Constantine Papadakis (February 2, 1946 – April 5, 2009) was a Greek-American businessman and the president of Drexel University.

Academic career

Papadakis received his diploma in

Civil engineering Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including public works such as roads, bridges, canals, dams, airports, sewa ...

from the National Technical University of Athens in Greece. He came to the United States in 1969 to continue his studies in civil engineering and earn his master's degree from the

University of Cincinnati The University of Cincinnati (UC or Cincinnati) is a public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 1819 as Cincinnati College, it is the oldest institution of higher education in Cincinnati and has an annual enrollment of over 44,00 ...

. He then went on to earn his doctorate in civil engineering in 1973 from the

University of Michigan , mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth" , former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821) , budget = $10.3 billion (2021) , endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...

. Papadakis served as head of the civil engineering department at Colorado State University and then dean of

's College of Engineering prior to 1995. He was appointed President of Drexel University in

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; (Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, Ma ...

in 1995 and held that position until his death in 2009. During his tenure, Papadakis doubled the full-time undergraduate enrollment, tripled freshman applications, quintupled the university's endowment, and quintupled research funding. His salary of $805,000 was the sixth highest among university presidents. After his death Papadakis' total earnings, including life insurance payout, was estimated at over $4 million.

Other activities

Papadakis sat on the Philadelphia Stock Exchange as chairman of the compensation committee. He also served on the board of trustees of the Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.

Death

Constantine Papadakis grave at West Laurel Hill Cemetery

Papadakis died at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania from pulmonary complications due to pneumonia on April 5, 2009 after battling lung cancer for months. He was 63 years old. Sources 1.Lily Bita, ''Constantinos Papadakis, beside to his office, the statue of Sappho.'' "Apodemon Epos" Magazine of European Art Center (EUARCE) of Greece, 1st issue 1997 p. 3-4

References

External links

Drexel University Office of the PresidentThe Dragon Slayer
The Triangle {{DEFAULTSORT:Papadakis, Constantine 1946 births 2009 deaths Businesspeople from Philadelphia American people of Greek descent University of Cincinnati alumni University of Michigan College of Engineering alumni National Technical University of Athens alumni Deaths from lung cancer in Pennsylvania 20th-century American businesspeople Businesspeople from Athens 20th-century American academics