On July 1, UCI's fifth Chancellor, Michael V. Drake, M.D., arrived for his first day on the job. A longtime University of California faculty member and administrator, Drake took the helm from outgoing Chancellor Ralph Cicerone, who was elected president of the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C.

Chancellor Michael V. Drake, M.D.

A widely respected ophthalmologist and member of the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine, Drake has been associated with the University of California for 34 years. He began as a medical student at UC San Francisco and, since 2000, served as UC vice president for health affairs, overseeing the education and research activities at UC's 15 health science schools. He holds an M.D. from UC San Francisco, and two undergraduate degrees: an A.B. in African and African American studies from Stanford University, and a B.S. in medical sciences from UCSF. He also holds certifications from the National Board of Medical Examiners and the American Board of Ophthalmology. He is the recipient of a number of awards for teaching, public service, mentoring and research and has published numerous articles and co-authored four books.

UC President Robert Dynes enthusiastically endorsed Drake as “an accomplished academic, a skillful and energetic leader, and one who understands the role that UC Irvine plays as a leading force for educational, social and economic growth in Orange County and beyond.”
Drake, 54, says his varied experiences as student, physician, professor and research scientist, and administrator have given him the range of perspectives necessary to successfully steer a complex university poised for continued growth and success. He is excited about returning to a comprehensive campus, and one of his first stops on campus was a visit to the libraries.

“Libraries have played such an important role in my professional and personal life, and are the heart of any research university such as UCI,” says Drake. “Our three libraries are critical to UCI's rise as one of America's top research universities, and its collections are the foundation of the high-level student learning and innovative faculty research taking place in all disciplines on campus. And, as the region's largest information resource, our libraries are essential to the lifelong learning needs of our community members. On a personal note, I look forward to using our libraries for my own work.”

An avid cyclist, Drake surprised his staff by arriving to work on his bike. He and his wife, Brenda, whom he met in college, have two sons, ages 24 and 21. In his spare time, he also enjoys travel, music, track and field, and stargazing. Brenda Drake is also deeply involved in health issues. A lawyer, she is currently the director of the Public Health Trust, an Oakland-based program that works to improve the health of the public by distributing funds received from a variety of sources.