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Drake Begins Ohio State Presidency

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Ohio State University's new president is ready to start his first day on the job.

A seven-month search ended in January with the selection of University of California-Irvine chancellor Michael Drake as the 15th president of Ohio State.

Drake, the university's first black president, was scheduled to begin work Monday.

He replaces former president Gordon Gee, who retired last year after remarks he made jabbing Roman Catholics and Southeastern Conference schools were made public.

Gee is now president at West Virginia University, returning to a position he first held in 1981.

Drake will earn about $1 million annually in total compensation, or about half what Gee made.