Dr. Christopher Blake began his duties as the eighth president of Mount Mercy College on July 1, 2006. On August 23, 2010, Blake led the institution’s re-designation to Mount Mercy University, making Mount Mercy the only Mercy University in the state of Iowa and one of only four in the Midwest.
Since arriving at Mount Mercy, Blake has led the institution to several milestones, including spearheading a mission and visioning process which resulted in Mount Mercy’s current strategic evolution. He has also led the launch of graduate programs in business, education, marriage and family therapy, and in January 2011, nursing. Under Blake’s tenure, the institution has also begun offering athletic scholarships, has revised its Core Curriculum and has begun implementation of a transformational campus facilities plan. Mount Mercy University was selected in 2009 for participation in the Higher Learning Commission’s “Pathways” program for accreditation. In 2012 Mount Mercy University will expand its facilities with a satellite campus dedicated to graduate education, the first campus expansion in the University’s history.
Blake received his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in theology from the University of Oxford, Keble College. He received his Ph.D. in education from the University of London, King’s College.
Before coming to Mount Mercy University, Blake was provost of Mount Saint Mary's University in Emmitsburg, Maryland, the second oldest Catholic university in the nation.
He is a member of the American Educational Research Association, University of Oxford Alumni Association of the United States, Pi Lamba Theta International Honor Society in Education and Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in education.
Blake is a director on several non-profit Boards, including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation of Iowa and the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library.
