Dr. Brad Blake

Brief Biographical Sketch

Dr. Brad Blake was born and raised in Wisconsin, where he received his Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Wisconsin State University at Stevens Point, and two Master’s degrees, one in India Area Studies and one in Anthropology.

Dr. Blake joined the faculty at New Mexico State University in 1966, becoming the first anthropologist in NMSU;s history. Brad’s task at the Department of Sociology and Anthropology (then known as the Department of History and Social Sciences) was to develop a concentration in Anthropology which eventually led to both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree program. He later served five years as the Head of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at NMSU.

From 1986 to the end of July, 1996, Dr. Blake was assigned the duties of the Director of the NMSU Museum where he continued to teach classes both in Anthropology and Museology while at the same time seeing to the growth and development of the museum.

Dr. Blake’s research interests encompassed Southwestern Native American archaeology and culture, the maritime sea fisherman of India, Ireland, and the Texas Gulf coast. Applies Anthropology research includes solar energy utility on the Colorado Indian Reservation, and Environmental Impact study involving the Papago Indian Reservation and the United States Air Force; fisheries education, consultations with both the State of Madras, India, and the Irish Sea Fisheries Board (Republic of Ireland).

Dr. Blake’s dedication to teaching was reflected through his being awarded one of three top teaching awards from the University of Wisconsin, the NMSU Westhafer award for excellence in teaching, as well as two Donald C. Roush teaching awards. Brad had also been a flight instructor/commercial pilot since the early 1960s and continued to teach both primary and advanced flight training with all the vigor and dedication demonstrated in the university classroom. An Air Force jet fighter pilot veteran, Dr. Blake had happily combined aviation and anthopology theory, education and application into his retirement from NMSU.