Blackburn Institute

The Blackburn Institute announces the Don and Barbara “Bobbie” Siegal Endowed Scholarship

August 12, 2009

The Don and Barbara “Bobbie” Siegal Endowed Scholarship was established by advisory board members Don and Bobbie Siegal in honor Dr. John L. Blackburn and Dr. Robert E. Witt.  The scholarship is designed to recognize Blackburn Institute students and fellows with a demonstrated interest in and a concern for the promotion of cultural understanding.

The Siegals said the idea for the scholarship came from the inspiration Dr. John L. Blackburn provided during the peaceful integration of the University in 1963.  “We hope John L. Blackburn’s vision of a campus of caring individuals will last into perpetuity,” the Siegals said about the legacy they would like the scholarship to leave.  They said the scholarship exists to honor the legacy of Dr. John L. Blackburn and celebrate the efforts of Dr. Robert Witt in promoting values of diversity and inclusion on the Alabama campus.  They hope this scholarship will encourage Blackburn students to continue in helping make the campus a place where all students feel welcomed so they can pursue their education in an atmosphere of equality that is the ideal upon which our nation was founded.

Applicants can be undergraduate or graduate students and are asked to write an essay demonstrating their actions in the promotion of cultural understanding.

Applications are available in the Blackburn Institute office and on their Web site and must be completed and submitted to Candace Peters by 5:00 pm on August 31, 2009 in Temple Tutwiler Hall room 204.  The recipient of the first annual scholarship will be announced at the D. Ray Pate Dinner on Monday, September 21, 2009.

Download the application (PDF)

Dr. John L. Blackburn Leaves His Legacy

July 5, 2009

Dr. John L. Blackburn, a veteran administrator at The University of Alabama and a prominent civic leader, died July 3, 2009, in Tuscaloosa.  He was 84.

Recruited to the University in 1956 as assistant dean of men, John Blackburn rose through administrative ranks, holding positions as dean of men, dean for student development and vice president for educational development.  Among benchmarks of his distinguished career at the Capstone was the central role he played in the peaceful desegregation of the University.  Working diligently with student leaders, faculty and fellow administrators, Blackburn is credited with helping assure the successful enrollment of Vivian Malone and James Hood on June 11, 1963.

The University recognized his tenure of service by establishing the Blackburn Institute in his honor in 1995. An acclaimed leadership development program, the institute links state leaders in business and public service with outstanding UA students and Blackburn fellows.  The Blackburn Institute has become a thriving global network of leaders with a shared commitment to achieving the state of Alabama’s full potential.

“Dr. Blackburn was a highly respected educator who helped lead The University of Alabama through some of its most challenging and important times. While he will be greatly missed, we are pleased that his legacy will live on through the Blackburn Institute,” said UA President Robert E. Witt.

Blackburn was a native of Malta Bend, Missouri. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, he earned his bachelor’s degree from Missouri Valley College, his master’s degree in education from the University of Colorado and his doctorate in higher education management from Florida State University.

Blackburn joined UA as assistant dean of men in 1956. He was named dean of men in 1958 and the University’s first dean for student development in 1968. Blackburn spent almost 10 years, from 1969-1978, at the University of Denver, serving first as vice chancellor for student affairs and later as vice chancellor for university resources. He returned to the Capstone as vice president for educational development in 1978, leading the University’s fund-raising and alumni activities until his retirement in 1990.

Family friend and former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice remembers Blackburn as “a giant in the lives of many to include my own.”

“He was one of my father’s closest friends and mentors. Known as a man with conviction, Dr. Blackburn was constantly trying to make the communities he lived in, and the college campuses he worked on, better, more fair and ethical places. Dr. Blackburn’s leadership, vision and commitment to education opened countless doors and created limitless opportunities for many of his students,” Rice said.

“When the roll is called of the legendary, iconic figures of UA’s 20th century faculty and staff, John L. Blackburn’s name will be right there alongside Hudson Strode and Bear Bryant,” said Dr. Culpepper Clark.  “Like them he was a teacher and molder of students, only Blackburn did it among a cadre of students who confronted the most profound social transformation of the century, civil rights, and enabled those students to become leaders, not mere witnesses to history.” A long-time administrator at UA and now dean of the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia, Clark is the author of “The Schoolhouse Door: Segregation’s Last Stand at the University of Alabama,” the historical account of the desegregation of the University.

Author Winston Groom, a UA alumnus, calls Blackburn “a truly remarkable man.”

“He was smart, selfless, fair, honest, and he didn’t view public service as a business, but as a way to give of his talents to young people,” Groom said. “John was an institution within an institution that he was devoted to - The University of Alabama. At a school so large, John tried, and largely succeeded, in establishing a personal relationship with as many students as possible.”

After his retirement, Blackburn established and served as president of Blackburn Educational Technologies, providing consulting services to colleges and universities throughout the U.S. He served as president of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), and twice as president of the National Association of University Administrators.

“John was truly a legend in his own time within NASPA,” said Gwendolyn Dungy, NASPA executive director. “When he attended the NASPA conference, it’s as if he were a human magnet. The old-time friends and colleagues, the mid-level professionals he had mentored, and the new professionals and graduate students who had heard of him all wanted to be in his presence.”

Blackburn served as president of Alpha Sigma Phi, a national social fraternity, and he was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership honor society. He was a member of Rotary International and served as president of the Tuscaloosa Rotary Club.

In 1976 he was appointed by President Gerald Ford to serve on the National Advisory Committee on Extension and Continuing Education.  During his tenure as Cabinet Secretary of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Dr. David Mathews appointed Blackburn to serve as a consultant to the College Intern Program.

Now president and chief executive officer of the Kettering Foundation, Dr. Mathews remembers Blackburn’s key role in the desegregation of the University this way: “Dean Blackburn was as responsible as anyone for successfully opening the door to integration that Governor Wallace felt obliged to block in 1963.  John L. tirelessly built a coalition of students and student organizations that worked in league with faculty and administration to ensure that The University of Alabama would serve all Alabamians.

“John L., and his wife Gloria, have been at the center of an intellectually lively, socially progressive, personally warm community of students, faculty and alumni that welcomed distinguished artists, scholars, and political leaders from around the world. Their living room has been an incubator for grand visions and practical strategies,” Mathews said.

That incubator continues in the Blackburn Institute. The institute is a leadership development organization affiliated with UA’s division of student affairs and supported through private donations. The institute fosters Blackburn’s belief that people link strategic actions through the generations for progressive and ethical change. Each year, approximately 25 Blackburn students are selected from all areas of the University’s student body following a faculty nomination and interview process. Blackburn fellows (both students and alumni) explore ethical leadership through sponsored programs, deliberative discussions and statewide travel. Blackburn himself described membership in the institute as “not only an honor but a lifetime commitment to becoming a change agent in one’s community.”

The Blackburn Institute hosts the Gloria and John L. Blackburn Academic Symposium, the Frank Nix Lecture, the Burt Jones Travel Experience, the D. Ray Pate Dinner, the Protective Life Government Experience, and the Don and Barbara “Bobbie” Siegel Endowed Scholarship for the promotion of diversity and inclusion in honor of John L. Blackburn and Robert E. Witt.

In 2008 Blackburn was named a Pillar of West Alabama and in 2009 he was awarded the Rotary Rose. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Tuscaloosa. Blackburn is survived by his wife, Gloria Bullington Blackburn, his daughter and son-in-law, Holly and Harry M. Piper III, and two grandsons.

A memorial service will be held Tuesday, July 7, at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Tuscaloosa.  It will follow a family burial service at Evergreen Cemetery in Tuscaloosa at 2 p.m.  Plans for a celebratory remembrance of the life of Dr. Blackburn will be announced at a later date by The University of Alabama and the Blackburn Institute.

The University of Alabama, a student-centered research university, is in the midst of a planned, steady enrollment growth with a goal of reaching 28,000 students by 2010. This growth, which is positively impacting the campus and the state’s economy, is in keeping with UA’s vision to be the university of choice for the best and brightest students. UA, the state’s flagship university, is an academic community united in its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for all Alabamians.

CONTACT: Cathy Andreen, Director of Media Relations, 205/348-8322, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Kendra Key Honored as Truman Scholar

July 4, 2009

For the fourth time in 10 years, a Blackburn fellow has been honored with the highly prestigious Truman Scholarship.  Kendra Key—a rising senior, a 2007-2008 fellow, and Student Chairperson for the 2008-2009 school year—is one of 60 students nationwide selected as a 2009 Truman Scholar.  She joins Adam Harbinson, Jamie Gibson, and John Joseph as fellows that have achieved this nationwide recognition; Adam, Jamie, and John received the award in 2007, 2002, and 2000 respectively. 

Established in honor of President Harry S. Truman, the Scholarship’s mission is to “find and recognize college juniors with exceptional leadership potential who are committed to careers in government, the nonprofit or advocacy sectors, education or elsewhere in the public service; and to provide them with financial support for graduate study, leadership training, and fellowship with other students who are committed to making a difference through public service.” As a part of the application process, potential scholars are asked to outline examples of leadership, particularly satisfying public service activities, societal problems or needs that the applicant wishes to alleviate once employed in public service, and to provide an outlook of where they hope to be in the next five to ten years.  After answering these questions, applicants must then complete a five hundred word policy proposal outlining a legislative solution to an issue that is of importance to the applicant.

Kendra’s policy proposal addressed instituting a bottle bill in the state of Alabama as means to create jobs and promote environmental awareness among Alabama residents.

As of 2005, all scholarship recipients are required to work in public service for three of the seven years following a Truman Foundation funded graduate degree program.  Adam, who wrote his policy proposal on healthcare and recently was named a 2009-2010 George J. Mitchell Scholar, will spend the next year studying rural development at Queen’s University Belfast in Northern Ireland.

The national recognition by the Truman Foundation of three Blackburn Fellows in ten years reflects the caliber of students being selected by the Institute.  Over the next several years we look forward to that number continuing to grow.

Fellow Starts Company Aimed at Global Education

February 10, 2009

Like many students at The University of Alabama School of Law, fellow John Joseph (2004-2005) accepted a lucrative position in his field of interest following graduation. After working in real estate and entrepreneurship, John realized that it was time to answer Dr. John L. Blackburn’s call for leadership in the community. A simple conversation about a colleague’s student loans crystallized what John had been hearing from educators and students for years—in a global economy, higher education will be necessary to access most desirable opportunities, but no longer sufficient. What started as a simple exploration of ways to improve student learning in higher education, has now become a full-time vocation. In 2009, John will officially launch Global Grad. John stated, “Global Grad will help incoming college students understand exactly what they must do to succeed personally, academically, and professionally in college. Because we are all tired of shortcuts that never seem to deliver results, Global Grad’s curriculum is grounded in research-backed best practices as well as the lessons of high school. We want every student to finish college as quickly as possible, with as many opportunities as possible.” Rather than joining the chorus of voices focusing on what colleges must do to help students succeed, Global Grad focuses on helping students understand and carry out their responsibilities as lifelong learners. John said, “Clearly colleges play a vital role in educating students, but the research shows us that students have a part to play as well. Educations are not passively attained; they are actively earned. If a student does not choose to commit himself or herself to success in college, that college should not be blamed for disappointing outcomes.” A diverse, nationwide advisory board supports Global Grad and includes professionals from the higher ed, K-12, legal, business, social work, non-profit and other communities. In the process of creating Global Grad’s curriculum, John spoke personally with Dr. Blackburn, the Blackburn staff, and even hosted a focus group with Blackburn fellows. John acknowledges that his experiences as a Blackburn fellow have impacted his work with Global Grad, stating “One of the most important lessons I have learned as a Fellow is to do the slow, painstaking work of building a consensus for change.” For more information about Global Grad, please contact John at: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Student Fellows Used Daniel Foundation Grant to Start Pre-K Education Program for Hispanic Youth

December 18, 2008

University of Alabama students are breaking down language barriers in Tuscaloosa with a new program that helps young, Hispanic students achieve success in school.

Earlier this month, UA junior Laura Dover of Jasper, UA sophomore Erin Shirley of Winfield and UA junior Wilson Boardman of Homewood kicked off a summer program for the Tuscaloosa City Schools aimed at preschool-age Hispanic students.

Dover was awarded Daniel Scholars Project funding by the UA Blackburn Institute for the Jumpstart Hispanic Program being held at Alberta Elementary School.

The new program runs through July 10 and is held Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - noon, free of charge for students who will be attending Tuscaloosa City Schools.

According to Dover, the Hispanic Jumpstart Program benefits students learning an additional language and works to break down the barriers that may keep people from assimilating into the community.

After volunteering at a Tuscaloosa high school and the Good Samaritan Clinic, Dover saw the need to break down the language barriers apparent in Tuscaloosa.

Through their volunteer experience in UA’s Alabama Action program, Shirley and Boardman saw the opportunity to assist working, single mothers by providing an after-school program that helped the transition into the English-speaking community.

Dover, Shirley and Boardman developed the idea for a language teaching program for Hispanic children. They discovered that many people in the Tuscaloosa community were completely unaware of the Hispanic population because often they are not incorporated into the larger community. After taking this experience and information along with the idea for a daycare type program to several of their mentors and trusted community members, the idea morphed into a pre-K program, and finally the Hispanic Jumpstart Program.

A Jumpstart Program already existed in the Tuscaloosa City Schools to provide a month of classes to prepare preschool children for school success. The students incorporated their idea with the existing program by recruiting certified English as a Second Language teacher.

The teacher’s salary and classroom expenses are paid by the grant from the Blackburn Institute Daniel Community Scholars Program. The program is funded by the Daniel Foundation of Alabama for Blackburn Institute fellows to create sustainable projects to address the needs of a particular community.

“We provide the seed money for sustainable community service projects in the state. Blackburn student fellows and alumni fellows create and direct the projects. We start it and other people pick it up,” explained Marc Shook, director of the Blackburn Institute at UA.

“This is what Blackburn is all about—getting you in contact with the right people,” said Dover, who is a UA Blackburn Institute student fellow. “We would love for anyone who wants to help out with the students to volunteer. There is no set time and you don’t even have to speak Spanish. We want the children to be exposed to English because even at play they are learning,” she added.

“I feel that we are giving these students the opportunity to start kindergarten on the same level as students who have English as their primary language. The progress the students have made is inspiring to me,” said Shirley, also a UA Blackburn Institute student fellow.

Story from UA Office of Public Relations.