Tagged: J. Blaine Hudson

When J. Blaine Hudson became dean of the University of Louisville’s College of Arts and Sciences eight years ago, it was significant. He was leading a school he had not only attended, but had years ago protested because of the lack of opportunities for African-American students.

J. Blaine Hudson, a longtime University of Louisville educator and leading voice in the city's African-American community, died on Saturday.

He was 63.

In the past year, Hudson took a prominent role as the chairman of a work group assembled by Mayor Greg Fischer that was assigned to suggest ways to reduce violence in Louisville following the daytime shooting that left three dead in May in Parkland.

J. Blaine Hudson is resigning  at the end December as dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Louisville, a post he's held since 2004.

Hudson took a leave of absence in August for medical reasons. He told faculty then in an e-mail that he'd had cranial surgery but his prognosis was positive.