August 24, 2015
MARSHALL NEWS MESSENGER (8/23/15) - East Texas Baptist University's new President Blair Blackburn has returned home with the recent move back to East Texas from his previous post at Dallas Baptist University.
The University of Texas at Tyler and Tyler Junior College alumnus said he is a true East Texan at heart with a love for hunting, God and family - not in that order.
Blackburn spent the past 20 years at the Dallas Christian university before he said a calling from God brought him back to the Pine Curtain.
"I've always had a fond admiration for East Texas Baptist University for many, many years," Blackburn said. "Knowing its rich history and the commitment to Christ and education and being at a sister Baptist institution and knowing about ETBU and respecting the great work that's been done here for generations - I felt God's calling to be a part of this institution."
After being born in Shreveport and spending his high school years in Northwest Louisiana, Blackburn moved with his parents to Tyler.
It was while in college that he realized his true calling to be involved in college life.
"I was very involved in student life while at TJC and UT Tyler. I was president of freshmen class at TJC and vice president of student body at UT Tyler," Blackburn said. "The Lord planted a seed in my heart for working with college students as a college student working on a college campus."
After graduation, Blackburn was drawn to back to his previous school to begin his career in higher education.
"My first college job was at Paris Junior College; I had been director of student activities and cheer coach," Blackburn said.
He then returned to his alma mater, the University of Texas at Tyler, where he served as coordinator of student activities before taking a dean of students position at the former Lon Morris College in Jacksonville.
From there, Blackburn began his 20-year stint at Dallas Baptist University where he began as vice president for development and left as executive vice president.
Family man
Blackburn and his wife of 24 years, Michelle, have three children together - oldest son Taylor, 22; daughter Elizabeth "Blair," 17; and son Parker, 15.
"Taylor is a Baylor University graduate and is no longer at home," Blackburn said. "My wife, Blair and Parker are still in Dallas, and I'm living here in Marshall. My daughter is a senior, and that was the understanding we had with the board of trustees, that she could finish high school there. She's very involved with her church youth group, drill team officer, and we made the commitment that she could complete her senior year."
Blackburn's youngest son Parker is a sophomore attending the same Dallas-based school.
The family will be reunited in Marshall after the school year, he said.
"But Michelle is here each and every week; she was here several days last week and has been very involved in activities as we begin the school year," Blackburn said.
Blackburn said one of his hobbies is spending time with his family.
"I love to hunt. We like to hunt big game," Blackburn said. "We deer hunt in central Texas, but we mostly do big game hunting. But the most important thing is spending time with my family. I love being with my kids and smothering them. Michelle and I just love being together as a family."
Looking to the future
As the Marshall university's 13th president, Blackburn has a vision of increasing enrollment, expanding programs at the post-graduate level and expanding facilities.
"We had an enrollment of about 1,300 students last fall and continue to grow every year," Blackburn said. "As we continue to grow, we need to be able to provide quality facilities that match that growth. Our students and faculty deserve to have the very best environment for learning, and we have that but we need to continue to expand and improve our facilities and equipment."
Blackburn said the university is now in the process of seeking accreditation for an online business masters program.
"We're currently working a process of approval, and we're looking at other programs to expand at the graduate level and beyond," he said. "We continue to grow with our athletic training program with about 70 students this fall. The most important thing is that we are building champions for Christ."
Blackburn said, as all of the university's program focus on academics and spiritual growth, sports can be a tool to strengthen a student's spiritual life.
"We use athletics as a tool for ministry and discipleship," Blackburn said. "We want to see these young lives transformed, and we see this happening through sports with Christian coaches ministering to players and enriching their lives."
As one of the largest employers in Marshall - the university employs about 233 full-time staff - Blackburn said he would like to continue to see an impact on the Marshall community by ETBU's staff and students.
"ETBU has a genuine commitment among the people that serve here to love and serve students and those in the community and to impact their lives for Christ," Blackburn said. "That is a rich tradition here that we want to see continue. The people of ETBU have a love for the Lord and a calling to serve."
ETBU's fall semester starts Monday.
(Used by permission www.marshallnewsmessenger.com. Story by Education Reporter Bridget Ortigo.)