It is with much excitement that I share that Hannah Clayborne will be Drake’s next dean of students beginning July 19. As the search committee noted within her vita and throughout the interview process, Hannah comes with extensive leadership and supervisory experience in the field of student affairs at public and private colleges and universities.  Having served in senior leadership roles in student affairs and diversity, equity, and inclusion at institutions including Ashland University and Bellarmine University, I strongly believe Hannah will successfully serve as Drake’s next dean of students and become an active and respected member within the Drake and the greater Des Moines communities. In addition to her administrative experiences, Hannah has served and continues to be involved in professional associations such as NASPA, a reviewer for higher education publications, as well as a peer reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission.  

Having completed her doctoral studies through the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies program at Iowa State University, Hannah is familiar with Iowa and we are excited to welcome her back. She earned her Master of Arts in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Wright State University and her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Miami University.

I want to thank the members of the search committee with the support of Sharyn O’Connor for expeditiously and thoroughly conducting this national search. Members of the search committee included:

Melissa Sturm-Smith, Chair
Jennifer Harvey
Megan Brown
Scott Law
Andy Verlengia
Jessica Morgan-Tate
Madyson Sklar
Ian Klein

— Jerry Parker