Blake was most recently the Dean of Enrollment Services and Registrar at Southern Oregon University in Ashland. Prior to her work there, she spent eight years as Vice President for Student Affairs at Boise State University and many years in leadership positions at University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
"I believe she will be a wonderful addition to our campus," President Rollin Richmond wrote in a campus message announcing the appointment. "The Search Committee and many of those who met Peg during her campus visit were highly impressed with her clear commitment to students, the breadth and depth of her experience, and her collaborative style."
Blake holds a Ph.D. in Post-Secondary Education Administration from University of Nebraska-Lincoln, as well as an MBA with a focus on marketing and a bachelor's degree in Anthropology from the same institution.
In addition to experience in many different areas of Student Affairs, Blake has served as President of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. The professional organization has more than 10,000 members representing 1,700 colleges and universities.
Blake said the Vice President position at Humboldt State was appealing for many reasons. "I am thrilled to be at Humboldt. I was very impressed with everyone I met during my interviews, and am eager to begin work. Humboldt's commitment to the environment and social justice, as well as its focus on student success, make it an exciting place to be. I look forward to being a part of this community."
Blake's appointment follows a national search that began early in the Fall semester. The position had been filled on an interim basis by Edward "Buzz" Webb, who came out of retirement to help with the transition after Steve Butler retired last summer.
Blake's husband, Larry, is the Director of Campus Planning and Sustainability at SOU. Her daughter, Lauren, is a high school freshman and her son, Colin, attends Oregon State University.