Dr. Carolyn Drake

Dr. Carol Drake is a respected nurse leader, educator, and healthcare consultant whose career has been
dedicated to advancing nursing education, leadership development, and community health. Born in
Orrville, Dr. Drake earned her nursing diploma from Idabelle Firestone School of Nursing in Akron,
Ohio, followed by both her BSN and MSN degrees from California State University, Fresno and a
Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from University of Southern California.
Her distinguished nursing career in California includes service as a Medical-Surgical Nurse at UMC, a
Public Health Nurse for the County of Fresno, and leadership roles as Nursing Instructor, Nursing
Director, and Dean of Health Sciences at Fresno City College. During her tenure, Dr. Drake co-created the
innovative Paradigm Program alongside Pilar DeLa Cruz, partnering with regional hospitals to create
educational pathways for qualified healthcare employees to enter nursing. This initiative contributed to
Fresno City College becoming one of the largest nursing programs west of the Mississippi River.
Recognizing the need to increase diversity in nursing, Dr. Drake helped establish the Central Valley Black
Nurses Association to support and mentor underrepresented nursing students and professionals. She is
also a Charter Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc..
Dr. Drake has received numerous honors, including the Rosa Parks Award, Nurse of the Year in Nursing
Administration, the SCCCD Wall of Honor, the CSUF Nursing Wall of Honor, the Trailblazer Award from
the African American Museum, the 2024 BWOPA Ella Hill Hutch Honoree Award, and the 2025 Daisy
Award for Extraordinary Nurse Educators from the Association of California Nurse Leaders.
Today, Dr. Drake continues her commitment to healthcare advancement as President of Health Education
Alliance, a healthcare education consulting organization focused on leadership development, workforce
training, cultural competency, and innovative nursing education solutions for healthcare organizations and
academic institutions.