OSU Gets First Black President in School’s 144-Year History

 Ohio State University (OSU) Board of Trustees chose University of California, Irvine Chancellor (UC Irvine) Dr. Michael Drake as the school's 15th president, effective June 30. Drake, OSU's first black president, will replace Gordon Gee who retired amid controversy surrounding his comments criticizing Notre Dame, Roman Catholics and the Southeastern Conference.

The trustees wanted their next president to have a good understanding of fundraising, academic medical centers, academics and athletics among others."Dr. Drake was the strongest and the consensus candidate," said Jeffrey Wadsworth, an Ohio State University trustee who led the search. "From the very beginning Drake was the focus of our attention because of his experience and qualities," William Funk, the head of a search firm who was looking out for a new president for OSU, abc News reports.

Drake hopes to build on the success established by his predecessors. He considers OSU to be one of the prominent institutions in the country.

"The trajectory of Ohio State and the power of Ohio State are admired and understood throughout the world of higher education," Drake said.

In 2005, the 63-year-old California educator was named the fifth chancellor of UC Irvine. Under Drake's leadership, undergraduate applications increased by more than 90 percent and the four-year graduation rate rose by nearly 20 percent. During his tenure, first public law school in California was created in more than 40 years. He also introduced new programs in public health, pharmaceutical sciences and nursing science. Apart from the administrative position, Drake also served as a professor of ophthalmology.

Prior to UC Irvine, Drake served as vice president for health affairs for five years at the University of California system and professor at the UC San Francisco School of Medicine for more than two decades. He is currently a member of the NCAA Division I board of directors.

Drake earned his undergraduate degree from Stanford University and his medical degree from UC San Francisco.

Gee, the former president of OSU, called Drake "a world-class academic and an exceptionally able and seasoned higher education leader." Drake, who knows Gee for several years now, hopes to work with him on a professional basis.