Published May 04, 2025 • Last updated 3 hours ago • 1 minute readLawson Drake, the first chair of UPEI’s biology department, died April 23 at age 95.A long-serving dean of science at UPEI and the first chair of the school’s biology department has died.Flags were lowered in front of the university’s Kelley Memorial Building in honour of Lawson Drake, who retired in 1994.He died April 23 at age 95.Read More Retired UPEI professor to receive mentor award Service to others on P.E.I. Drake graduated from Prince of Wales College in 1948 and McGill University in 1950.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentAfter receiving a master’s degree from Cornell University in 1959, he returned to Prince of Wales College, where he taught biology until 1966.During some of that time, his duties included teaching anatomy and physiology to students in the Prince Edward Island Hospital school of nursing.Drake went on to get his PhD from Dalhousie University in 1969 and was the first chair of UPEI’s biology department.He served as dean of the faculty of science from 1985 to 1991 and chaired a committee whose work established the school of nursing at UPEI.After his retirement, Drake and his wife, Eileen, created the Eileen and Lawson Drake prize in pediatric nursing.Drake was named a UPEI founder in 2004. He was a recipient of a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 and was given the Rotary Club of Charlottetown Royalty’s mentor award in 2016.Article content
First chair of UPEI biology department, Lawson Drake, dies
