July 8, 2020
Michael Drake named president of the University of California
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities applauds the Board of Regents of the University of California for appointing Michael V. Drake, M.D., to serve as the president for the University of California, on July 7, 2020.
President-elect Drake becomes the 21st president for the University of California and the first Black leader of the UC System to hold this position. He follows Janet Napolitano who has served as president since 2013 and will end her term on August 1. Up until this appointment, he was the president of The Ohio State University where he has served since 2014.
Prior to OSU, he served as chancellor of UC Irvine for nine years from 2005 to 2014 and as the systemwide vice president for health affairs from 2000 to 2005.
“HACU commends the UC Board of Regents for their appointment of Dr. Michael Drake as the next UC president,” said HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores. "Dr. Drake’s commitment to increasing student diversity and championing the Latino community has increased opportunities for countless students across the country. We welcome him back to California and congratulate him on being selected to serve as the next president of the UC."
Drake earned his bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and his medical degree and fellowship in ophthalmology from UC San Francisco.