All posts by Ashton Hockman

Campus Announcements

Youth Entrepreneurship Day Camp

Registration is open for Drake University’s inaugural Youth Entrepreneurship Day. The new program will take place on Tuesday, July 14, and is designed for students entering sixth through eighth grade.

Hosted by the Buchanan Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, the one-day experience gives middle school students a hands-on introduction to entrepreneurship from Drake staff. Students will identify a real-world problem, map a business model, and pitch their ideas to peers and instructors.

Drake is hosting the Youth Entrepreneurship Day Camp in Aliber Hall, 2847 University Avenue, Des Moines. The program begins at 8 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m. The cost to attend is $75 per camper, and lunch is included. Space is limited, and families are encouraged to register their children by Saturday, June 27.

— Chase Spencer, Buchanan Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership

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A&S Dean Gesine Gerhard’s Next Chapter at Saint Mary’s College of California

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Following the recent announcement that Gesine Gerhard is stepping down as Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, we are pleased to share an update on her next professional chapter. Dean Gerhard has accepted a position as the inaugural Dean of the newly unified School of Arts & Sciences at Saint Mary’s College of California, effective July 1, 2026.

As Dean Gerhard prepares for this transition, we want to express our deepest gratitude for the incredible legacy she leaves behind. Her contributions have prepared the College of Arts & Sciences to thrive in the years to come.

Please join us in congratulating Dean Gerhard and wishing her the very best in California.

— Jill Allen, College of Arts & Sciences, Senior Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives

Campus Announcements

Celebrate Pride with Drake at the Capital City Pride Parade

June is Pride Month—our opportunity to celebrate Drake’s LGBTQIA+ community, honor their accomplishments, and support the ongoing pursuit of equal justice.

Come celebrate with us and walk alongside Drake University in the 2026 Capital City Pride Parade! All students, staff, faculty, alumni, and allies are welcome.

  • When: Sunday, June 14. Meet at 11:15 a.m. Parade from 12–1 p.m.
  • Where: East Village, Parking Lot 16 (Corner of E. Des Moines St. and E. 14th St.; entrance on E. Des Moines St.)
  • What to wear: Your favorite Drake Blue!

Griff II will be joining us! While it’s a bit too warm for him to walk the route, he’ll be cruising along in the air-conditioned Griffmobile.

How to get involved:

  • Walk with us: Please register here so we know how many materials to bring.
  • Donate candy: If you can’t make it but still want to support, you can send candy for the parade to the Alumni House (2700 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311) to arrive by Friday, June 12.
  • Please email your receipt to Gregory Lin (gregory.lin@drake.edu) so we can credit you for the contribution.

— Gregory Lin, Alumni Relations

News & Achievements Archive, Strategic Updates Archive

A Guide to Drake University’s 159th Commencement Ceremonies: May 16–17

Drake University will award 1,319 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees at its 2026 spring commencement ceremonies. Drake will host the undergraduate ceremony at 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 17, and the graduate and doctoral ceremony will follow at 2 p.m. Both ceremonies will take place in the Knapp Center at 2601 Forest Avenue, Des Moines, and be presided over by Drake University President Marty Martin.

Griff II ‘Graduates’

A special guest at this year’s undergraduate ceremony will be Griff II, who will “graduate” from his official live mascot duties and cross the stage with the Class of 2026. Griff III officially accepted the live mascot responsibilities at a ceremony on May 8, 2026, at Old Main and will serve the University in the years to come, accompanied by his caretaker, Erin Bell.

Commencement Speakers

Kristopher (Kris) Covi, alumnus speaker

The Drake University undergraduate ceremony will include remarks from alumnus Kristopher (Kris) Covi, AS’95, welcoming new Drake graduates into a community of more than 75,000 Bulldogs. Covi is a shareholder at Dvorak Law Group in Omaha, Neb., and currently serves on the Drake University National Alumni Board of Directors. He earned his law degree from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 1998. In his spare time, Covi is a comedian and does stand-up comedy shows in the Omaha area.

Katelyn Jetelina, Ph.D., honorary degree recipient, Doctor of Humane Letters

Katelyn Jetelina, Ph.D., is a distinguished epidemiologist and the founder of Your Local Epidemiologist, a newsletter that has reached more than 500 million readers globally. A TIME100 Most Influential People in Health honoree, she has served as a as a senior advisor to three former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) directors. She is a co-founder of The Evidence Collective and an adjunct professor at the Yale School of Public Health, dedicated to translating complex data into actionable public health insights. Jetelina earned her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in 2016 in epidemiology and biostatistics and her master’s degree in public health in 2014 from the University of Texas Health Science Center. She completed a bachelor’s degree in physiology from the University of Arizona in 2011. Jetelina also holds an honorary doctorate from The State University of New York (SUNY).

Emerson Whittemore, Oreon E. Scott Senior Legacy Award, Fulbright scholar, and undergraduate ceremony speaker

Each year, Drake presents the Oreon E. Scott Senior Legacy Award to an undergraduate student leader who embodies scholarship, leadership, service, and involvement. This year’s honoree is Emerson Whittemore. Whittemore is from Brooklyn Park, Minn. She is graduating from Drake with majors in sociology and Spanish and a minor in leadership education and development.

While attending Drake University, she has been part of the Donald V. Adams Leadership Institute, Student Alumni Association, Violence Intervention Partners, Student Senate, a peer mentor/academic consultant, Alpha Kappa Delta, Phi Beta Kappa, and Kappa Kappa Gamma. She is a leadership selection committee member for the Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity Council and District Directors. During the summer of 2025, Whittemore served as a social and human rights intern at El Instituto Educativo San Gregorio El Iluminador and El Instituto Superior Daguerre in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Upon graduation, Whittemore will be working as a traveling leadership consultant for the Kappa Kappa Gamma fraternity headquarters until March of 2027, when she will move to Uruguay on a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship grant through November of 2027.

Alicia Chilton, graduate ceremony speaker

Alicia Chilton will address graduate students and guests at the commencement ceremony for graduate and doctoral degree recipients. Chilton is graduating from Drake University with her Master of Business Administration degree. She currently works at the Greater Des Moines Partnership, where she is the vice president of marketing. Before joining the Greater Des Moines Partnership, Chilton worked at Drake for more than two years as the assistant director of marketing. While employed at Drake, she collaborated with the annual giving team to help fundraise during the “All In” program. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism from Iowa State University, with minors in design studies and apparel merchandising.

Commencement Schedule, Parking, and Livestream

Saturday, May 16

  • 3 p.m.: The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Doctoral Hooding and Commencement Ceremony
  • 7 p.m.: The Drake Law School Commencement

Sunday, May 17

  • 10 a.m.: The 159th Commencement Ceremony for Undergraduate Degree Recipients
  • 2 p.m.: The 159th Commencement Ceremony for Graduate and Doctoral Degree Recipients

Drake will stream all four ceremonies at live.drake.edu. Free parking is available in campus lots during the ceremonies. For more details, visit the Registrar’s website.

Strategic Updates Archive

Griff Gives Back: 5 More Days to Give


The 11th annual Griff Gives Back pet food drive is underway! With only five days left in the campaign, Griff II is rallying the Drake community to help him reach his goal of collecting 20,000 pounds of adult dog and cat food to support The Pet Project Midwest, a local pet food pantry.

Whether you donate via Griff’s Amazon Wish List, mail-in orders, or at his physical drop-off spots, every pound counts toward keeping local pets fed and with their families. We’ll celebrate the conclusion of Griff Gives Back at the Beautiful Bulldog Contest on Sunday, April 19, at the Knapp Center from 2–3 p.m.

Browse Donation Options

— Erin Bell, University Communications & Marketing

Campus Announcements Archive

Apply to Judge the 2026 Beautiful Bulldog Contest

Think you have what it takes to judge one of Drake’s most beloved traditions? We’re looking for two Bulldogs—one Drake alum or friend and one current student—to help crown the winner of the 47th Annual Beautiful Bulldog Contest during Drake Relays week. Judges will meet the contestants, interact with their owners, and evaluate each pup based on appearance, personality, and Drake spirit. Apply today for a chance to take your seat at the judges’ table and help select the next Most Beautiful Bulldog. Applications close Monday, April 6 at noon.

Apply here: https://alumni.drake.edu/relays/beautiful-bulldog/beautiful-bulldog-contestant-judge-submission.

— Bruce Heintz, University Communications & Marketing

Strategic Updates Archive

All In 24-Hour Giving Challenge April 8–9

Thank you for your understanding and support in our decision to postpone this year’s All In 24-Hour Giving Challenge. Please mark your calendars for April 8–9 from noon to noon as our Bulldog community comes together to make a lasting impact. 

New this year, if 30% of faculty and staff make a gift to the University by the close of All In, we’ll celebrate with a half day off on the Friday before Memorial Day weekend. Every gift made since July 1 counts, and All In is a great opportunity to be part of the 30% of campus partners participating.

In honor of your support, any Drake faculty or staff member that makes a gift during All In will be entered into a drawing for one of the following prizes:

  • Free parking pass for Commuter Tier II Parking Lots
  • Treats delivered by Griff II for your entire department
  • Drake Relays Experience package (Gift card to use at the Relays Tent, VIP Relays Tickets, and more)
  • Year-long, individual membership to the Varsity Cinema
  • Bulldog Beer Package (4-pack of Bulldog Beer, a Drake-branded pint glass, and more)
  • Limited Edition Griff II socks
  • Copy of the new Griff II children’s book, “Griff’s Big Little Adventure”
  • Drake Swag (cross-body bags, Drake flags, blankets, bobbleheads, coffee mugs)

Join your fellow faculty and staff and go All In for our Bulldog community on April 8-9. Learn more at all-in.drake.edu.

Campus Announcements Archive

Griff Gives Back: Help Griff II Collect 20,000 Pounds of Pet Food

The 11th annual Griff Gives Back pet food drive is here! This year’s event holds special significance as it marks Griff II’s final donation drive as our live mascot. Griff II is rallying the Drake community to help him reach his goal of collecting 20,000 pounds of adult dog and cat food to support The Pet Project Midwest, a local pet food pantry.

Whether you donate via Griff’s Amazon Wish List, mail-in orders, or at his physical drop-off spots, every pound counts toward keeping local pets fed and with their families. We’ll celebrate the conclusion of Griff Gives Back at the Beautiful Bulldog Contest on Sunday, April 19, at the Knapp Center from 2–3 p.m.

Browse Donation Options

— Erin Bell, University Communications & Marketing