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supporting the pipeline for Georgia’s aerospace industry.”
Overall, MGA has an enrollment of 8,400 students who
come from 144 Georgia counties, 40 states and 73 countries. MGA also has a strong athletic program, and as the
Knights move into the NCAA Sunbelt Division II in athletics, school officials expect to recruit more students abroad.
According to Blake, more than 80 percent of MGA
graduates live and work within 100 miles of their five campuses making up Middle Georgia State.
The university’s commitment to academic excellence
is also evident in its affordable tuition and the personalized
attention students receive due to smaller class sizes. The
affordabili ty of higher education is also something Blake
stresses. “When we became a state university, we created a
phased-in plan to get to the state university tuition level,” he
says. “We learned to be frugal. We have learned. and there’s
a bit of me that thinks that’s where my background from
Britain has been helpful. Britain is obviously a developed democracy and one of the wealthiest nations in the world, but
it doesn’t have as much disposable income as the United
States. I think, therefore, I grew up in a culture where you
learned to be creative, where you learned to, as we would
say, take a pound note and stretch it further. You just must
be creative and thoughtful.”
“Our first core value is stewardship. And stewardship
is, of course, about money,” he continues, “But it’s not just
about money. It’s just that we all have resources and talents and opportunities. and we work very carefully to be
accountable for how we use them. That’s embedded in the
whole organization.”
MGA’s president went on to say, “We’ve had great success in getting scholarships. We endow our scholarships
at $25,000, so a lot of donors know that they can give over,
say, five years and build a scholarship, which will be then
for there in perpetuity.”
activities, including student organizations, sports, and
leadership development programs.
MGA is also committed to fostering an inclusive environment. It hosts various cultural and educational events
throughout the year that celebrate diversity and promote a
broader understanding of the world. These initiatives support MGA’s mission to develop well-rounded graduates who
are not only skilled professionals but also global citizens.
Despite the university’s achievements, Blake is mindful of the challenges ahead. He is particularly concerned
about public skepticism towards higher education and
the growing preference for alternative career paths that
bypass traditional university education. “We need to make
the case to students and the community about the value
of a university education,” he said.
With a focus on innovation, impact and graduating the
next generation of Georgia’s workforce, Blake says he intends to steer MGA toward a future where it does not just
participate in the community but leads it towards greater
achievements.
As Middle Georgia State University looks forward to
its next decade, it does so with a leader at the helm who
is as much a dedicated visionary ready to face the challenges of the future while at the same time grounding his
institution in the values that have brought it this far.
Cindy Morley is a staff writer for James and James Magazine Online.
Vibrant & Inclusive
Student life at MGA is vibrant and engaging at its five
campuses spread across Middle Georgia, including in Macon, Cochran, Dublin, Eastman, and Warner Robins. Each
campus has its unique atmosphere and specializations,
yet all maintain the cohesive feel of the MGA community.
Students at MGA benefit from a range of extracurricular
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