President Ira K. Blake interviewed in ‘Students’ Voices Matter’ podcast

University of Houston-Clear Lake President Ira K. Blake reflected on her lifelong commitment to higher education and how students can apply their education to create change in the world during a podcast with Houston news icon Linda Lorelle. The segment, “Students’ Voices Matter,” is one of Lorelle’s intimate conversations with important people throughout the country. Lorelle's goal is to offer an alternative to what she terms the ‘deteriorating discourse’ in the world.

President Blake begins the conversation with uplifting words about UHCL students.

“Look at the students. Look at the younger people. Listen to them. They are not judging each other so quickly,” she said. “They are trying to understand, who are you and what might we be able to do together?”

During the podcast, President Blake emphasizes that students know that the university is a “safe space to express ideas and opinions” and urges students to do just that.

In 1989, Lorelle joined KPRC-TV in Houston as a weekend anchor/education reporter and quickly became a household name. She was promoted to anchoring the weekday, prime time 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts. Throughout her 16 years at KPRC, she anchored Dateline Houston, spearheaded the station’s documentary projects and hosted several special programs, including the Muscular Dystrophy Labor Day Telethon and the College Fund (UNCF) Telethon. In 2009, she created Lorelle Media, her award-winning video production and communications consulting company.

Discover more about President Blake’s vision to ensure students’ voices are heard in the “Students' Voices Matter” podcast.