All posts by Ashton Hockman

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

All Staff Council welcomes staff back with treat bags

The All Staff Council Special Events and Community Service Committee, with assistance from the council’s committee members, delivered more than 650 welcome back gifts to staff on Sept. 8. This is the second year of the event, which continues to be a great success for connections around campus.

Check out upcoming All Staff Council events on the card you received with your treat or below:

  • Sept. 11–16: DU Good Week
  • Fall Book Club Meet-up:
    Oct. 16 at 4:45 p.m.—Louie’s Wine Dive
    Oct. 18 at 11 a.m.—Mars Café
  • Oct. 30: Chili Cook-Off
  • March/April: Spring Wellness Event
  • April: Sapphire Awards
  • April: Spring Service Event
  • May 23: Annual Kickball Tournament

New this year, we will be collecting donations to stock The Little Free Food Pantries around campus at our events.

Find more details on events by visiting the All Staff Council Special Events & Community Service website. If you are interested in becoming part of our email distribution list, please email us at ascspecialevents@drake.edu.

—Dianna Gray, All Staff Council

News & Achievements Archive

SJMC journalism students cover DM school board election

Students in SJMC professor Jill Van Wyke’s junior-level public affairs reporting class started the academic year off at a sprint with comprehensive coverage of the Des Moines school board election. The students’ stories, posted on the SJMC’s Drake Digital News website, included candidate profiles, coverage of a community forum, district demographics, and past voter turnout. The class also plans to live-blog the election results tonight.

— Kathleen Richardson, School of Journalism & Mass Communication

 

Featured Events Archive

Drake Basketball Happy Hour

Join Head Basketball Coaches Niko Medved and Jennie Baranczyk for happy hour at Hotel Renovo in Urbandale Sept. 13 from 6 to 8 p.m. Meet the head coaches and student-athletes and celebrate the upcoming college basketball season. All are welcome to attend––bring your family, friends, and neighbors.

What: Basketball Happy Hour Party
Where: Hotel Renovo at 11167 Hickman Road, Urbandale, Iowa
When: Wednesday, Sept. 13, 6 – 8 p.m.
Who: All are welcome to attend

Check out the Facebook event here. No RSVP is required.

—Tom Florian, Ticket Sales and Donor Management

Featured Events Archive

Lecture: A Philosopher’s Stance on Miracles

The Comparison Project is hosting its first event Thursday, Sept. 14, at 7 p.m. in Sussman Theater, Olmsted Center. A lecture by Karen Zwier, visiting assistant professor of philosophy/religion, on the philosophy of miracles will be the first in the new series on miracles. The event is free and open to the public.

Miracle stories are a phenomenon shared by all major religious traditions. What is a rational person to think in the face of this phenomenon? In this lecture, Professor Zwier will survey some of the ways in which philosophers have analyzed the concept of miracles and grappled with the question of the proper epistemic stance toward miracle reports.

Professor Zwier’s research deals with philosophical and scientific methodology as well as metaphysics of science. She concerns herself with questions about how—and if—metaphysical claims are engaged by empirical scientific methods. Her areas of specialty include philosophy of causation, history and philosophy of physics, and science and religion.

Upcoming events in the series:

Oct. 5, 7 p.m.: Miracles as Transforming Invitations to Wonder & Gratitude: An Islamic Perspective
By Umeyye Isra Yazicioglu, associate professor of Islamic studies, St. Joseph’s University

Oct. 26, 7 p.m.: Does ‘the Biblical God who acts’ really act? Special divine action via quantum mechanics that is objective but not miraculous
By Robert J. Russell, founder and director of the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences, and Ian G. Barbour, professor of theology and science, graduate theological union, Berkeley

Nov. 16, 7 p.m.: On the Role of Miracles in the Vimalakirti Sutra in the Early Medieval China
By Shi Jingpeng, Minzu, University of China, Beijing

—Kayla Jenkins, College of Arts & Sciences

Featured Events Archive

Constitution Day Lecture: Free Speech on Campus

Can free speech coexist with an inclusive campus environment? Erwin Chemerinsky, dean and Jesse H. Choper Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of California-Berkeley School of Law, will discuss this issue at the 2017 Constitution Day Lecture on Thursday, Sept. 14, from 3 to 4 p.m. in Cartwright Hall, Room 213. Sponsored by the Drake Constitutional Law Center, the Constitution Day Lecture is held each year to commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787. The event is free and open to all.

In the lecture, Chemerinsky will discuss the importance of providing a supportive learning environment for a diverse student body, while respecting the free expression of ideas.

Chemerinsky, who was recently named the most influential person in legal education by National Jurist magazine, is the author of more than 200 law review articles and 10 books. In addition, he writes a weekly column for the Sacramento Bee, monthly columns for the ABA Journal and the Daily Journal, and opinion-editorials in newspapers across the country. He frequently argues appellate cases, including in the U.S. Supreme Court.

Read more information here.

—Kayla Choate, Law School

HR Information Archive

Join Weight Watchers at Work

As a new academic year begins, it is the perfect time to get into the habit of making healthier choices. If your goals include losing weight, Weight Watchers at Work may be the solution.

Weekly meetings include a confidential weigh-in prior to the meeting, followed by a 30-minute class. Weight Watchers unique mix of face to face interaction with a trained leader, group support, accountability, digital tools, and the convenience of meetings in the workplace have helped faculty and staff be successful in their weight loss goals.

The cost is $156 for a 12-week renewable series with a minimum of 15 participants. Payment may be made in a lump sum or split into three payments.

If you are interested in joining Weight Watchers at Work, please contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu.

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

HR Information Archive

Healthy Eating Made Easy class

In today’s busy world, it can be hard to find time to prepare healthy meals, which means more dining out, fast food, or processed snacks. Join Lucas Flaherty on Tuesday, Sept. 19, at 10 a.m. in the Olmsted Center, room 310/311, as he shares some easy and quick healthy meal planning advice. This presentation includes both information on programs such as Blue Apron as well as more traditional tips if you are buying from a grocery store and cooking at home. And, for between meals, discover some quick, low-cost, healthy snacks.

Participants will earn Bulldogs United in Learning Drake (BUILD) credits and be entered into a drawing at the end of the semester.

An online registration form for the class is accessible through the blueView Employee tab, in the Learning and Development Channel under Human Resources.  You may also contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu to register.

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

HR Information Archive

Welcoming new Bulldogs: August 2017

Fifty-eight new, full-time faculty and staff members joined the Drake family in August:

Ryan Sturms, Laboratory Assistant, Chemistry, College of Arts & Sciences (A&S)

Lee Price, Laboratory Assistant, Chemistry, A&S

Bradley Swan, Laboratory Assistant, Chemistry, A&S

Jordan Pohlmann, Teaching Associate, Music, A&S

Godfried Asante, Assistant Professor, Rhetoric, A&S

Michi Matsukura, Assistant Professor, Psychology, A&S

Katharine (Katie) Putney, Visiting Assistant Professor, Biology, A&S

Dina Alexander, Visiting Assistant Professor, Music, A&S

Vincent Kenney, Assistant Professor Low Brass and Assistant Director Bands, A&S

Mirla Agnir, Assistant Professor, Theatre Arts, A&S

Kevin Brown, Assistant Professor, Neuroscience, A&S

Erin Horst, Visiting Assistant Professor, Theatre, A&S

Gregory Wolf, Assistant Professor, Politics, A&S

Karen Zwier, Visiting Assistant Professor, Philosophy/Religion, A&S

Mary Alice Hill, Director, Human Resources Partner Services, Human Resources

Kirk Lundgren, Campus Public Safety Officer, Public Safety

Joshua (Josh) Wallace, Academic Success & Retention Specialist, Provost’s Office

Rebecca Widmer, Director, Annual Giving, University Advancement

Damon Tyson, Systems Engineer 2, ITS

Karly Good, Learning Management Specialist, ITS

Nathan Newman, Associate Professor, Athletic Training, College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences CPHS

Diana Newman, Administrative Assistant, CPHS

Shankar Munusamy, Associate Professor, Pharmacology, CPHS

Kelsey Jensen, Assistant Director, International Admission, Office of Admission

Janelle Turner, Campus Visit Coordinator, Office of Admission

Michael Donahue, Assistant Athletic Trainer, Athletics

Michael McClanathan, Assistant Football Coach, Athletics

Cory Marquardt, Men’s Basketball Manager, Athletics

Walker Howard, Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach, Athletics

Anne Williams, Business Manager, Athletics

Ryan Parriott, Assistant Director, Recreational Services, Athletics

Elizabeth (Betsy) Bayliss, Assistant Women’s Crew Coach, Athletics

Ngonidzashe Makusha, Assistant Men’s & Women’s Sprints/Jumps/Relays Coach, Athletics

Denise “Chantel” Osahor, Women’s Basketball Manager, Athletics

Amy Rudolph, Assistant Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field Coach, Athletics

Jay Koloseus, Assistant Men’s Cross Country/Track & Field Coach, Athletics

Alexander Emery, Assistant Men’s & Women’s Tennis Coach, Athletics

Amy Elbert, Mental Health Specialist, Head Start

Virginia Lynde, Teacher Associate Substitute, Head Start

Katherine Colon, Teacher Associate, Head Start

Alexandrea Chafa, Head Start Teacher, Head Start

Noelle Feldpausch, Head Start Teacher, Head Start

Amanda Herring, Head Start Teacher, Head Start

Stacie Kjellsen, Teacher Associate, Head Start

Madonna (Donna) Clay, Head Start Teacher, Head Start

Kelly DeJoode, Teacher Associate, Head Start

Patricia Houlihan, Clinician in Residence/Int. Director Legal Clinic, Law School

Natalie Banta, Associate Professor, Law, Law School

Jacquilline Nagila, Director, International Student & Scholar Services, International Center

Christina Trombley, Executive Director, Online Programming

Lendie Follett Clausen, Assistant Professor, Business Analytics, College of Business & Public Administration (CBPA)

Anna Fountain Clark, Assistant Professor, Public Administration, CBPA

Douglas Bujakowski, Assistant Professor, Actuarial Science, CBPA

Sacha Pence, Assistant Professor/Director Applied Behavior Analysis, School of Education

Pamela Moore, Field Placement Support Services Coordinator, School of Education

Noel Wurju, Facility Maintainer III, Facilities Planning & Management

Samra Hodzic, Facility Maintainer III, Facilities Planning & Management

Atong Nyok, Facility Maintainer III, Facilities Planning & Management

—Laura Schwarz, Human Resources