Education: PETER BLAKE
DIRECTOR, STATE COUNCIL OF HIGHER EDUCATION FOR VIRGINIA, RICHMOND
Published
A graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Virginia Darden School of Business’ executive program, Blake has led the state’s higher education council for a decade. He previously was a SCHEV research analyst and also served as the state’s secretary of education from 2005 to 2006 and as vice chancellor of the Virginia Community College System from 2006 to 2012.
Blake’s tenure at SCHEV, which makes policy recommendations and approves new degree programs and schools within universities, has been marked by efforts to increase access to higher education. He helped develop the Pathways to Opportunity Plan and partnered with the Virginia Chamber of Commerce Foundation to create an internship program.
In March, SCHEV’s Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership program awarded $250,000 each to U.Va. and Old Dominion University to help connect employers and increase the number of paid internships. The council is expected to award nine grants by 2024.
