The Office of Student Financial Planning is hosting a retirement open house for Susan Ladd, director of financial aid, tomorrow, July 11, from 2–4 p.m. in the Carnegie Hall lobby. Susan is retiring after 26 years of serving students, families, faculty, and staff at Drake University. She has held many roles over the years, including graduate assistant, assistant director, associate director, and university project manager for the Drake ERP (Banner) implementation. Additionally, she has served on numerous committees. Her official last day of employment was July 2. Please join us to celebrate her service and wish her well.
The Des Moines metro was hit with catastrophic flash flooding on Saturday, June 30. Drake’s campus was one of the many locations affected. The lower levels of more than 30 buildings on campus were impacted as the rapid rainfall led to power outages and overflowing storm sewers.
Facilities, Planning, and Management (FPM) has been working with the University’s insurance agent and cleanup and repair teams to assess the damage. Faculty and staff whose workspaces were affected, and will need to be temporarily relocated, were already notified by FPM. Faculty and staff who have questions, can contact Kelly Foster at kelly.foster@drake.edu.
Remediation companies SRP Environmental and Service Master are on campus and will be working until the affected buildings are cleaned and restored. Please note, SRP Environmental and Service Master are operating out of G-K lots 21 and 34.
Following the cleanup process, drywall, flooring, and other building materials, including furniture, will be replaced and restored. If you have personal belongings or specific business equipment that received water damage, please have your building contact send information/inventory to Donna Blunck at donna.blunck@drake.edu.
FPM does not expect the storm to disrupt the many construction and facilities projects underway across campus. The department is working hard to address the water damage—and confident in the progress being made—all while keeping previously scheduled projects moving forward.
We look forward to welcoming faculty and students to campus next month for the start of fall semester.
— Kevin Moran, Facilities, Planning, and Management
Enjoy coffee, baked goods, produce, and more at the Drake Neighborhood Farmers Market every Wednesday from 4:30–7:30 p.m. The market is located at 24th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue, next to the Drake Park. Mark your calendars!
— Jarad Bernstein, University Communications & Marketing
The following message was sent to campus by President Martin on July 8:
“With a heavy heart, I am writing to share that our cherished friend, distinguished alumnus, and former colleague, Robert D. Ray, died this morning. Governor Ray proudly served as Iowa’s 38th governor and, later in his career, as the 11th president of Drake University, from April 1998 to May 1999. He received his B.A. in business from Drake in 1952, and his juris doctorate from Drake Law School in 1954.
Governor Ray is survived by his beloved wife, Billie, three daughters, and eight grandchildren. Plans for celebrating his life are pending, and will be announced at a later time.
Governor Ray had a tremendous impact on Iowa, the United States, and the world. In similar fashion, he served his beloved alma mater exceptionally well. His legacy will live on, of course, through the great work of The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center; the Robert D. Ray Collection of political and personal papers and memorabilia from Governor and Mrs. Ray, archived at Cowles Library; the RaySociety, Drake University’s lifelong learning organization; and the Ray Promenade, a beautiful plaza to be dedicated on campus this fall.
Please join me in remembering Governor Ray, and in supporting his family at this difficult time.” — Marty Martin, President
Details of funeral, observances
Governor Ray will lay in state at the Iowa Capitol building Thursday, 5:30–8:30 p.m. Iowa Air and Army Guard troops, Iowa State Troopers, and the Des Moines Police will lead a procession of vehicles along University Avenue from west to east at approximately 4 p.m. as they travel toward the Capitol. Faculty and staff are welcome to show their support for Governor Ray and his family by standing along University Avenue as the procession passes by.
The motorcade will bring the governor into the first floor Rotunda where a brief ceremony will occur at 5 p.m. Those wishing to pay their respects at the Capitol should arrive early, as security checkpoints will be utilized.
The funeral for Governor Ray will be held Friday at the First Christian Church at 25th and University Avenue in Des Moines. The service will begin at 1 p.m. There will be limited seating. However, those wishing to observe and celebrate the life of Governor Ray can view a live stream of the service. Details of the live stream will be made public soon.
Looking for campus work this summer? Drake Dining is looking for students to work in the catering department. If interested, please contact Brett Lindman at brett.lindman@sodexo.com.
The 101 Speaker Series is designed to engage the audience through interaction with our local panel of experts. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions on a wide range of topics of interest. The series is open to faculty, staff, students, and the general public; however, registration is required.
The upcoming session will be held on Wednesday, June 13, and will focus on team dynamics. Doors open at 11:45 a.m. with the program to begin at 12 p.m. Lunch will be provided for the first 50 people who register.
Panel experts include: Heather Schott, assistant director of diversity and inclusion, HR culture and inclusion, Principal Ina Purvanova, associate professor of management and leadership, Drake University Andy Wilson, senior vice president of consumer revenue, Meredith Corporation
— Dianna Gray, College of Business and Public Administration
Angela Ufheil, a 2017 graduate of the Drake School of Journalism and Mass Communication, placed 14th in this spring’s national Hearst personality/profile-writing contest. There were 114 entries from 61 schools received in the 58th annual William Randolph Hearst Foundation’s Journalism Awards.
Ufheil was recognized for a feature she wrote for her senior capstone project, the multimedia website Urban Plains. The article profiled Frank Cordaro, a former Catholic priest who is a human rights advocate and anti-war activist. Since graduation, Ufheil has worked at The Des Moines Register, as a freelance writer and recently took a job with 5280, the award-winning Denver city magazine.
— Kathleen Richardson, School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Catherine M. Staub, the Fisher-Stelter Chair of Magazine Journalism, has won the inaugural VisCom Teaching Award from the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication’s Visual Communication Division.
Staub was recognized for her JMC 119 Magazine Publishing curriculum, during which the students come up with the concept for a new magazine, conduct market research, meld the visual and written elements, and create a prototype. The award will be presented on Aug. 6 during the annual AEJMC conference in Washington, D.C.
— Kathleen Richardson, School of Journalism and Mass Communication
The College of Business and Public Administration recently honored several of its staff and faculty during an awards ceremony. Congratulations to the following award recipients!
Annette Watson — Brooks Excellence Award
The Brooks Excellence Award is given to a staff member who fully embodies the values of the College of Business and Public Administration and provides outstanding service to the College and our stakeholders.
Yiqing Chen — Harry Wolk Research Award
The Harry Wolk Research Award is given to an outstanding researcher.
Lance Noe — College of Business and Public Administration Excellence in Teaching Award for Adjunct or Part-Time Instructors
Lisa Gardner — College of Business and Public Administration Service Appreciation
Greg Christie — College of Business and Public Administration Unsung Hero Award. The Unsung Hero Award goes to someone who makes a substantive yet unrecognized contribution, a person who often works behind the scenes and plays a key supporting role.
Mary Edrington — College of Business and Public Administration Outreach Award. The Outreach Award goes to an individual who has served as an outstanding ambassador for the College, making connections with community and industry leaders, alumni, donors, and colleagues across campus.
Pat Heaston — College of Business and Public Administration Extra Blue Mile Service Award. The Extra Blue Mile Service Award recognizes a person who has provided a lifetime of service to the College.
Danette Kenne — College of Business and Public Administration Blue Star Award for Leadership. The Blue Star Award for Leadership was created to recognize an individual who played a key role in advancing the College.
Scott Johnson — College of Business and Public Administration Blue Star Award for Impact. The Blue Star Award for Impact goes to an individual who created a program from scratch. That program has grown in size and has become a hallmark and differentiating feature of the College.
Randy Blum — College of Business and Public Administration Legacy Award. The Legacy Award goes to a departing colleague who has left a lasting mark on the College.
J. Royce Fichtner — College of Business and Public Administration Paragon Award. The Paragon Award and goes to a person that is viewed as a model of excellence, someone who is exemplar in one or more ways.
Susan Watson — David B. Lawrence Outstanding Undergraduate Teacher of the Year
Brad Meyer — Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award
— Dianna Gray, College of Business and Public Administration
