The Drake chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America was recently recognized as a Star Chapter at the 2017 PRSSA National Conference in Boston.
—Kathleen Richardson, School of Journalism and Mass Communication
All posts by Ashton Hockman
SOE professor awarded Collier Baker Endowed Professorship
Professor Robert Stensrud was awarded the Collier Baker Endowed Professorship, a four-year award that carries a stipend and research fund, by the Drake Board of Trustees on Oct. 7. He plans to use the award to continue research on the Clubhouse model of employment and training for special needs populations.
Stensrud is serving his 30th year as a professor in the Leadership and Counseling Department of the School of Education. He has served as department chair from 1991 to 1995, redesigning the counseling specializations that have become national accredited by two major governing boards. He was the director of the School of Education’s Collaborative Leadership in Education, which included the oversight of an $8 million budget. From 1989 to 1999, he was director of the National Rehabilitation Institute, and in 1994, he received the Outstanding Program Award from the U.S. Department of Education Rehab Services. Since coming to Drake, Stensrud has received $15.7 million to support the training of rehabilitation counselors, research on disability, and projects serving the Drake and Greater Des Moines communities. To date, he has written more than 60 refereed publications on disability, health care, and employment.
—Janet McMahill, School of Education
Kent named Iowa Women of Innovation Award finalist
Deborah Kent, associate professor of mathematics, is a finalist for a state award that recognizes innovation in STEM education.
The Technology Association of Iowa announced that Kent is one of five educators in the running for a 2017 Women of Innovation Award in the category of Academic Innovation and Leadership.
Students in Kent’s courses benefit from her strategic approach to incorporating classroom technology into the educational experience.
“Mathematical ideas must be powerfully integrated with technology in the modern world and I work hard to do this in the classroom,” Kent said. “I use technological tools to support the strengths of traditional thinking and to enable students to do things they wouldn’t otherwise be able to do.”
For example, Kent recently introduced a Numerical Linear Algebra course in which students used MATLAB, a high-performance language for technical computing—including data analytics and algorithm development. The MATLAB software empowers students to manipulate and visualize large data sets.
The award nomination also recognizes Kent’s national reputation for excellence in mathematics writing and her emphasis on teaching students effectively to communicate technical information.
See the news release for more.
This week in Drake Athletics: Oct. 24
Women’s Soccer
Drake vs. Loyola
Oct. 26 at 4 p.m.
Cownie Soccer Complex
Football
Drake vs. Davidson
Oct. 28 at 1 p.m.
Drake Stadium
For questions, contact 515-271-3647 or tickets@drake.edu.
—Tom Florian, Drake Athletics
Visiting Professional Series: Joe Pulizzi
Author, entrepreneur, and founder of the Content Marketing Institute, Joe Pulizzi is excited to share his expertise with the Drake community. Pulizzi recently published his fifth book, Killing Marketing, that explains why many companies are dismissing old marketing methods in favor of a new, content-driven system. Join the E.T. Meredith Center for Magazine Studies in the Cowles Library Reading Room on Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. to hear Pulizzi talk about his new book, the color orange, and all things content marketing. The event is free and open to the public.
For questions, email katie.bandurski@drake.edu.
—Katie Bandurski
Nov. 9 lecture on detecting and exposing fraud
A member of the auditing team for one of history’s largest U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigations will deliver a free lecture on the ways data analytics can help companies to detect and expose fraud.
Victor Padilla of RSM, a global provider of audit, tax, and consulting services, will deliver the lecture “Advanced Data Analytics, The Fraudsters Worst Enemy: Introducing Powerful Tools and Techniques to Uncover Fraud” on Thursday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m. in Sheslow Auditorium.
The lecture is part of the Financial Executives International (FEI)-Drake Accounting Lecture series, an annual, free event organized by FEI and Drake University’s School of Accounting.
See the news release for more information.
—Stephen Gara, College of Business and Public Administration
“States and the Making of Constitutional Law”
Join the Drake Law Federalist Society Nov. 3 in welcoming The Honorable Jeffrey S. Sutton from the United States 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. He will discuss the role state constitutions play in the making of constitutional law. The event will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 3, in Cartwright Hall, Room 213. This event is open to the public. Free pizza will be provided.
—James Bump
Coffee with Dean Dan Connolly
Drake Alumni Relations and the College of Business and Public Administration invite faculty, staff, and alumni to meet Dan Connolly, the new dean of the College of Business and Public Administration, over a cup of coffee Nov. 9. Stop by Turner Jazz Center on your way to work for a light breakfast and conversation. Coffee, muffins, and fruit will be provided from 7:30 to 9 a.m.
For questions, contact Andy Verlengia at andrew.verlengia@drake.edu.
—Dianna Gray, College of Business and Public Administration
TCP lecture: Does ‘the God who acts’ really act?
Robert Russell, professor of theology and science from Berkeley, will speak in Sussman Theatre on Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. His lecture, “Does ‘the God who acts’ really act? Special divine action via quantum mechanics that is objective but not miraculous,” is free to attend.
Russell will describe a new way to achieve a theory of divine action in which God’s action makes an objective difference in the processes of nature without in any way being a violation of, or intervention into, these processes: “NIODA” (non-interventionist objective divine action). He argues that quantum mechanics offers a promising approach for NIODA and may allow Christian theology to view God as acting in, with, and through the biological evolution of life.
Russell is founder and director of the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences (CTNS) and the Ian G. Barbour Professor of Theology and Science at the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA. He is a leading researcher and spokesperson for the growing international body of theologians and scientists committed to a positive dialogue and creative mutual interaction between these fields. He received a PhD in physics from the University of California at Santa Cruz (1978) and an MA in theology and an M.Div. from Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley (1972).
—Kayla Jenkins, College of Arts and Sciences
Women in STEM event Friday
The third annual Women in STEM event will take place Friday, Oct. 27 from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Science Connector Building, Room 301.
The event is an opportunity for female students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math to connect with other women who have similar interests and visit informally with women leaders in their fields, including faculty, staff, alumni, and community members.
Female STEM students are encouraged to attend and bring their friends who are exploring similar fields or recruits who are on campus for STEM at Drake Day.
The event is open to students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members. Light refreshments will be served.
For questions, contact Suzanne Clayton at suzanne.clayton@drake.edu.
—Karley Ross