All posts by Aaron Jaco

News & Achievements Archive

Drake welcomes new employees in July

Welcome the following Bulldogs to Drake:

Sue Mattison, Provost
Megan Brady, CPHS
Steve Bowen, CPHS
Daniel Chibnall, Cowles Library
Brenda McNear, Facilities Planning & Management
Venetta Hammond, Facilities Planning & Management
Mitchell Wieczorek, Facilities Planning & Management
Manny Toribio, Facilities Planning & Management
Mary Wohlford-Wessels, Sponsored Programs
Nicole Hays, Athletics
Andrew Dunlay, Athletics
Michelle Curtis, Head Start
Laura Schurz, Head Start
Thomas Rogers, ITS
Danielle Peters, University Events Management

—Human Resources

News & Achievements Archive

Get ready for 2016–2017 Bulldog athletics!

Fall sports season tickets on sale now
Are you ready to cheer your Bulldogs on to victory this fall? Be sure to take advantage of affordable season ticket pricing for football, volleyball, and soccer! Full pricing information is available below.

Season Ticket Pricing:
Football: $40/person (*Faculty/Staff Discount—Regular $60)
Volleyball: $30/person
Men’s Soccer: $20/person
Women’s Soccer: $20/person

For more information or to purchase your tickets today, please contact the Drake Athletics Ticket Office at 515-271-3647 or tickets@drake.edu.

Spike’s Kids Club–Faculty/Staff Discount
Once again, Drake Athletics is excited to offer all Drake University faculty and staff the opportunity to purchase memberships to Spike’s Kids Club for $15 each. Spike’s Kids Club is open to children 12th grade and under and provides free admission to ALL home athletic events (excludes Drake Relays and post-season play). Additionally, membership includes an official membership card, T-shirt, email updates on upcoming promotions, birthday card from Spike, and admission to exclusive club parties. To purchase your child’s membership, click here.

Questions? Please contact Tom Florian, assistant director of ticket sales, at 515-271-4949 or thomas.florian@drake.edu.

—Tom Florian

News & Achievements Archive

The Ray Center honors exceptional character

The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake issued its highest honor to Iowa philanthropists Patty and Jim Cownie at the Iowa Character Awards Dinner on July 29.

A selection committee of more than 50 people chose the Cownies to receive this year’s Robert D. Ray Pillar of Character Award. The awards reflect former Iowa Gov. Robert D. Ray’s lifelong commitment to civility and character development. It was initially presented to Ray in 2003 for his exemplary character, visionary leadership, and commitment to advancing the mission of Character Counts in Iowa. The award was then named after Ray as the founder and board chairman of The Ray Center.

The Cownies have been advocates of The Ray Center since its inception as Character Counts in Iowa in 1997. When Governor Ray first approached the Cownies about the concept of Character Counts in Iowa, Jim Cownie became instrumental in the development of the program’s business model and vision for the future. He continues to provide guidance to the organization.
Patty Cownie has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to volunteerism. She served on Drake University’s Board of Trustees from the 1999-2000 to 2013-2014 academic years and currently serves on the Iowa Board of Regents.

Jim Cownie is the founder of Heritage Communications, which became one of the nation’s largest cable operators before being sold to Tele-Communications, Inc., and owner of JSC Properties. He was inducted to the Iowa Business Hall of Fame in 2001.

Patty and Jim Cownies’ contributions of time and resources have made a significant impact on numerous organizations including the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation, Meals from the Heartland, and Bravo Greater Des Moines.

Nominators said the Cownies demonstrate good character as well-known business professionals and philanthropists in central Iowa.

The Ray Center delivered 12 awards in nine categories during the July 29 Iowa Character Awards dinner. To see the full list of recipients, visit the Drake Newsroom. You can also see video of each award being handed out on YouTube.

News & Achievements Archive

Drake University Community Chorus begins rehearsal

The Drake University/Community Chorus is open to all singers, Drake and non-Drake alike, without audition. The ensemble will begin rehearsing for its Nov. 20 performance of music by Mozart, Brahms, and contemporary composers on Tuesday, Aug. 30. The choir rehearses each Tuesday, 6:30–8 p.m., in the Harmon Fine Arts Center under the direction of Aimee Beckmann-Collier, director of choral studies at Drake. For further information, please contact her at aimee.beckmann-collier@drake.edu, 271-2841, or check the Music Department website.

—Kayla Jenkins, Interim Assistant to the Dean

News & Achievements Archive

Retirement party for Gretchen Beckley

Please save the date for Gretchen Beckley’s retirement party on Sept. 16, 3–5 p.m. in Levitt Hall.  Gretchen retired on July 31 after 29 years of employment at Drake. She started in Career Services and then served in International Programs and Services for 24 years. Please join Drake colleagues to wish Gretchen well!

—Denise Ganpat, Drake International

News & Achievements Archive

Bulldog accomplishments

CBPA Dean Terri Vaughan recognized
Terri Vaughan, dean of the College of Business and Public Administration, recently was listed among the most influential people in the insurance industry. The July 2016 issue of Best’s Review, a monthly magazine covering the industry, profiled Vaughan among 24 key influencers “who saw new ways of doing things and took risks to go in new directions.”

Vaughan was named in recognition of her work as CEO of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners from 2009 to 2012. In that role, she, “helped steer the organization through the recovery years after the Great Recession, helping identify, develop prioritize, and achieve regulatory modernization and other key initiatives.” Read more in the Drake Newsroom.

Shontavia Johnson named ABA top young lawyer
Shontavia Johnson, the Kern Family Chair in Intellectual Property Law and director of the Intellectual Property Law Center at Drake University Law School, has been named one of the nation’s top young lawyers by the American Bar Association (ABA).
Johnson was selected to the ABA’s inaugural Top 40 Young Lawyers list, which recognizes young lawyers who exemplify high achievement, innovation, vision, leadership, and legal and community service. Learn more about Shontavia in the Drake Newsroom.

Featured Events Archive

Drake Day at the Fair

This year’s Drake Day at the Iowa State Fair will begin and end on a high note. Show-stopping musical performances book-end Drake University’s annual celebration of students, alumni, faculty, and friends, scheduled for Friday, Aug. 12.

Student a capella group The Brocal Chords’ performance of the Star-Spangled Banner will broadcast across the Fairgrounds at 10 a.m. Grand Avenue Ruckus, an alumni-led New Orleans-style brass band, will perform in Drake’s tent along Grand Avenue, the major high-traffic thoroughfare alongside the Grandstand, from 3-4 p.m. Read more about Drake Day in the Drake Newsroom.

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Engaged Citizen Experience discussion

We will have a meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 17 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. in TMR 132 (lower level of Olmsted) to discuss the theme of the Spring 2017 Engaged Citizen Experience. In the student survey conducted in April, three themes emerged: “The World at War,” “National Identity in a Global Society,” and “Demographic Opportunities and Challenges.” We can take one of these themes, or fashion something that incorporates two or more of them. For more information and to let us know if you are able to attend, please go to: www.eventbrite.com/e/engaged-citizen-topic-discussion-meeting-registration-26878668822

—Art Sanders, Associate Provost

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

2016 Convocation

The 2016 Fall Convocation will be held on Friday, Aug. 26, at 1:30 p.m. in The Knapp Center. All staff and faculty are encouraged to attend this important event welcoming new first-year and transfer students to Drake.

Faculty: If you are planning on attending convocation, please RSVP no later than noon on Monday, Aug. 22 to https://drakeconvocation2016.eventbrite.com.

The Knapp Center North Lower Level Lobby will be utilized as a staging/dressing area for faculty beginning at 1 p.m. with lineup at 1:25 p.m. You may enter via the Bell Center. The attire for faculty is academic regalia.

—Office of the Provost

HR Information Archive

Save $300 on your Drake health insurance

How is your health like your money? If you ignore either one, you may lose it. But by simply completing a biometric screening and online wellness assessment, those on Drake’s health plan can save $300 in 2017 and gain valuable information to address risk factors early and improve quality of life. There are three ways to complete your biometric screening:

Option 1—Available through Aug. 31
Complete a physical/screening (with bloodwork) with your physician by Aug. 31. Your physician’s office must complete, sign, and submit the Health Care Provider Biometric Screening Form by Sept. 30.

Option 2—Available through Sept. 15
Complete your screening at a participating Hy-Vee location July 1 through Sept. 15. View instructions and a list of participating Hy-Vee stores.

Option 3—Schedule your appointment online starting Sept. 2
Complete your screening on campus at the Olmsted Center through UnityPoint health between 6:30 and 10:45 a.m. on one of the following dates: Oct. 6–7, 12–14, or 18–20. You can schedule your appointment online starting Sept. 2. Sign in with username: DRAKE and password: SCREEN. Find additional information in the On-campus Health Screening Scheduling Guide.

After the completion of your screening and once your screening results are uploaded, you will also need to complete the online wellness assessment on wellmark.com by Nov. 15.

Questions may be directed to Linda Feiden, assistant director, wellness & engagement, at linda.feiden@drake.edu or 271-1880.

—Linda Feiden