“Keep Going, No Regrets”: A Farewell Interview with CR’s Executive Dean of Arts & Sciences

Published on May 5 2025

After more than two decades of shaping minds and nurturing growth at College of the Redwoods, the Executive Dean of Arts & Sciences, Dr. Peter Blakemore, is preparing to turn the page into retirement. Filled with thoughtful reflections and stories that span grizzly country to Greenwich Village, his journey reads like an epic novel—complete with jazz, wilderness, academia, and a whole lot of heart.

Since August of 2002, the Executive Dean has served CR with dedication, intellect, and a generous spirit. Currently overseeing more than 26 disciplines, his leadership in the Arts & Sciences division has left a lasting impression.

“I first stepped onto the CR campus for my job interview in April of 2002, just when they had opened the LRC,” he recalls. “It’s a beautiful campus—my favorite among all the California community colleges I’ve seen.”

Originally from Chicago, with childhood roots in New York and Connecticut, he’s called Humboldt home since July 2002. “I’ve lived in the West for most of my life,” he says, naming Montana, Nevada, California, and Oregon as his most formative landscapes.

Before CR, his teaching career wound through universities across the country: the University of Montana, UNLV, College of San Mateo, Solano College, the University of Oregon, and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

But it wasn’t always academia. “I’ve probably worked 20 different jobs,” he says. The list includes tree surgeon, motel night clerk in grizzly country, seafood manager at the first Whole Foods Market in Austin, and even Santa Claus at Bloomingdale’s. “I worked my way through school,” he says, “and learned something valuable from each role.”

Dr. Blakemore holds an interdisciplinary doctorate in American literature and environmental studies from the University of Oregon, plus two master’s degrees from the University of Montana—in English literature and creative writing. His undergraduate years at the University of Iowa earned him degrees in both history and English.

Writing, he says, has always been both a joy and a challenge. “Academic discourse requires intense focus and real research, whereas fiction is more of a pleasure,” he shares. “I’m looking forward to getting back to fiction.”

That willingness to take on more—even when it’s difficult—is a theme that threads through his life. He recalls juggling four courses at UNLV when a friend asked him to fill in as a radio host. “I enjoyed it so much I ended up with my own jazz show on public radio,” he says. “I like to learn new things, so when opportunities arise, I leap in.”

This attitude toward change—leaning into it, rather than away—has shaped not just his career, but the way he approaches life. “It’s made me less fearful of the ‘new’ or ‘strange.’ I’ve learned to listen, adapt, and stay open.”

For those just starting in education—or stepping into administration—he offers simple but meaningful advice: “Stop and think before reacting. Try to imagine the other person’s experiences as you work through problems.”

Asked what he’d tell his younger self, he replies. “I don’t have regrets. Maybe I’d say, ‘Keep going. And spend a little more time kayaking and fishing.’”

Beyond academia, he’s a man of many passions. “Bicycling, river sports, backpacking, gardening, music,” he lists. “I may take up fine woodworking after retirement.” His favorite color? “Green! No, wait—blue. Blue-green?”

Joy, for him, comes in moments both grand and quiet: grilling a freshly caught salmon on a cedar plank, hitting whitewater just right, watching a sunset in the wilderness, discovering a new novelist, or listening to Charles Mingus or Molly Tuttle.

He names mentors who shaped his thinking—Glen Love, William Kittredge, Robert Woerner among them—and remembers the inspiration they sparked.

Reflecting on his time at CR, he speaks of beauty—not just the physical landscape, but the people. “The reason people in our communities love CR is because of the great people who work here.”

As he steps into retirement, he leaves with a message: “Never give up. The work is hard but interesting and well worth it. Despite what critics may say, higher education is essential—it’s at the core of who we are.”

He adds, “History and time won’t let us travel in reverse.”

And with that, the page turns to the next chapter—for Dr. Peter Blakemore, and for College of the Redwoods.