Bowie State University News April 1, 2022 One Student Among 18 Appointed to Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities White House yesterday announced that President Joe Biden will appoint Bowie State University student Paige Blake to the President's Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Blake, a junior biology student, said she is honored by the appointment. "This means so much to me. Not only am I getting to represent Bowie State as a HBCU but I'm representing all HBCUs and all HBCU students because I'm the only student" on this round of appointments to the board. "This is amazing to me. This is a once in a lifetime thing," an excited Blake said. "I never expected something this big to happen so soon." The board is charged with advancing "the goal of the HBCU Initiative, established by the Carter Administration, to increase the capacity of HBCUs to provide the highest-quality education to its students and continue serving as engines of opportunity," according to the White House release<https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/03/31/president-biden-announces-appointments-to-board-of-advisors-on-historically-black-colleges-and-universities/>. Blake is one of 18 appointees to the board, including Dr. Monica Goldson, Chief Executive Officer for Prince George's County Public Schools and a Bowie State graduate. "The addition of a student voice provides a unique perspective as the Board continues its work towards the HBCU Initiative's goal of increasing the capacity of historically black institutions to provide a quality education and other life changing opportunities," said Bowie State President Aminta H. Breaux. "We are extremely proud of Paige and her commitment to advocacy." While well on her path to becoming a young, influential professional, Blake said she hasn't learned the specific details of her new job as a member of the board but she's eager to begin. Lifelong advocacy part of Blake's DNA Being an advocate isn't new to Blake, who was diagnosed with a rare form of spina bifida when she was four. Since then, she has advocated for people and various causes. This has included working with the Congressional Black Caucus and President Obama's White House Initiative on African American Excellence to advocate for disabled students. Blake says her condition is largely responsible for her plan to attend medical school when she's expected to graduate BSU in 2023. She aspires to become a neurologist and find the cause and cure of her disease and to help others with similar ailments. In August 2021, Blake was named a White House Initiative HBCU Competitiveness Scholar<https://bowiestate.edu/about/news/2021/bowie-state-students-selected-as-2021-white-house-initiative-scholars.php> for Bowie State University. In addition, she serves as the Director of Student Affairs with the University System of Maryland Student Council where she works to ensure that current and future college students in Maryland will have positive and equal opportunities. Sandra M. Phoenix, Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance 678-210-5801 (office) 404-702-5854 (cell) http://www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> Seek justice, honor the ancestors, honor the children and those yet to come. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/ and Twitter at https://twitter.com/HBCULibAlliance Check out "PULSE!" The HBCU Library Alliance's News Source! - https://hbculibraryalliance.wordpress.com/