She's devoted her life to "trying to understand what's behind you when I look at you, when I talk to you and I hear things that are different from my experience. I want to understand 'where does that come from' because it's got to be enriching." It's that approach to life and learning that Dr. Ira Blake brings to her role as the first woman and the first African-American to lead the University of Houston Clear Lake. On any given Friday, you will find this dedicated educator walking across campus, engaging with students, listening to their stories, dreams and challenges so that she and her colleagues can best meet their needs. She's a soft-spoken powerhouse leading UHCL into a new era of growth, where a top notch education goes hand in hand with her mission to ensure that each student knows that their voice matters.