UCI Chancellor Michael Drake receives UC Presidential Medal
Departing leader is lauded for upholding the highest ideals of a university education
Irvine, Calif., May 29, 2014 – University of California President Janet Napolitano has awarded the UC Presidential Medal to outgoing UC Irvine Chancellor Michael Drake. She noted Drake’s transformative legacy, including both physical and academic enhancements to the campus, the first new public law school in California in 40 years, and a 90 percent increase in student applications.
“Your wise leadership, discerning mind and ever-compassionate humanity have profoundly enriched the university and have contributed immeasurably to UC Irvine’s stature among the leading research universities of the world,” Napolitano said. “Your steadfast efforts as an eminent physician and highly respected educator have ensured that the lamp of learning continues to burn brightly, illuminating the educational path to a better life for countless underrepresented and disenfranchised students.”
Drake was appointed UC Irvine’s fifth chancellor in 2005. He will complete his service June 30 and become president of The Ohio State University.
The UC Presidential Medal was established in 1997 to recognize extraordinary contributions to the University of California or the community of learning. Jack W. Peltason, former UC president and UC Irvine’s second chancellor, also received the medal this year.
About the University of California, Irvine: Located in coastal Orange County, near a thriving employment hub in one of the nation’s safest cities, UC Irvine was founded in 1965. One of only 62 members of the Association of American Universities, it’s ranked first among U.S. universities under 50 years old by the London-based Times Higher Education. The campus has produced three Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Michael Drake since 2005, UC Irvine has more than 28,000 students and offers 192 degree programs. It’s Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $4.3 billion annually to the local economy.
Media access: UC Irvine maintains an online directory of faculty available as experts to the media at communications.uci.edu/for-journalists/experts/. Radio programs/stations may, for a fee, use an on-campus ISDN line to interview UC Irvine faculty and experts, subject to availability and university approval. For more UC Irvine news, visit wp.communications.uci.edu. Additional resources for journalists may be found at communications.uci.edu/for-journalists.