Every semester, The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement offers a small, intimate group of Drake students the opportunity to meet with local, state, and national leaders for food and conversation.
Next month, we will bring Dennis Groenenboom, executive director of Iowa Legal Aid, to the institute for lunch on Wednesday, Oct. 5. The following day, the chairs of the Republican Party of Iowa and the Iowa Democratic Party will come together for a special lunch with a few lucky Drake students.
The Harkin Institute’s student lunch and reception series provides Drake undergraduate, graduate, pharmacy, and law students with networking opportunities by hosting small groups of students to meet informally with leaders in policy, government, business, and nonprofit industries. The first two of our four lunch receptions this semester are:
Dennis Groenenboom, Executive Director, Iowa Legal Aid
Wednesday, Oct. 5
11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Iowa Legal Aid provides legal assistance and education to low-income Iowans, envisioning a state where all residents understand their legal rights and are treated fairly in the justice system. Mr. Groenenboom has worked with Iowa Legal Aid his entire legal career and has served as its executive director for more than 20 years. Since 2012, he has served as the chair of the National Legal Aid and Defender Association’s civil policy group.
Apply here by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28, for the opportunity to have lunch with Dennis Groenenboom.
Jeff Kaufmann, Chair, Republican Party of Iowa and Andy McGuire, Chair, Iowa Democratic Party
Thursday, Oct. 6
11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Jeff Kaufmann is the chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa. He served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 2005 to 2013 and was appointed to various leadership positions in the GOP caucus. Mr. Kaufmann is a seventh-generation livestock farmer, as well as a professor at Muscatine Community College, where he teaches history and government. Mr. Kaufmann is a member of the Cedar County Board of Supervisors.
Dr. Andy McGuire, chair of the Iowa Democratic Party, has worked in politics since 2014, when she helped organize her sister-in-law’s campaign. Dr. McGuire served as the president of Meridian Health and currently serves as the chair of the University of Iowa College of Public Health Board of Advisors. In her spare time, Dr. McGuire serves as a board member of the Des Moines Partnership and was a founding member of the Women’s Leadership Connection for United Way of Central Iowa.
To be considered for this lunch opportunity with Mr. Kaufmann and Dr. McGuire, please apply here by 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29.
Preference for the Harkin Institute’s student lunch and reception series is given to students based on strength of application, taking event interest and questions for the guest of honor into particular consideration. Except in rare cases, students will only be selected for one event in this series per semester. Do not let this discourage you from applying to multiple luncheons, but consider noting your event preference.
—Erin Austin, Communications Strategist