In Memoriam
In Memoriam: Edward J. Blakely, PhD
Ed Blakely, well known internationally for his focus on social justice, disaster recovery, and urban policy, passed away earlier this month. A former member of the APA Board of Directors, his career accolades and his impact on the planning profession are vast. He is remembered fondly for helping to remove barriers for countless planners. From academia to advisory roles, Blakley has left a lasting influence on the planning profession.
Edward J. Blakely, PhD
Blakely was Honorary Professor of Urban Policy at the U.S. Studies Centre at the University of Sydney, Australia. Earlier in his career, Blakely was dean at the School of Urban Planning and Development at the University of Southern California and at the Robert J. Milano Graduate School of Management and Urban Policy, New School University in New York City. He was also a lecturer and visiting professor at numerous universities around the world, including Oxford, Cambridge, the University of Venice, Rutgers, Harvard, and Penn State. He has authored more than 100 scholarly articles and published 10 books.
Additionally, he served in advisory roles for three U.S. presidential administrations. President Clinton named Blakely to serve as vice chairman of the Presidio Trust. He was also a Fulbright Scholar and a Guggenheim Fellow.
Blakely played a vital role in helping communities recover from disasters in Oakland, California, and Los Angeles. For two years, he served as the executive director of the Office of Recovery and Development Administration for New Orleans following the devastation from Hurricane Katrina. He also assisted or advised on disaster recovery in Japan, Turkey, Chile, Honduras, and Indonesia.
Blakely was a champion of social justice in the planning profession and was committed to making a difference in the world. He was recognized by UN-Habitat for promoting social justice in post-disaster recovery globally.
The Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) Planners of Color Interest Group (POCIG) presents the Edward Blakely Award every two years, which honors scholarship that advances the cause of social justice in planning.
Blakely received his doctorate from the University of California at Los Angeles, a master's from UC Berkeley, and a bachelor's degree from UC Riverside, where he was team captain and quarterback of the football team for two seasons. He was inducted into the UC Riverside Athletics Hall of Fame.