[Professor]

February 18, 2009



President Obama names former Alpha AVP to White House Staff Bro. Michael Blake joins Office of Intergovernmental Affairs



BALTIMORE – President Barack Obama has named Michael Blake as associate director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. Brother Blake, a past Midwestern Region Assistant Vice President of Alpha Phi Alpha, previously worked with the president during the campaign season.

Brother Blake began his service as a member of Obama for America team in March 2007 as Iowa's deputy political director. He concluded the campaign as Obama’s Michigan deputy director and political director. “This appointment by the president signifies again how Alpha men continue to play influential roles in providing appropriate voice and vision to the advancement of our society,” said Herman “Skip” Mason, Jr., general president of Alpha. “On behalf of the thousands of Alpha men around the world, I salute Brother Blake on his accomplishment and we know he will do Alpha and America proud. Alpha stands ready to assist wherever possible in furthering the betterment of all communities in which we serve,” Mason said.