Blenda Wilson: key obituary facts
Is Blenda Wilson dead? Yes. Blenda Wilson died on June 4, 2026, at age 85.
Cause of death: Blenda Wilson's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Blenda Wilson known for?
He was known as American academic administrator.
More about Blenda Wilson
Born: 28 January 1941.
Place of birth: Perth Amboy.
Gender: female.
Education: Seton Hall University, Boston College, Cedar Crest College.
Also known as: Blenda Jacqueline Wilson.
Blenda Wilson, an American academic administrator who became the first African-American woman to lead a large U.S.
university, died on June 4, 2026. She was 85.
Born Blenda Jacqueline Wilson on January 28, 1941, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, she earned degrees from Cedar Crest College, Seton Hall University and Boston College. Wilson held administrative posts at institutions and organizations including Rutgers University, Harvard University, the Independent Sector and the Colorado Commission on Higher Education. In 1988, she was named the first female chancellor at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. She later served as president of California State University, Northridge, where she was in office during the 1994 Northridge earthquake.