President M. Brian Blake Presented Honorary Doctorate by London South Bank University

ATLANTA/LONDON — Georgia State University President M. Brian Blake has received an honorary degree from the United Kingdom’s London South Bank University.

During LSBU’s fall commencement exercises, Blake was presented with a Doctor of the University, which recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions to areas of interest to the university and attained distinction in the arts, literature, sport or public life.

“LSBU is delighted to award Dr. M. Brian Blake an honorary doctorate for his considerable services to higher education and significant academic and leadership achievements. Our honorary degrees are awarded to individuals who make an exemplary contribution in their field,” said LSBU Deputy Vice-Chancellor Deborah Johnston.

“Following his success as a distinguished scientist and senior leader, Blake became the eighth president of Georgia State University, and the institution’s first African American president, in 2021. Blake’s leadership of a public university that aims to break the link between demographics and destiny, and between academic excellence and elitism, speaks directly to the LSBU mission, that there should be ‘no barriers to brilliance.’ His vision for GSU is exciting and marries a blueprint for technology, inclusion and excellence. All of this is more inspiring given his own education journey, being in the first generation of his family to attend university.”

The honorary degree was presented to Blake during a ceremony Oct. 18.

London South Bank, one of London’s largest and oldest universities, was founded as Bourough Polytechnic Institute in 1892.

Today it is ranked eighth in the world for reducing inequalities, according to the Times Higher Impact Rankings for 2023. The university has schools in applied sciences, arts and creative industries, architecture, engineering, health, law and business.

“I am tremendously honored to be receiving this distinction from London South Bank University, an institution that in so many ways reflects the mission and vision of Georgia State,” Blake said. “LSBU, like Georgia State, is working to transform lives and communities through accessible education and impactful, problem-solving research. Our graduates, like LSBU’s, are well-prepared for their professional pursuits, leadership roles and lifelong learning, and that’s what higher education should strive to do.”

Blake received his Ph.D. in Information and Software Engineering from George Mason University, his Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Mercer University and his Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from Georgia Tech.

Prior to Georgia State, Blake had over 22 years of faculty and administrative experience across five comprehensive research universities. He served as provost at George Washington University and Drexel University, dean at the University of Miami, and as associate dean for research at the University of Notre Dame. During the first 10 years of his academic career, he was professor and later department chair of Computer Science at Georgetown.

An acclaimed engineer and computer scientist, his private-sector experience includes positions at Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics and The MITRE Corporation.

“As a leader, he has been instrumental in shaping the strategic vision of Georgia State University,” LSBU wrote in its award citation. “His focus on fostering an inclusive learning environment has been pivotal in driving the university’s growth and creating sustainable foundations for future success.”

Under his leadership, Georgia State received the largest number of applications ever for admission to its fall 2023 entering class, and its research enterprise exceeded $200 million in sponsor awards — the highest in history. The university is poised to continue to enhance its academic excellence and student success, scholarship and creativity, and campus vibrancy under a newly adopted strategic plan: “The Blueprint to 2033 – Our Place, Our Time.”