Casey Blankenship is a Higher Ed/Student Affairs Professional. Colleagues describe him as "Casey is a seasoned residence hall professional with the rare ability to integrate student development theory in the application of practice both in the creation of supportive infrastructures and policies as well as in cultivating his staff's understanding of using theory to inform their practice. He is top notch in his field and very down to earth, accessible, wise and forward thinking. He validates the student's experience and integrates both the "in" and the "out" of the classroom piece into the a holistic experience that is targeted to engage and support the development of the whole person. My experience stems from my first hand observation of how he created this kind of living/learning environment at Richard Bland College where it had not existed prior to his arrival and it was remarkable. His strong leadership tied in the academic life with the residential life so that students were cultivated and positioned to be successful. It was a privilege for me to work with him in my capacity as the Director of the Advising and Career Center and to see the incredible program he built from scratch for lifting up each student and each staff member in the residence halls. He is an extraordinary leader with superior motivational gifts and a strong ability to connect with students and empower them to invest in their success. He also have a disarming way about him that invites students to engage in self-reflection, as well as, the ability to build alliance and understanding among college faculty and staff to support this important piece of college learning. Kudos to Casey for being the kind of professional that can bridge both sides of the college house." and "While serving as National Executive Director of Kappa Kappa Psi, National Fraternity for College and University Band members, it was my good fortune to hire Casey Blankenship as our initial Chapter Field Representative. His responsibility was to visit and interact with our collegiate chapters across the country. Hiring Casey for this position was a very wise move. His dedication to his job, his relationship with our collegiate members, and positive impact on the Fraternity staff and elected officers, who represented music educators at the college level, consistently resulted in exceptional evaluations. It is without reservation that I enthusiastically recommend Casey Blankenship for any position in a higher education venue which involves his interaction with the student population. David Solomon"