Social Justice & Community

Recounting the history of UCSC and Oakes College: Wisdom Cole and J. Herman Blake in conversation

UCSC alumni gathered virtually as Wisdom Cole and J. Herman Blake reflected on the university’s founding values, the legacy of Oakes College, and the power of community and inclusion

April 26, 2025

By Haneen Zain

UC Santa Cruz kicked off Alumni Reunion Weekend with a powerful virtual event featuring a conversation between Senior Director of Advocacy at the NAACP, Wisdom Cole (Oakes ’15, chemistry), and founding Oakes College Provost and Professor Emeritus J. Herman Blake. The event set the tone for the weekend by honoring the university’s roots in innovation, equity, and social justice. 

Through personal stories and reflections, Cole and Blake revisited the founding ideals of UCSC and explored how the university’s unique educational model inspires change-makers across generations. Their dialogue invited attendees to reflect on the enduring impact of a UCSC experience.

Blake expressed gratitude for seeing many familiar faces during the virtual event. 

“I see on the [Zoom] screen distinguished scholars, actors, medical doctors, and others,” Blake said in reference to virtual event attendees. “I don’t recognize everybody in this call, but I recognize enough that I realize several things: one, I’ve had a good life. And two, the wheels keep turning, and the grass keeps growing, and the benefits keep going to community, after community, after community.”

Reflecting on their first meeting at UCSC, during Cole’s freshman year, Cole recalled a conversation with Blake about the university as a space for human community grounded in academic and intellectual excellence, and what that means. In response, Blake emphasized that such a community requires deep respect for one another, recognizing the diverse histories and life experiences each person brings. He underscored the importance of listening carefully and not assuming shared perspectives, but instead fostering mutual understanding through thoughtful engagement.

Cole and Blake reflected on the founding ideals of the university. 

”The university was born out of a moment of tremendous social upheaval,” Cole said. “This was the Civil Rights Movement, this was Vietnam, this was women’s liberation. And yet, UC Santa Cruz forged a bold new mold for higher education. The idea that higher education could be done differently, that we could still have that intellectual rigor, but continue to also be socially responsible.” 

Blake recalled that UCSC encouraged faculty to explore the intersectionality of scholarship and social change, allowing them to move beyond rigid disciplinary boundaries. He shared an example of co-teaching a course that combined history and sociology with former Cowell Provost John Dzikes, illustrating how the university empowered faculty and students to engage deeply with the intersection of scholarship and social change while maintaining high academic standards.

In their conversation, Cole and Blake reflected on the founding of Oakes College at UCSC, now celebrating its 50th anniversary. Cole described Oakes not as just another college, but as a bold, radical vision brought to life—a space intentionally shaped by community input and dedicated to inclusion, justice, and academic excellence. 

“Oakes College was a place where I found refuge,” Cole said. “I learned how to be an organizer and had the opportunity to be a part of several grassroots student movements.” 

Inspired by stories like that of George Washington Carver, Blake emphasized that Oakes was built on the belief that excellence and diversity are not in conflict, but mutually reinforcing. He credited the efforts of countless individuals—students, families, and faculty—who refused to accept limitations and worked together to create a college grounded in scholarship and social change.

Thinking ahead to the next 50 years, Blake hopes that UCSC remains grounded in its founding values—honoring its roots, fostering community, and embracing creativity—while continuing to listen, respect, and uplift voices that have yet to be fully heard. 

Learn more about the speakers 

J. Herman Blake 

Blake has a long career as a professor, scholar, and administrator in a wide range of institutions.  He served as founding Provost of Oakes College at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and President of Tougaloo College in Mississippi. 

He was also the Eugene M. Lang Visiting Professor for Social Change at Swarthmore College; Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Education at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis; and Director of African American Studies at Iowa State University. He retired from Iowa State University as Professor of Sociology-Emeritus and served most recently as Scholar in Residence and founding Director of the Sea Islands Institute at the University of South Carolina, Beaufort.

Throughout his career Blake has focused particularly on academic achievement of students from minority and/or low-wealth communities. At Iowa State University, his comprehensive approach significantly contributed to a 45 percent increase in the graduation rate of Black students.

His research focuses on Gullah communities in South Carolina; Black militants in urban communities; and academic achievement of minority students in higher education. His publications include over fifty full-length contributions and a book, the autobiography of Huey P. Newton, Revolutionary Suicide.  His most recent publication is “The Caged Panther: The Prison Years of Huey P. Newton” (August 2011) in The Journal of African American Studies.

Among his many honors, he was selected as the Iowa Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Education and the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. He has served as a Fellow at several foundations and served on numerous national task forces, advisory committees, and boards. In 1978, the American Council on Education named him one of the top 100 emerging leaders in higher education.  He has been awarded six honorary degrees and two presidential medals.

Wisdom Cole 

Wisdom O. Cole is the Senior National Director of Advocacy for the NAACP. 

In his previous role as National Director for the NAACP Youth and College Division, he served more than 700 youth councils, high school chapters, and college chapters actively involved in the fight for civil rights. 

Wisdom brings extensive experience in civil rights advocacy training institute, electoral action training, grassroots organizing, issues toolkits, and webinars at the local, state, and national level. He has managed national campaign efforts focused on building Black political power through youth leadership development, advocacy, and direct action organizing for the past 5 years with the NAACP, formerly as the National Campaigns & Training Manager.

In his time at the NAACP, he has worked on campaigns around the cancelation of student debt, removing police from schools, as well as increasing voter access for young Black people. He has been featured on Politico, NPR, VICE, NBC Washington News, Brooking Institute, and The Economist as an advocate for Black youth voter turnout through issue-based campaign organizing. In 2023, he was recognized in Politico’s Recast Power List 2023, honoring those who are changing the world through race and politics.