Judson University awards degree to designer Alpha Coles Blackburn

By Tom Siebert

Judson University recently recognized renowned architect, fashion designer, television host, and community leader Alpha Coles Blackburn with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree during the tenth anniversary G.L.A.M.M.Ys fundraising event in Indianapolis.

Blackburn is the retired president and CEO of the prestigious Blackburn Architects, which served as lead designers of the National Underground Freedom Center in Cincinnati.

As the technical representative and co-coordinator for art for the Indianapolis International Airport, Blackburn led the selection, commissioning, and installation of the facility’s art collection. She is also an award-winning fashion designer and former TV host.

For the past two years, Blackburn has been working with Shanel Poole, president of Guidance Life-skills And Mentoring (GLAM, Inc.) to provide opportunities for young women to attend Judson University and major in architecture, art, or graphic design.

“Alpha Blackburn uses her professional expertise to help the next generation of young women study and enter the creative fields of architecture, art, and graphic design,” said Judson president Gene Crume.

“We are pleased to recognize her exceptional contributions to the arts. She is a trailblazer in her field and has demonstrated her commitment to giving back and shaping others’ lives. This is also Judson’s mission of shaping lives that shape the world,” Dr. Crume added.

Ms. Blackburn serves on more than 60 community boards and committees. She was the recipient of the Indiana Governor’s Civil Rights Legacy Award in 2018, the Chancellor's Medallion at Indiana University/Purdue University of Indianapolis in 2017, the Indiana Minority Business Magazine Golden Laurel Professional in 2017, and the G.L.A.M. (Indianapolis) ICON Award in 2017.

Since its founding ten years ago, GLAM has assisted more than 350 girls through programming that focuses on self-esteem, education, professional development, and healthy choices. According to the GLAM website, the organization has helped at-risk girls, who normally have only a 35 percent probability of graduating from high school, graduate at a rate of 97 percent.

Judson University is a fully accredited, private Christian institution representing the church at work in higher education. Nestled along the Fox River in Elgin, 40 miles northwest of Chicago, Judson is home to more than 1,200 students from 36 states and more than 30 countries.

Judson offers degrees in more than 65 different majors and minors for traditional, graduate, and adult students, ranking consistently among the best regional universities in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report.