CHICAGO, Ill. – Chicago State University Athletics has announced the addition of Keyshawn Blakes as Assistant Director for Student-Athlete Success.
Blakes joins Chicago State with more than six years of experience in higher education, bringing a background in academic advising, student success, student engagement, program development and data informed student support.
In his new role with the Cougars, Blakes will support the academic success and overall development of Chicago State student-athletes while assisting with the department's student services and academic support initiatives.
Most recently, Blakes served as a College Access Advisor with On Point for College in Syracuse, New York. In that role, he managed a portfolio of more than 100 students annually, providing academic, financial and career advising. He also analyzed enrollment, persistence and financial aid data to develop advising strategies designed to improve retention and completion outcomes.
Prior to joining On Point for College, Blakes served as Director of Inclusion & Belonging at SUNY Onondaga Community College. He led institution wide student engagement and belonging initiatives, developed co-curricular programming connected to retention and student development, supervised more than 20 student leaders and staff, and partnered with academic and administrative leadership to advance institutional student-success priorities.
Blakes also brings direct academic counseling experience from Syracuse University's Office of Supportive Services, where he served as an Academic Counselor with H.E.O.P./TRIO Student Support Services. In that position, he managed advising relationships for high need student populations, delivered academic success programming and utilized data informed approaches to monitor student performance and enhance academic outcomes.
His higher education experience also includes serving as Assistant Director of Admissions at Utica University, a graduate assistant with Syracuse University's Intercultural Collective and a Financial Aid & Admissions Intern at SUNY Upstate Medical University. Those positions provided Blakes with additional experience in recruitment, financial aid, student engagement, mentoring and student development.
Blakes earned a Master of Science in Higher Postsecondary Education from Syracuse University. He earned bachelor's degrees in Business Administration and Sociology from Buffalo State University.
His professional and community involvement includes the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), American College Personnel Administration (ACPA), Say Yes to Education-Syracuse Scholarship Council Committee and the Men of Color Initiative at Syracuse University.
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