Pick a Colorado State University alum at random and ask them what made their student experience at CSU worthwhile, and chances are they will tell you it was because of Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Blanche Hughes (M.E.D., ’84; Ph.D., ’95). For the past 35 years, Dr. Hughes has worked to create a culture of student excellence and success at CSU. Maybe that’s why the Rams defeated Nevada after Dr. Hughes and her family rang the Old Main Bell on November 18 for Senior Day.
Even before she arrived at CSU, Dr. Hughes has always been student-focused. While pursuing her undergraduate degree at Earlham College in Indiana, Dr. Hughes was a student leader in numerous student groups, worked as a work-study student in the office of student affairs, tutored, and was a teaching assistant. She soaked up as much as she could from the teachers and administrators who made an impact on her life and had plans on becoming an elementary school physical education teacher after graduating.
“I’ve always loved kids and school and most of my role models growing up were teachers,” she explained a few days before she rang the Old Main Bell. “I thought becoming a teacher would be the best job ever.”
But after graduating, the job market for teachers in Indiana was thin, so she accepted a job at her alma mater in the office of student affairs that led to even more opportunities to help students have a fulfilling college experience, including being a resident hall director, assistant basketball coach, college counselor, and assistant dean of students. Being part of the student affairs office at Earlham not only reinforced her desire to focus on students, it also introduced her to a university in Fort Collins, Colorado.
“The director of the student center at Earlham was so smart, and I wanted to know how he knew all the things he did,” she said. “He told me that he had graduated from CSU with a Master’s in College Student Personnel Administration, and that I should do the same. I’d never heard of CSU before that.”
With that advice, Dr. Hughes and her husband, Wayne, packed up their two kids (they would later have two more), and headed to Fort Collins.
“Coming from a small college, I wanted to get my Master’s at a larger university,” Dr. Hughes explained. “I was looking for community, and what I found at CSU was I was able to get involved at the Black Student Services – because there were not many people of color and not many Black people at CSU at the time – and find pockets of community even though the institution was large. I really enjoyed that and my student experience.”
After graduating from CSU with her Master’s of Education in Student Affairs, Dr. Hughes became the director of Black Student Services (now the Black/African-American Cultural Center) where she served for 11 years. Over the next six years, Dr. Hughes would serve as the Assistant Vice President and then the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs. After that, she entered her current role of Vice President for Student Affairs where she has served for the past 18 years.
“I still love it,” she said emphatically. “I feel like I get to make a difference in the lives of people every day, and they make a difference in my life. Working at a university and learning new things keeps me growing, and I just love that.”
If Dr. Hughes hopes she has a positive influence on the lives of people, just ask any student, faculty, staff member, or anyone who has ever crossed her path, and they will all tell you that she does. That’s not just because Dr. Hughes brings more than 30 years of knowledge, experience, and expertise with her every day she comes to work, but because she leads with compassion and a real dedication to see students and others grow and become the best version of themselves.
“When you walk on this campus, no matter what your background is, you’re not a number: You’re a person and we want you here. We want to prepare you for your career, have a wonderful experience in and out of the classroom, grow and develop so you are prepared to go out and do great things,” Dr. Hughes said. “What’s great is that’s my job. We really value students as part of our land-grant mission, and we want to make sure the importance of getting a degree is about more than just that piece of paper, it’s an experience that can transform your life.”
Dr. Hughes has certainly seen her fair share of students go from wide-eyed freshmen to seniors ready to become global citizens. As she prepared to ring the Old Main Bell in recognition of Senior Day on November 18, she offered some invaluable advice to those who will soon don the cap and gown and begin the next phase of their lives.
“Take a deep breath, then congratulate yourself. Most people don’t get to go to college or graduate, so be proud that you made it. Reflect on what you learned, how you’re different, and more than anything, be proud,” she said.
As a die-hard Rams fan who goes to every home game, never leaves a game early, and who was experienced some of the greatest games in Rams history, Dr. Hughes said she felt nothing but pride for being able to ring the Old Main Bell.
“To be chosen to ring the bell just makes me really proud and happy,” she added. “There’s so many people who could have been chosen and to be included in that list of people who I’ve long admired is pretty cool and I’m really touched by that.”
Having Dr. Hughes ring the Old Main Bell is just one way CSU is able to acknowledge her years of dedication and commitment to all things green and gold, and you can read even more about how Dr. Hughes’ has made an impact on the University and its students through her living legacy.
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When you join the Colorado State University Alumni Association, you become part of something bigger – a global community of green and gold that keeps alumni connected to the University and each other. Life member Dr. Blanche Hughes is making an impact on current students and future Rams through her volunteerism and donations; providing support for alumni programming, outreach, and nationwide engagement; and preserving time-honored traditions that bind us together as Rams. You can make a difference too, and gain access to benefits such as exclusive invites, bookstore savings, career services, and more. Become a member today!
