Dr. Joel Blank

B.A., California State University, Fullerton
M.A., University of Virginia
Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
J.D., Loyola Law School

Joel Blank has been a Professor of Political Science at San Joaquin College since 2009. He teaches International Relations, Political Theory, American Government, and the Pathway to Law seminar. He is the co-chair of the Department of Political Science and co-adviser to the Politics and Law Club. He is the co-editor of the Department’s Journal-Magazine, Political Perspective, which publishes articles on local, state, national, and international political issues by faculty, students, and alumni and highlights departmental news and alumni accomplishments.

With the desire to open up the legal profession for Delta's diverse student body, he helped bring the Pathway to Law Program, a collaboration between the State Bar Association and the California Community College system, to the college and was its first director. He is now co-coordinator of the program, continuing to provide pre-law advising, mentoring, and legal internships to current students and alumni. In addition to the Pathway to Law Program, he is now co-coordinator of the Paralegal certificate program. 

Outside of Delta College, Dr. Blank is a Board Member of the Pacific Coast Association of Pre-Law Advisers (PCAPLA), an organization whose purpose is to increase the skills of pre-law advisers and provide advising to undergraduate students interested in the field of law. Additionally, he is a member of the Faculty Association of California Community Colleges (FACCC), where he has been an active member of the Association's Political Action Committee and is currently serving as its elected vice-chair. On the local level, Professor Blank is part of the Good Government Committee, a San Joaquin County program that identifies outstanding members of the community from all backgrounds, ages, and professions and educates them about local government with the hope that they will seek to serve on local commissions and run for local office.

Dr. Blank graduated from California State University, Fullerton, with honors. He holds a Master of Arts in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia, a Ph.D. in International Relations and Comparative Politics from UCLA, a J.D. from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, and is a member of the California Bar Association. He practiced tort law, business litigation, and human rights law. Before coming to Delta, Dr. Blank taught at the University of Maine, Orono, and served as the Legal Studies Director. He was elected twice to the Northeast Association of Pre-Law Advisers Association.

Finally, on the personal side, he loves mountain hiking, music, theater, sports, and travel. He has two green-cheek conures, Skittles and Bianca

Courses taught: 

•     Political Science 1, American Government
•     Political Science 3, Introduction to Political Theory
•     Political Science 5, International Relations