Former Ohio State president Michael Drake has been selected to be the new president of the University of California system.
Drake, who just recently retired from his six-year tenure as Ohio State president in June, will become the University of California's first Black president in its 152-year history.
This just in: The University of California Board of Regents have announced the appointment of Michael V. Drake, M.D., as the 21st president of UCs world-renowned system. Learn more: https://t.co/nXBvubvmuD pic.twitter.com/kSitXXBrkF
— UC Newsroom (@UC_Newsroom) July 8, 2020
From 2005 to 2014, Drake served as the chancellor of UC Irvine. Before that, he served as vice chancellor for health affairs for the University of California system. In his new role, Drake will be responsible for overseeing 10 campuses, five medical centers, three nationally affiliated labs, more than 280,000 students and 230,000 faculty and staff.
Drake was named Ohio State's 15th president on June 30, 2014 before retiring exactly six years later last week. State University of New York chancellor Kristina Johnson is set to succeed Drake as Ohio State's new president in September.
Drake was set to remain at Ohio State and serve as president emeritus for the next year, but now, he is going back to California instead.
“Dr. Drake personifies the qualities we looked for in selecting a new president: He is committed to seeing the whole student and to supporting all our students. He recognizes the incalculable value of faculty and staff to the University’s mission, and he understands the importance of the public and private partnerships that help us achieve that mission,” John A. Pérez, chair of the UC Board of Regents, said in a statement. “As the first person of color to serve as UC president, Dr. Drake returns to UC at an important point in the University’s journey. This is a homecoming the University of California is very excited to be celebrating early.”
