Married couple leaving UNL for Idaho
IgF
§ ByTimKarstens
StaffReporter
--—--f
h The promise of fishing, hiking, beau
I tiful scenery and new challenges have
i lured two University ofNebraska-Lincoln
administrators to the American \\fest.
v Lany Blake, assistant director of
f facilities, and Peg Blake, director of
* admissions, and associate vice chancel
| lor for student affairs, have heeded the
,r advice to head west by accepting similar
f positions at Boise State University
* Howard Parker, a UNL architect
,, and Larry Blake’s supervisor, said the
f university is losing two quality people in
Peg and Larry Blake.
“I am very sorry to see them go,”
Parker said. “They are both assets to the
university.”
With growing enrollment and vig
orous campus expansion, the university
is losing two key officials.
But the Blakes, who have been at UNL
a combined 18 years, say greater chal
lenges and opportunities lie westward.
“It is a really good opportunity for
4 me,” said Larry Blake of his new role as
director of facilities planning at Boise
State. “For me it will allow me to
reshape a campus.”
Boise State is preparing for a signifi
cant expansion - including die addition
of a satellite campus — to keep 15) with
growth. As director offacilities, he would
be able to leave his mark by orchestrating
all of the expansion’s design and plan
ning. According to Blake, the expansion
would provide him with a valuaWe expe
rience and Boise State withamuch need
ed face liff.
“It is a campus that is growing,”
Larry Blake said. “But right now it
doesn’t lode well-planned. We are look
ing for a more cohesive plan.”
Looking around the UNL campus, it is
easy to see the impact Larry Blake and the
facilities management team at UNL have
had. The university has expanded with the
addition of the skyboxes at Memorial
Stadium and the Nebraska Union project
Having been so involved, Larry Blake said
he regretted not being able to witness the
completion of these projects.
Peg Blake said she is also looking
forward to new challenges and opportu
nities as the vice chancellor of student
affairs at Boise State. But having been at
UNL for 12 years, adjusting to a new
job and home can be difficult.
“This place owns my heart,” Peg
Blake said ofUNL. “It has been an inte
gral part of my life. I have strong friend
ships here.”
Like the state of Idaho itself, Boise
State is growing rapidly. Where her hus
band wiU concentrate on structural esq^anr
sion, he bulk of Peg Blakek responsibili
ties will focus on growing enrollment
“Boise State is a bit smaller (com
pared to UNL) with about 15,000 stu
dents but it is growing and building a
reputation in that part of the country as
an up-and-coming institution,” Blake
said. “It is exciting being involved in he
growth of this university”
The prospect of a new challenge
would have been reason enough to
change jobs, the Blakes said. But they
have always looked forward to a chance
to live in he mountains where outdoor
activities are plentiful. Their 5-year-old
son is already looking forward to going
fishing with his father.
Peg Blake said hey were looking
forward to he wilderness activities
Idaho had to offer. But making positive
changes sometimes required sacrifices
and sad moments.
“The opportunities in Boise are fab
ulous,” Peg Blake said. “But that doesn’t
make he goodbyes any easier.”
to fill empty post at NU
1 ^ 1
By Darren Ivy
Summer Co-editor
A month ago, Lieutenant
Governor Kim Robak was consider
ing a return to her private practice or
possibly entering the private sector
work force when her term ended in
January.
That was before Nebraska
President Dennis Smith offered her
the vacant Vice President for
External Affairs and Corporations
Secretary job. ✓
Robak announced Wednesday
during a teleconference from a lieu
tenant governor’s meeting that she
would accept the job.
“This is one I can’t turn down,”
Robak said. “It allows me to contin
ue with public service. Hopefully, I
can build on Nebraska’s strengths. It
is a fabulous university.”
Robak, who is a University of
Nebraska-Lincoln graduate, will
complete her term in the capitol and
then start at UNL Jan. 7.
“We would love 1b have her hoe
sooner, but we appreciate her dedi
cation to die people,” Smith said. “It
is important she finish her term.”
Several people will fill in for
Robak until she finishes her term.
Robak replaces J.B. Milliken,
who took a job at die University of
North Carolina. Robak’s $121,500
salary will be the same as
Milliken’s.
“We are excited,” Smith said.
“Her history and background are
exceptional.”
Robak said maintaining and
building partnerships with busi
nesses will be one of her tasks as
NU moves into the 21st century.
“The university is the founda
tion for good life here in Nebraska,”
Robak said. “We need to continue to
promote higher education.”
The NU Board of Regents still
needs to approve Smith’s recom
mendation for Robak at their June
20 meeting.
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