Jack Blackburn served as the dean of admissions for 24 years. He championed academic diversity by actively recruiting students with different, cultural, racial and financial backgrounds. Here is how some of his colleagues remember him:
Gregory Roberts, Senior Associate Dean of Admission
“He was genuinely a wonderful human being. If you talk to anyone in the admissions world, not only at the University, but nationally and internationally, they all have very nice things to say about him. He was very dedicated and driven, of course, but more importantly, I think he is a loving, caring, compassionate soul and that’s what will be missed the most. Professionally, he is really one of the legends in this field. He is considered a trailblazer when it comes to the important issues of the day, which are diversity and equity, affordability. His impact can be felt far beyond the University. He is just a beloved figure. “
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Edward Ayers |
Edward Ayers, President of the University of Richmond and former Dean of UVA College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
“We worked together a lot and we traveled together a lot. We would speak to prospective students, and we spoke together on the Lawn, and in some of these trips when you are in the car for a long time, sitting at La Guardia for a long time when you are snowed in, is when you really get to see who he was. The great discovery for me is that Jack was the same all the way through. The same person you’d see on stage being so charming and representing the University so beautifully was the same person behind the scenes. And what he really cared about were these young people.
“I think the whole feeling of UVA as an excellent public [university] that is really dedicated to being for the people of Virginia and excellent students everywhere is due in large part to Jack Blackburn.”
Jon Mikalson, Professor of Classics
“Four faculty members wrote together a letter nominating him [for the Thomas Jefferson Award]. We each had known Jack Blackburn in various ways working with his office in recruiting undergraduate students, putting up programs and talking to students.
We each had quite simply enjoyed the benefits of his good work in having good students. That was a major factor. We also had a great deal of respect for him, because he brought real dignity and class to the whole undergraduate admissions process and that reflected very well on the University.
“He treated all the interested parties, the students, their parents, all the constituents he dealt with, and there are many—the college faculty, the administration, the athletics, VIPs—he treated them all in a very fair, and honest and open way. Everyone respected that.”
Karen Ryan, former Associate Dean for the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences and Professor of Slavic languages and literatures and Interim Dean of Arts and Sciences for one year
“Jack genuinely cared about and nourished the soul of the University. His vision has literally shaped and formed the institution as it’s developed over the last few decades. The privilege of teaching great students, students from diverse backgrounds and cultures —we owe that privilege in no small part to Jack. And in everything he did with students, faculty, parents and administrators, he was unfailingly kind.”
Linda Miller, former Associate Dean of Admissions
“He was the best person to work for you could possibly have, because he listened to you, he was kind, just as he was with students he was with the staff. He made huge contributions to the University of Virginia with this emphasis of diversifying the student body in every way, particularly with minority students, but also women, women in engineering, trying to provide opportunities for students, not only from Virginia, but also from all over the country. He was one of the people who most helped to bring the University of Virginia into the modern age.
“He was the constant professional, he knew everyone in the field nationally and everyone knew him and respected him. He was incredibly fair, he was incredibly nice and pleasant to work with, but he was no pushover. He took his stand on things that were really important to him. He was a very nice man, as nice as can be. He was a gentleman.
Gordon Stewart, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences and Professor of German Languages and Literatures
“The University of Virginia owes so much to this gentle, kind man with the engaging manner and radiant smile. For nearly 30 years he committed all of his energies to making the University a better place. All of us who interacted with him, and we number in the thousands, will remember him with fondness, respect, and appreciation.”
