University President Michael Drake speaks at the OSU University Address at the William B. Saxbe Law Auditorium on Jan. 21. Credit: Lantern File Photo

University President Michael Drake speaks at the OSU University Address at the William B. Saxbe Law Auditorium on Jan. 21. Credit: Lantern File Photo

University President Michael Drake has been named the vice chair of the Association of American Universities board of directors, Ohio State announced on Tuesday.

He will be the vice chair for 2016-17, and will chair the board of directors for 2017-18. Currently, Drake chairs the association’s Membership Committee and sits on the 11-member board of directors.

AAU is an association of universities with significant focuses on research, according to its website.

“Our participation in national higher education organizations gives Ohio State a unique opportunity to help set the course for solving the most important higher education issues of the day,” Drake said in the news release.

Drake is also the chair of the Council of Presidents for the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, and sits on the executive board of the University Innovation Alliance.