Spotlight On: M. Brian Blake, President, Georgia State University
August 2024 — In an interview with Focus:, Brian Blake, president of Georgia State University, talked about the institution’s commitment to student success through innovative data analytics and AI technologies. Despite challenges from evolving educational demands and the need to enhance campus culture, Blake envisions developing a more integrated and engaging campus environment, leveraging Atlanta’s resources, and supporting students’ adaptability in their academic and career paths.
What are some of the main priorities that you are focusing on to foster innovation and excellence?
We are known both nationally and internationally for student success; we bring students in from all backgrounds and economic upbringings. We are effective at graduating students at high rates and we use data analytics in innovative ways. Our institution has more than 51,000 students, but we use AI and the work we do analyzing data to provide individual treatment, making the university feel much smaller. Beyond that, we are at the heart of Atlanta and that gives students the opportunity to learn hands-on skills while being surrounded by major industries.
What is the university’s approach to prepare students to excel in a technology-driven world?
We use AI technologies like chatbots that allow students to ask relevant questions about their curriculum and their enrollment and admissions process. We have technology in classrooms that tracks student engagement and interacts with them based on how engaged they are. In terms of what it means for them to be in this area of Atlanta, our research infrastructure had more than $225 million in new grant awards last year. We are well known for biomedical sciences and that includes interventions to prevent infectious diseases. We provide innovative solutions in the areas of neuroscience and imagery. Students are given the ability to have cutting-edge experiences in the classroom, combined with real-world technologies and an in-depth research environment.
How do you balance having a global approach while also creating local synergies with Atlanta’s community?
We host the World Affairs Council, an Atlanta organization that strives to connect the city with the world. That is hosted within our Robinson College of Business. The council brings in ambassadors and leaders from other countries and is a great opportunity for students to have face to face interactions with a global constituency. We are delighted to say we send more underrepresented minority students to study abroad than any institution in the country, so that is another opportunity, with students having a chance to experience other countries.
What is the university doing for students in terms of career readiness?
When it comes to data analytics, the state of Georgia has a tool called Stepping Blocks, and it takes the class work you have and categorizes that work within competencies. It then aligns that with possible career opportunities. That is a Georgia-wide resource for students. We also use a tool called Portfolium, which provides similar information. Our career services area is one of the best in the country in terms of matching students with opportunities.
We also provide real-world training that allows current professionals to be reskilled. As an example, we created course work for Delta’s gate agents to learn computational sciences to be able to work in logistics. We have a similar lab where we teach students from all majors the basic tenets of computing.
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What are some of the challenges higher education is facing?
Right now, we are at an intersection where the internet and AI give our students such amazing access to information. It challenges the nature of a four-year degree when you can learn a lot of practical skills at the click of a button. It forces us in turn to be more convincing about why the foundation of education is so important. At the foundation of things, you need to be able to be in a position to understand how things work and what questions should be asked to go beyond the mechanical piece of a particular skill. Ultimately, it is a tough spot to be in, but if we focus on what we do, and on our students, everyone will see the value of higher education.
What is your near-term outlook, and what are your top priorities moving forward?
Georgia State was a fully commuter institution 27 years ago. Over the years that has changed and now more than a third of our 4-year students live on our downtown campus. It’s funny how difficult it is to change culture though, because although we have students who live on campus, there is still a deep culture of students commuting who don’t have access to the richness of our academic environment. As I look forward, I want to create that walkable green space and engaging campus that we haven’t had so students can feel engaged on campus.
We are also always working on getting better and better at student success, data analytics and course customization. The background of our students and research means that we understand perspectives that most places cannot. We will also be taking better advantage of our environment and proximity to Grady Memorial, the Capitol building, the mayor’s office, municipal courts, the Falcons, Hawks, United, and all these industries just blocks away. We want to continue to build a curriculum that allows students to take advantage of the richness of the community here in their backyard.
When students make decisions about what university and area of study they would like to pursue, they should look more broadly than the major that they decided on when they graduated from high school. The national average for changing degrees is two-and-a-half times. That is another benefit of Georgia State: we are broad, with 12 schools and colleges. We give students the ability to change their mind. We also have something called Meta majors, where you get to matriculate in the major that you are working on but also interact and see other majors and how they interact. GSU is a place that can accommodate your evolution.
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