One of Australia's most respected leaders in tertiary education will be officially farewelled in Albury-Wodonga tomorrow, Thursday 24 May, during a naming ceremony at Charles Sturt University.

CSU's founding Vice-Chancellor, Professor Cliff Blake, AM, will be honoured when the main lecture theatre at its Thurgoona Campus is dedicated in his name.

Professor Blake retires in July as Australia's longest serving chief executive officer of a higher education institution and one of the country's pre-eminent Vice-Chancellors.

For more than 30 years, he has been at the head of higher education in regional New South Wales, as Vice-Chancellor of CSU and previously founding head of one of its predecessor institutions - the Riverina-Murray College of Advanced Education.

"The Albury-Wodonga Campus began its existence in 1972 as a study centre of the then Riverina-Murray College of Advanced Education," said CSU's Chancellor David Asimus, AO.

"This time last year, another milestone was reached with the official opening of this lecture theatre complex by the NSW Minister of Education and Training, the Hon John Aquilina.

"Professor Blake was instrumental in both of these developments and it is therefore very fitting that the University Council recognises Professor Blake's achievements in Albury-Wodonga with the naming of this theatre as the 'C D Blake Theatre'."

The Albury ceremony will especially recognise Professor Blake's outstanding service to the University and his contribution to its regional communities, including Albury-Wodonga.

Professor Blake will also receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Sydney this Friday 25 May.