to share their campus experiences. She also praised UMN Morris, calling it a “jewel” of public education.[22]
Blake spearheaded efforts to procure the Title III grant from the US Department of Education. The campus received the grant to serve its growing population of minority students and students eligible for financial aid. Blake used the grant to develop long term plans and goals for the campus. She worked as the Title III Director for the campus from 1982-1983. In this role she urged pragmatic solutions to campus problems. She also stressed the importance of campus self-sufficiency in order to build new and preserve old programs.[23]
One of her ambitious changes to the campus as academic dean came in the form of Project Prosper. Project Prosper was the new general education curriculum and it went into effect in the fall of 1988.[24] Blake emphasized the need to update the general education curriculum so that it aligned more closely with UMN Morris's liberal arts mission and focused more on individual competency and less on accumulating credits. Project Prosper expanded the number of general education courses and added new requirements, such as the freshman Inquiry course, that emphasized critical thinking, and the various expanding perspectives courses intended to develop problem solving skills.[25] Overall the new model focused on developing both intellectual and communication skills and the construction of a broader intellectual framework necessary for successful advanced work.[26]
Blake also focused on raising the profile of UMN Morris and was an early supporter of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC), an organization dedicated to improving undergraduate education in publicly funded institutions. Blake believed the alliance would help further promote the ideals of the liberal arts.[27] She also made efforts to speak and network at conferences and other higher education events in order to make contacts for faculty and create publicity for the UMN Morris campus.[28]
Blake made important contributions to the life of faculty on campus and was especially interested in furthering the advancement of women in the University of Minnesota system. When she became Dean of Academic Affairs she was the highest ranking woman at UMN Morris and one of the few female administrators in the entire University system.[29] Upon her arrival on campus there were no tenured female full professors, although women exercised leadership roles within the Finance and Registrar's Offices.[30]
Besides taking a role in administration and being a support for women faculty members, Blake took other steps to promote gender equality on the Morris campus. Part of this work involved being a part of University-wide committees and advocating for gender equality and women’s involvement in all levels of University governance and campus life.[31] She also worked with Mimi Frenier, a Morris professor, to end the nepotism rule that banned spouses from being hired for tenured teaching positions on campus.[32]
The establishment of the Grants Development Office was another of Bettina's accomplishments. Prior to its establishment, faculty were largely limited to internal funding in order to finance research. Blake wanted to help faculty receive external funds, not just funds through Continuing Education and the Twin Cities campus. This new office under the direction of Tom Mahoney greatly expanded the opportunity for faculty members to identify external funding for research ventures.[33]
After UMN Morris
Bettina Blake retired from the position of Dean and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs in 1995 and as a Professor of French in 1998.[34]
After her retirement from Morris, Blake continued to stay involved with the UMN Morris alumni. She created the University of Minnesota, Morris Retirees Association newsletter, UMMRA INFO, in the summer after her retirement in 1998 to create a source of information for the members of the UMM Retirees Association (UMMRA). She edited the newsletter until Dolores Lammers became the editor/historian in spring of 2000.[35] Blake also acted as president of the UMM Retirees Association for three years.[36]
In her work through UMMRA, Blake continued to give back to the Morris community. She was an integral part of projects like fundraising for the Stevens County Historical Society Museum.[37] She also remained active in the wider community by serving on the Minnesota Humanities Commission.[38] In 2001 Blake established the UMN Morris Distinguished Visiting Professorship for the Liberal Arts to celebrate and strengthen the campus as a public liberal arts campus.[39] The program welcomed its first visiting professor, Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, in 2004.[40]
She was awarded the President's Award for Outstanding Service in 2005 for her service to the campus. The award is presented each spring to active or retired faculty and staff who have provided exceptional service and an unusual commitment to building the university community.[41]
She eventually moved from Morris to Boston, Massachusetts where she has continued her writing and scholarship.[42]
Footnotes
[1] Elizabeth S. Blake, To Friends at Christmas a Garland of Holiday Greetings in Verse 1927-2009 (ProPrint Boston, 2009), 6.
[2] Elizabeth S. Blake, interview by Christopher Butler, March 18, 2010, transcript, University of Minnesota Morris Stories, Morris, MN.
[3] Elizabeth S. Blake, To Friends at Christmas a Garland of Holiday Greetings in Verse 1927-2009 (ProPrint Boston, 2009), 5-25.
[4] University Relations, “Bettina Blake is recipient of President's Award” Campus News Archive (Morris, MN), May 11, 2005
[5] “Candidates of Associate Alumnae,” Barnard Alumnae Magazine (New York City, NY), Jan. 1957.
[6] Elizabeth S. Blake, To Friends at Christmas a Garland of Holiday Greetings in Verse 1927-2009 (ProPrint Boston, 2009), 40-41.
[7] Elizabeth S. Blake, To Friends at Christmas a Garland of Holiday Greetings in Verse 1927-2009 (ProPrint Boston, 2009), 40-42.
[8] Elizabeth S. Blake, To Friends at Christmas a Garland of Holiday Greetings in Verse 1927-2009 (ProPrint Boston, 2009), 55-97.
[9] Blake, Elizabeth S. “A Self-Correction Checklist for French Vowels.” The French Review 46, no. 1 (1972): 59–66.
[10] Blake, Elizabeth S. “Inter-Language Contrast in the Teaching of French Pronunciation.” The French Review 46, no. 3 (1973): 558–72.
[11] Blake, Elizabeth S. “Classroom and Context: An Educational Dialectic.” Academe 65, no. 5 (1979): 280–92.
[12] University of Minnesota, Morris Alumni Association, "UMM to You: Spring 1992" Spring 1992.
[13] University Relations, "Profile: Becoming--Stories of discovery and growth" Profile (Morris, MN), Spring 2005.
[14] Elizabeth S. Blake, To Friends at Christmas a Garland of Holiday Greetings in Verse 1927-2009 (ProPrint Boston, 2009), 99.
[15] University Relations, “Bettina Blake is recipient of President's Award” Campus News Archive (Morris, MN), May 11, 2005.
[16] “Community interaction series premiers Monday,” Morris Weekly (Morris, MN), Mar. 5, 1981.
[17] University of Minnesota, Morris Alumni Association, "UMM to You: Spring 1992" Spring 1992.
[18] “UMM Dean Blake Panelist For Fulbright Conference,” Morris Weekly (Morris, MN), Apr. 15, 1987.
[19] “Women’s network conference runs gamut,” Morris Weekly (Morris, MN), Nov. 3, 1982.
[20] “Blake honored by Minnesota Women in Higher Education,” University Register (Morris, MN), Jan. 23, 1992.
[21] Gail Voss, “Orientation Program Reviewed,” Morris Weekly (Morris, MN), Oct. 2, 1979.
[22] Ruth Simpson, “Blake addresses value of liberal arts for women,” Morris Weekly (Morris, MN), Mar. 5, 1981.
[23] Mike Woodcock, “Long-range planning awaits approval,” Morris Weekly (Morris, MN), Nov. 17, 1982.
[24] Laura Lundgren, “Project Prosper Begins Its Curriculum Changes Starting in Fall of 1988,” Morris Weekly (Morris, MN), Apr. 6, 1988.
[25] Kathryn Gonier, “Update: Project Prosper Continues with Changes,” University Register (Morris, MN), Nov. 9, 1988.
[26] Laura Lundgren, “Project Prosper Finally Unfolds With Answers To The New Changes In GERs,” Morris Weekly (Morris, MN), Apr. 6, 1988.
[27] University of Minnesota, Morris Alumni Association, "UMM to You: Spring 1994" Spring 1994.
[28] Elizabeth S. Blake, interview by Christopher Butler, March 18, 2010, transcript, University of Minnesota Morris Stories, Morris, MN.
[29] "Founders Day 2010 Program: Saturday, September 25" Miscellaneous Campus Publications (Morris, MN), September 25, 2010
[30] Elizabeth S. Blake, interview by Christopher Butler, March 18, 2010, transcript, University of Minnesota Morris Stories, Morris, MN.
[31] "Re-collections celebrates: The University of Minnesota's 150th birthday; The West Central School of Agriculture's 90th birthday; The University of Minnesota, Morris' 40th birthday" Miscellaneous Campus Publications (Morris, MN), 2000.
[32] University of Minnesota, Morris Retirees' Association, "UMMRA Info: volume X, number 4," Spring 2008.
[33] Tom Mahoney, interview by Tom Harren, June 7, 2017, transcript, University of Minnesota Morris Stories, Morris, MN.
[34] Elizabeth S. Blake, interview by Christopher Butler, March 18, 2010, transcript, University of Minnesota Morris Stories, Morris, MN.
[35] University of Minnesota, Morris Retirees' Association, "UMMRA Info: volume VII, number 4," Spring 2005.
[36] University of Minnesota, Morris Retirees’ Association, “UMMRA Info: volume VI, number 1,” Summer 2003.
[37] University of Minnesota, Morris Retirees' Association, "UMMRA Info: volume V, number 3," Winter 2003.
[38] University of Minnesota, Morris Retirees' Association, "UMMRA Info: volume VI, number 2," Fall 2003.
[39] University Relations, "Campus to Welcome Nobel Laureate" Campus News Archive (Morris, MN), August 26, 2014.
[40] University Relations, "First Distinguished Visiting Professor, Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, at UMM this spring" Campus News Archive (Morris, MN), December 1, 2014.
[41] University Relations, “Bettina Blake is recipient of President's Award” Campus News Archive (Morris, MN), May 11, 2005.
[42] University Relations, "Campus to Welcome Nobel Laureate" Campus News Archive (Morris, MN), August 26, 2014.