M. Ellis Drake

The eighth president of Alfred University, Miles Ellis Drake, was born on March 16, 1901 in Oswayo, Penn. He received his BA from Alfred in 1925 and began instructing for the Department of History and Political Science the following year. He married Marie Hunt on June 27, 1929. He received his MA from Syracuse University in 1928 and his Ph.D. from American University in 1932. In 1934 he became chair of the history and political science department and Dean of men. In 1946 Drake became Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He was asked to be acting president in 1948 and joined the board of trustees. He was inaugurated as president the following year. He retired in 1967. On February 28, 1979 President Drake passed away in his home. He and his wife had two daughters, Jeanne Marie and Meredith Anne.