ETBU Trustees Elect Dr. J. Blair Blackburn as President

ETBU_President_Dr.J Blair Blackburn_Artwork

Dr. J Blair Blackburn will begin his tenure as President of East Texas Baptist University in June of 2015.

4/8/2015 12:01:59 PM

ETBU Release

MARSHALL, Texas – The East Texas Baptist University Board of Trustees elected Dr. J. Blair Blackburn as its 13th president effective June 2015. The announcement came from ETBU Board of Trustees chair Hal Cornish after a special called trustee meeting Tuesday afternoon (April 7).

Dr. Blackburn, who currently serves as the Executive Vice President at Dallas Baptist University, succeeds Dr. Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver who left to become the president of Union University.

Dr. Blackburn served as the DBU Executive VP since 2002 and has 20 years of service with the institution. In his role as Executive Vice President, Dr. Blackburn oversees three institutional divisions and all aspects of campus operations, administrative affairs, student affairs, athletics and enrollment.

“Dr. Blackburn is an exceptionally well qualified and highly experienced individual ideally suited to be East Texas Baptist’s next president,” said Cornish. “The Board of Trustees and the entire community are very excited about the University’s bright future under the presidential leadership of Dr. Blackburn.”

Prior to his two decades of leadership at DBU, he served in three other institutions of higher learning in East Texas, including University of Texas at Tyler, Lon Morris College and Paris Junior College.

“I am excited and humbled that the Lord has called me to serve as president of East Texas Baptist University,” shared Dr. Blackburn. “Having been raised in Northwest Louisiana and living in East Texas for many years, I have known and respected this institution for its unwavering commitment to stand as a beacon for Christ-centered education.”

Dr. Blackburn holds an associate of arts degree from Tyler Junior College and graduated from the University of Texas at Tyler with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science. He holds a Master of Science degree in Higher Education Administration from Texas A&M-Commerce. He earned his Doctor of Education in Educational Administration degree from Baylor University.

Dr. Blackburn came to Dallas Baptist University in 1995 as Assistant Vice President for Development. From 1996-98, he was the Assistant Vice President for Enrollment and Administrative Affairs. Dr. Blackburn served on two occasions as Dean of the College of Adult Education (1997-98; 1999-01). The other positions he has served during his tenure at DBU are Vice President for Enrollment and Administrative Affairs (1998-2001), Senior Vice President for Enrollment and Administrative Affairs (2001), Senior Vice President (2001-2002), and Acting Director of Athletics (2003-2004). He was extensively involved with the University’s reaccreditation process in 1998 and 2008.

Dr. Blackburn and his wife, Michelle, have three children; Taylor, Elizabeth, and Parker.

Contributed by Mike Midkiff, ETBU Public Relations

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