Brian Blake (born October 13, 1971) is an American computer scientist and software engineer who has been serving as the 8th president of Georgia State University since August 2021.
[3] Born in 1971, Brian Blake was raised in Savannah, Georgia, where he spent much of his life as a young adult before going on to graduate from Benedictine Military School in 1989.
[26] He led the creation of several academic planning initiatives to consider future enrollments, virtual instruction,[27][28][29] and a decentralized model to evolve the university’s research infrastructure.
[4][33] In his first two years in this position, Blake helped acquire nearly $100 million in capital project appropriations, including a new research tower [34] and a fully-electric bus fleet.
This plan intends to build upon four pillars identified as the most impactful aspects of the Georgia State University: Identity, Placemaking and Belonging; Innovating Research Scholarship and Creative Activity; Student Success 2.0; and Beyond College to Career.
[38] Blake led the development of this multi-year campus and public realm improvement plan, including the GSU Blueline, in partnership with the City of Atlanta, Georgia Power, and local businesses/apartment complexes, that continues to enhance the student experience, safety, and security of the university.
[39] Blake also worked with the State of Georgia and led the facilities development for the university to open its new $6.3 million dental hygiene clinic in September 2024.
Blake has partnered with the athletic leadership at Georgia State University to develop the facility in the downtown, Summerhill area of the campus in time for the 2026 College baseball season.
[40] The gift funding nine different revitalization projects to “create a college town downtown”[41] targets completion by June 2026 and in time for the FIFA World Cup 2026.