All posts by Ashton Hockman

News & Achievements Archive

Drake welcomes Ryan Arnold as neighborhood and community engagement manager

Ryan Arnold, Drake’s new neighborhood and community engagement manager.

Looking to enhance its relationship with the Des Moines community, Drake University is pleased to welcome Ryan Arnold to the position of neighborhood and community engagement manager.

In his new role, Ryan will establish partnerships between the University and the city, serve as the primary contact for residents and business owners in the Drake Neighborhood, and strive to strengthen the overall economic development and vitality of the area.

Ryan, who previously served as the senior minister at First Christian Church and lives in the Drake Neighborhood, has a deep understanding of the community.

“My family and I have called the Drake Neighborhood home for the last four years,” said Ryan. “I’m looking forward to combining my love for this community with my passion for Drake and continuing to move toward a more equitable, neighborly future.”

Ryan’s position will play an instrumental role in the University’s recent development projects, like the construction of a hotel, apartments, urban-style row houses, and retail space along University Avenue and the Gregory & Suzie Glazer Burt Boys and Girls Club on the southwest corner of 25th Street and Forest Avenue.

Ryan’s office is located in the Alumni House. He can be reached at ryan.arnold@drake.edu. Please welcome Ryan, his wife Kristyn, and their two children, Jack and Ellie, to the Bulldog family.

Campus Announcements Archive

ITS Support Center in Carnegie Hall closed due to water damage

Due to water damage from the storms on June 30, the ITS Support Center in Carnegie Hall is closed for walk-in support. Access to Carnegie Hall will continue to be unavailable for several weeks to allow for repairs. ITS staff are being relocated to the second floor of Collier-Scripps, and walk-in support should be open by the end of the week. More information to come.

Phone support is available by calling 515-271-3001 or you can use the IT Service Portal at service.drake.edu/its to report any issues you may be having.

We apologize for any inconvenience and will update you when the Support Center reopens in its temporary location.

— Carla Herling, ITS

Campus Announcements Archive

Retirement open house for Susan Ladd

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.

— Christine Ditter, Student Financial Planning

Campus Announcements Archive

Update on flash flooding event

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

News & Achievements Archive

Celebrating the life of former Drake President and Iowa Governor, Robert D. Ray

Governor Robert D. Ray, BN’52, LW’54

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.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center on campus, located at 2507 University Avenue. Remembrances may also be left on The Ray Center website.

Statement from the family of Governor Robert D. Ray
Biography of Governor Robert D. Ray

Featured Events Archive

CBPA 101 Speaker Series: Team Dynamics

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

News & Achievements Archive

SJMC alum recognized for personality profile

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