For immediate release
California Federation of Teachers & UC-AFT

Contact: Matthew Hardy (CFT) – 510-703-5291, Crystal Chang (UC-AFT) – 415-961-7962

CFT President Jeff Freitas and UC-AFT President Mia McIver released the following statement on the historic hiring of Michael V. Drake, M.D., as the next President of the University of California:

“We congratulate Michael V. Drake, M.D., on his unanimous selection as the next President of the University of California. Dr. Drake’s decades-long experience in the UC, along with his proven dedication to equity and access for all students, is exactly what the University of California needs in this time of deepening crisis.

“At UC Irvine, Dr. Drake proved himself a leader who could both envision major contributions to public higher education and shepherd them to completion. His demonstrated record of educational stewardship will be crucial to continued investment in the UC’s teaching and research missions.

“We look forward to working with Dr. Drake to extend his impressive history of commitments and accomplishments to include labor justice for all working people at the UC.”

The California Federation of Teachers represents 120,000 teachers, faculty, and school employees in public and private schools and colleges, from early childhood through higher education. It is the statewide affiliate of the AFT. More information at www.cft.org. The University Council-American Federation of Teachers represents 7,000 librarians and non-tenure-track teaching faculty working throughout the University of California system. UC-AFT members hold academic appointments as lecturers, supervisors of teacher education, field work coordinators, and librarians. For more information about UC-AFT, go to ucaft.org.

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