Staff

William J. Blake, Director

Office of Student Diversity Programs

Youngstown State University

The Rev. William J. Blake was born and reared in Akron, Ohio. His parents are Rev. Col. and Mrs. (Maxine) William W. Blake Jr. (father deceased) He attended school in the Akron Public Schools and graduated from John R. Buchtel High School in 1972. Mr. Blake went on to attend and graduate from Ohio University in Athens , Ohio . He received an AB Degree in Arts and Science, majoring in Political Science, in 1975. Later he earned a Master of Arts Degree from Atlanta University, now Clark-Atlanta University, in 1979. Rev. Blake completed his course work toward the Ph.D. in Political Science and began working in higher education. He is currently a Ph. D. learner at Capella University where he is studying in the area of Education.

As a student development professional, William provides direct services to students, staff and community representatives daily on the campus of Youngstown State University . He is known within the profession for being student-centered and focused upon helping college age men and women to develop as leaders on and off the campus.

Throughout his tenure on the YSU campus William has served as the Director of Student Activities from 1995 – 2004 and as the Director of Student Diversity Programs from 2004 – present. In his current position he has been charged with developing and implementing programs that promote muilt-cultural, muilt-religion, muilt-language, muilt-gender and multiracial opportunities for learning. This includes but is not limited to community out reach throughout the Mahoning Valley .

This busy man is also the Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Windham, Ohio. Here he Shepherds a Christian flock that is located in the heart of Portage County near Warren, Ohio.

Rev. Blake is also the father of four children ages 23, through ten Jessyca, Janeil, William and Ashton and resides in Akron , Ohio . He has been married to Ms. Vanessa A. Drone for the past fifteen years.