Thirty years of leadership which took a fledgling regional college to one of Australia's most diverse and dynamic universities will be recognised tomorrow, 2 May, when the founding Vice-Chancellor of Charles Sturt University (CSU), Professor Cliff Blake, AM, is awarded an honorary Doctor of the University.

The award will be presented at the University's Wagga Wagga Campus by Chancellor David Asimus, AO, to honour Professor Blake's outstanding service to the University and his contribution to the cultural life and economic fabric of regional NSW.

The longest serving chief executive officer of an Australian higher education institution, Professor Blake retires in July after an exceptional career in which he played a definitive role in the establishment and growth of CSU.

"Under his leadership, CSU has become the pre-eminent regional university in Australia," Mr Asimus said.

Mr Asimus said the University had more than doubled its size and expanded into international markets through the innovative use of technology and overseas partnerships.

It had developed new professional areas such as policing and pre-hospital care and introduced courses to meet the needs of regional Australia, such as radiography, physiotherapy and pharmacy.

In 1997, six years after its establishment, CSU was named University of the Year for its success in educating students with little or no family history in university education.

Mr Asimus said the lasting legacy of Professor Blake, however, will be his contribution to regional communities through the development of campuses, strong community collaboration and focused research to meet the needs of rural Australia.

"Professor Blake has been the driving force behind CSU and is inextricably linked to the development of this University," he said.

Professor Blake graduated from the University of Sydney in 1958 with the University Medal in Agriculture.

He received a Sir Benjamin Fuller Travelling scholarship to England where he completed his doctorate at the University of London and a Rockefeller Travelling Fellowship to the United States.

In 1971, while still in his early 30s, Professor Blake was appointed Foundation Principal of the new Riverina College of Advanced Education.

"This decision was to have far-reaching consequences for the higher education landscape of regional New South Wales," Mr Asimus said.

Professor Blake quickly established the College as one of the leading providers of distance education courses in Australia.

In 1981, he oversaw the amalgamation of Riverina College with the Goulburn College of Advanced Education to establish the Riverina-Murray Institute of Higher Education.

During this period he made a significant contribution to the overall development of advanced education, and in recognition was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1988.

Professor Blake was awarded the Farrer Memorial Medal for distinguished contributions to agricultural science and granted the freedom of the City of Wagga Wagga in 1996 and was made an Honorary Citizen of the City of Bathurst in 1998.

He has served in numerous senior positions on Boards and Higher Education committees throughout his career, including President of the Australian Higher Education Industrial Association and as the Australian representative on the Commonwealth of Learning Board of Governors.

Tomorrow's ceremony at Wagga Wagga - which includes the naming of a sculpture park the CD Blake Pleasance - is the first of a number of farewell functions for Professor Blake across the University over coming months.

On Thursday 24 May, a new lecture theatre will be named in honour of Professor Blake at the Albury-Wodonga Campus.

At Bathurst, he will be conferred the title of Emeritus Professor at his last University Council meeting on Thursday 28 June and the renovated gymnasium and auditorium will be named the CD Blake Auditorium on Tuesday 3 July.

In further recognition of his contribution to higher education, Professor Blake will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Educational Administration from the University of Sydney on 25 May.