David Maxwell

David Maxwell is a 1966 Grinnell graduate who retired June 30 after 16 years as president of Drake University, where he also held the title of professor of literature. After his retirement, Maxwell will be an Association of Governing Boards senior fellow, serving as a thought leader and adviser to AGB and its member institutions. Maxwell also has been president of Whitman College, as well as a faculty member and dean of undergraduate studies at Tufts University for 18 years. Before joining Drake University in 1999, he was director of the National Foreign Language Center in Washington, D.C. In addition to his bachelor's in Russian area studies, Maxwell holds a master’s degree and doctorate in Slavic languages and literatures from Brown University.