James A. Drake
Encyclopedia
In March 2007, James A. Drake was named President of Brevard Community College
(BCC) a public college with campuses in Palm Bay, Melbourne, Cocoa, and Titusville, Florida. With average annual enrollments of over 27,000 students, Brevard Community College remains one of the 100 largest community colleges in the U.S. Prior to his appointment at Brevard, Drake served as Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Director of the University of Central Florida
Southern Region campuses, through a partnership with Brevard Community College.
Born in Columbus, Ohio
in 1944, Drake earned the Ph.D. degree from the Ohio State University in 1973. Two years earlier, while completing his doctoral studies, he accepted an offer to join the faculty of Ithaca College
(Ithaca, NY). During his eight-year service as a tenured professor and academic administrator, he served as chair of the Department of Education, Associate Director of Graduate Studies, and Director of Televised Studies. In the latter role, he worked with PBS station WNET
/13 in New York for the distribution of credit-earning television courses for teachers in New York State and New Jersey. Subsequently, Drake served as an academic administrator at the University of Tampa (1979-84), Findlay College (1984-87), and Clemson University (as Executive Director of the University Center, Greenville, S.C., 1988-94). In 1987-88 he served as a full-time research consultant and equity partner with an Ohio-based management consulting firm, co-directing the higher-education division.
Drake is the author of seven books and more than fifty articles. Two of his biographies, Ponselle: A Singer’s Life (Doubleday & Company), and Richard Tucker: A Biography (E. P. Dutton Company), with forewords by tenor Luciano Pavarotti
, were selected as “Books of the Month” by the National Book Clubs of America. Some fifteen years after Ponselle: A Singer's Life was published, Drake returned to his first subject in Rosa Ponselle: A Centenary Biography (Amadeus Press), in which he employed a postmodern format to present and analyze conflicting accounts of the legendary American soprano's life and career. His other books include Teaching Critical Thinking (1976), a textbook stemming from his doctoral research at Ohio State; Popular Culture and American Life (with M. W. Laforse, 1980); and "Lily Pons: A Centennial Portrait" (with K. B. Ludecke, 1999).
Drake was a contributing author to American National Biography
, the 24-volume series published by the Oxford University Press
in 1999. He also served on the editorial board of The Opera Quarterly, a vocal-music journal published by the Oxford University Press, and formerly by the Duke University Press. His expertise in 19th and 20th century operatic performances led to his serving as a co-host of the radio series "Voices That Live," created by producer-announcer Don Martin (Martin Jager) and originating from the CBS Radio affiliate in Ithaca, N.Y. When the series was revived and syndicated in the late 1980s, Drake and his co-host, broadcaster Charles Koelsch in Greenville, S.C., received the Certificate in Arts and Culture award from the International Radio Festival Association in New York.
After relocating to Florida's Space Coast in 1994, Drake served on the governing boards of various community agencies including United Way of Brevard County, Junior Achievement
of East Central Florida, the National Space Club
—Florida Committee, LEAD
Brevard, the Board of Directors of Wuesthoff Health Systems, and the Brevard County Administrative Board of SunTrust Bank. He was appointed as a layperson to, respectively, the 18th Judicial Circuit Nominating Commission and 18th District Grievance Committee of the Florida Bar Association.
In July 2008, prior to the two candidates for US president appearing at the BCC Titusville and Cocoa campuses, Brevard Community College was featured on CNN and in The New York Times, Time Magazine, and other regional and news sources for the College's innovative energy-reduction initiatives under Drake's leadership as President.
In December 2008, Drake again received national press coverage after donating approximately $100,000 of his income to create textbook scholarships for students. Drake's donation, which CNN featured on Christmas morning 2008, yielded laudatory editorials and news stories nationally.
Drake and his wife, Magali (Garriga) Drake, reside in Viera, Florida
. His stepdaughters, Dr. Magali Balado Zeiters (aerospace-industry administrator) and Kristie A. Balado (school psychologist), are alumnae of Brevard Community College
.
Brevard Community College
Brevard Community College, founded in 1960, is a community college on Florida's Space Coast, in Brevard County, Florida. It has four campuses in Cocoa, Melbourne, Palm Bay, and Titusville, as well as an Aerospace program at Kennedy Space Center and a Virtual Campus...
(BCC) a public college with campuses in Palm Bay, Melbourne, Cocoa, and Titusville, Florida. With average annual enrollments of over 27,000 students, Brevard Community College remains one of the 100 largest community colleges in the U.S. Prior to his appointment at Brevard, Drake served as Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Director of the University of Central Florida
University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida, commonly referred to as UCF, is a metropolitan public research university located in Orlando, Florida, United States...
Southern Region campuses, through a partnership with Brevard Community College.
Born in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
in 1944, Drake earned the Ph.D. degree from the Ohio State University in 1973. Two years earlier, while completing his doctoral studies, he accepted an offer to join the faculty of Ithaca College
Ithaca College
Ithaca College is a private college located on the South Hill of Ithaca, New York. The school was founded by William Egbert in 1892 as a conservatory of music. The college has a strong liberal arts core, but also offers several pre-professional programs and some graduate programs. The college is...
(Ithaca, NY). During his eight-year service as a tenured professor and academic administrator, he served as chair of the Department of Education, Associate Director of Graduate Studies, and Director of Televised Studies. In the latter role, he worked with PBS station WNET
WNET
WNET, channel 13 is a non-commercial educational public television station licensed to Newark, New Jersey. With its signal covering the New York metropolitan area, WNET is a primary station of the Public Broadcasting Service and a primary provider of PBS programming...
/13 in New York for the distribution of credit-earning television courses for teachers in New York State and New Jersey. Subsequently, Drake served as an academic administrator at the University of Tampa (1979-84), Findlay College (1984-87), and Clemson University (as Executive Director of the University Center, Greenville, S.C., 1988-94). In 1987-88 he served as a full-time research consultant and equity partner with an Ohio-based management consulting firm, co-directing the higher-education division.
Drake is the author of seven books and more than fifty articles. Two of his biographies, Ponselle: A Singer’s Life (Doubleday & Company), and Richard Tucker: A Biography (E. P. Dutton Company), with forewords by tenor Luciano Pavarotti
Luciano Pavarotti
right|thumb|Luciano Pavarotti performing at the opening of the Constantine Palace in [[Strelna]], 31 May 2003. The concert was part of the celebrations for the 300th anniversary of [[St...
, were selected as “Books of the Month” by the National Book Clubs of America. Some fifteen years after Ponselle: A Singer's Life was published, Drake returned to his first subject in Rosa Ponselle: A Centenary Biography (Amadeus Press), in which he employed a postmodern format to present and analyze conflicting accounts of the legendary American soprano's life and career. His other books include Teaching Critical Thinking (1976), a textbook stemming from his doctoral research at Ohio State; Popular Culture and American Life (with M. W. Laforse, 1980); and "Lily Pons: A Centennial Portrait" (with K. B. Ludecke, 1999).
Drake was a contributing author to American National Biography
American National Biography
The American National Biography is a 24 volume biographical encyclopedia set containing approximately 17,400 entries and 20 million words, first published in 1999 by Oxford University Press under the auspices of the American Council of Learned Societies. A 400-entry supplement appeared in 2002...
, the 24-volume series published by the Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
in 1999. He also served on the editorial board of The Opera Quarterly, a vocal-music journal published by the Oxford University Press, and formerly by the Duke University Press. His expertise in 19th and 20th century operatic performances led to his serving as a co-host of the radio series "Voices That Live," created by producer-announcer Don Martin (Martin Jager) and originating from the CBS Radio affiliate in Ithaca, N.Y. When the series was revived and syndicated in the late 1980s, Drake and his co-host, broadcaster Charles Koelsch in Greenville, S.C., received the Certificate in Arts and Culture award from the International Radio Festival Association in New York.
After relocating to Florida's Space Coast in 1994, Drake served on the governing boards of various community agencies including United Way of Brevard County, Junior Achievement
Junior Achievement
Junior Achievement or JA or JA Worldwide is a non-profit youth organization that was founded in 1919 by Horace A. Moses, Theodore Vail, and senator Winthrop M. Crane. JA focuses on educating kids in K-12 about the free enterprise system...
of East Central Florida, the National Space Club
National Space Club
The National Space Club is a non-profit organization whose mission is devoted to promoting space activity. It is based in Washington D.C.. It has four main objectives:* Promote US Space Leadership* Continue to push for the advancement of space technology...
—Florida Committee, LEAD
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
Brevard, the Board of Directors of Wuesthoff Health Systems, and the Brevard County Administrative Board of SunTrust Bank. He was appointed as a layperson to, respectively, the 18th Judicial Circuit Nominating Commission and 18th District Grievance Committee of the Florida Bar Association.
In July 2008, prior to the two candidates for US president appearing at the BCC Titusville and Cocoa campuses, Brevard Community College was featured on CNN and in The New York Times, Time Magazine, and other regional and news sources for the College's innovative energy-reduction initiatives under Drake's leadership as President.
In December 2008, Drake again received national press coverage after donating approximately $100,000 of his income to create textbook scholarships for students. Drake's donation, which CNN featured on Christmas morning 2008, yielded laudatory editorials and news stories nationally.
Drake and his wife, Magali (Garriga) Drake, reside in Viera, Florida
Viera, Florida
Viera is a master planned community located in the central coastal region of Brevard County, Florida. It is part of an unincorporated section adjacent to the Melbourne, Florida area.-Geography:...
. His stepdaughters, Dr. Magali Balado Zeiters (aerospace-industry administrator) and Kristie A. Balado (school psychologist), are alumnae of Brevard Community College
Brevard Community College
Brevard Community College, founded in 1960, is a community college on Florida's Space Coast, in Brevard County, Florida. It has four campuses in Cocoa, Melbourne, Palm Bay, and Titusville, as well as an Aerospace program at Kennedy Space Center and a Virtual Campus...
.