All posts by Ashton Hockman

For Students Archive

Participate in the Stock Trading Challenge

Are you new to stock trading? Or, do you want to show how good you are at picking stocks? Or, do you want to simply learn more about the stock market in general? Then, Finance Program at Drake invites you to participate in the Stock Trading Challenge for a chance to earn a cash prize.

The event is open to students and runs from Oct. 4–29. Students can sign up at anytime during the contest.

How to participate:

  1. Create a (free) login at www.marketwatch.com:
  2. Join the Stock Trading Challenge at: https://www.marketwatch.com/game/drake-stock-trading-challenge or https://tinyurl.com/drakestockchallenge
    Password to join: GoBulldogs
  3. You are required to make a minimum of 30 trades during the contest period to be eligible for prizes. Hence, if you fail to make at least 30 trades prior to the end date, you will be disqualified.

Prizes:
1st Place Winner – $300
2nd Place Winner – $200
3rd Place Winner – $100
4th Place Winner – $100
5th Place Winner – $100

Best Trader – $200 (This award is for the person who trades the most number of times and beats the S&P 500 index return during the same period.)

Note: These awards are mutually exclusive, and the winners will be announced during Finance Night, which is scheduled on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021, 6–8 p.m. You must be present during the award ceremony to claim your prize. If you do not show up for the event, your award will be forfeited and be given to the next best performer.

For questions, contact Professor Inchul Suh, chair, Department of Economics and Finance, CBPA, at isuh@drake.edu.

— Inchul Suh, Finance (CBPA)

Campus Announcements Archive

Register for the virtual Blueprint Men’s Summit

Register today for the 2021 Blueprint Men’s Summit held virtually Oct. 13 and 14 at 6 p.m. Registration is FREE. The Blueprint Men’s Summit is an empowering conference designed to develop, inspire, and motivate attendees to become the best version of themselves. This year’s conference has an exciting lineup of guests and speakers including Daymond John of Shark Tank, Luke James of The Chi, Academy and Emmy award-winning band leader Jon Batiste, and Dr. Jerome Adams, former United States Surgeon General, to name a few.

The Blueprint Men’s Summit isn’t just for men. Both women and men who are looking to grow and develop in all areas of life are encouraged to attend!

The event is hosted by Drake alumnus and Board of Trustee member Louis Carr. Carr is president of media sales at Black Entertainment Television (BET) Networks and founder of Blueprint Men’s Summit. Make sure to reserve your virtual seat at the summit today!

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

BLM @ Drake seeking faculty and staff committee members

The BLM @ Drake series is dedicated to the improvement of education on racial justice and how to actively contribute to its advancement in our classrooms and our campus community.  Last year’s virtual events featured programming around racial justice and human rights, actions that can contribute to hostile classroom environments and what to do instead, and the perspectives of various guest speakers and students.

We are looking to include the voices of Black faculty and staff who are interested in working as members of our planning committee. Please join us as we continue to plan for the current academic year. If you are interested, please reach out to Student Body President Morgan Coleman at morgan.coleman@drake.edu for more information.

— Morgan Coleman, Student Body President

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

In Memoriam: James G. Lindberg

 It is with heavy hearts we share the passing of James Lindberg, professor emeritus of organic chemistry at Drake University. James passed away at age 81 on Sept. 23, 2021, at Bright Kavanagh House after a very short bout with pancreatic cancer. A Celebration of Life will be held in the future. James was a beloved and highly respected professor at Drake for approximately 34 years who will be missed dearly by his students, fellow colleagues, and friends. He published and presented a number of scientific papers; however, his passion was teaching. In lieu of flowers or gifts, James requested that you support education in its most inclusive expressions: Montessori, public schools, private and public colleges and universities. Online condolences are welcome at www.IlesCares.com. Read James’ full obituary.

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Help spread the word about open positions at Drake

The pandemic has rocked the workforce in many ways. One of the struggles we are experiencing—along with many other employers—is getting quality candidates to apply for current openings.

“We have had some great jobs posted recently for entry-level and early-career professionals,” said Julia Gwebu, director of Student Account Services. We are not getting the same number or quality of applicants we have in the past—even for the same positions we’ve recruited for in recent years.”

HR will be examining its recruitment practices and developing more strategic approaches, but that will take time and we have openings now. We are calling on the Drake community to help spread the word about current opportunities.

“With so many jobs available in Des Moines, we could really use a boost from people who already work at and care about Drake,” said Anne Kremer, dean of Admissions.

If you know people who are job-hunting, fit with our core values, care about students, and would contribute to a positive work culture, please encourage them to check out the current opportunities available at Drake. If you have strong connections via LinkedIn, social media, or just connections via email, please share and help get the word out. Below are some sample communications you can modify for your use. Please feel free to include this flyer as well.

Sample Email

Subject Line: Job Opportunities at Drake University

Hello,

I know you have been considering a job change, so I wanted to let you know that Drake University has some positions posted right now that may interest you. You can search for current opening here: https://drake.hiretouch.com/.

We are looking for great people to join the Drake team. I think you would enjoy working here and relate to our core values and mission. If you have questions about working at Drake, I am happy to share my experiences here. If you have specific questions about any of the jobs posted, benefits, etc., feel free to reach out to drakehr@drake.edu.

Thank you,

[Name]

Sample Social Media Post

Hello, friends! If you or someone you know is looking for a new job, please check out the jobs posted at Drake University. You can search for current opening here: https://drake.hiretouch.com/. Right now, there are a variety of opportunities to explore. Please take a look or share with anyone you know who is job hunting. If you have specific questions about any of the jobs posted, benefits, etc., feel free to reach out to drakehr@drake.edu. Go Bulldogs!

— Maureen De Armond, Human Resouces

Campus Announcements Archive

Book signing event with Gary Porter author of ‘Griff: My Life as Drake’s Top Dog’

Gary Porter, Drake alumnus and biographer of Griff: My Life as Drake’s Top Dog, will host a book signing event, Friday, Sept. 24, at 4 p.m. at Drake University’s Helmick Commons. The campus community and public are invited to attend. 

The event will include a meet and greet with Porter and Griff I, who served as Drake University’s first official live mascot from 2015–2020. Porter will also speak at the event, sharing how the book came to life and the joys of telling this lovable bulldog’s story. 

In the biography, My Life as Drake’s Top Dog, Griff tells of his time as Drake University’s live mascot—from cheering on the sports teams to collecting donations for his pet food drive, working as a therapy dog, and even campaigning for President.  

Books will be available for purchase at the event. 

Strategic Updates Archive

Drake University and Broadlawns Medical Center to build new medical clinic

Drake hosted a press conference with Broadlawns Medical Center Sept. 20 to announce plans to construct a 12,000 sq. ft. medical clinic at 29th Street and University Avenue. Prior to the media event, President Martin sent the following message to faculty and staff. A press release with more information is posted in Drake’s newsroom. Project updates will be shared in OnCampus as they become available.

The Broadlawns Community Clinic at Drake will serve the public and Drake campus community. We are entering into a long-term lease agreement with Broadlawns on the property. Broadlawns will manage and fund the construction and operation of the clinic in coordination with the University. Construction will begin in May 2022 with a completion date scheduled for August 2023.

Broadlawns is the University’s student health provider and the official medical provider for Drake Athletics. Broadlawns also serves as an academic community partner, committed to high impact experiential learning in athletic training, pharmacy, health sciences, and occupational therapy. The new clinic with further strengthen this partnership and enhance student health services, replacing Drake’s current student health facility.

This is wonderful news for the Des Moines community, Drake neighborhood residents, and our campus. It is another example of how we are living our inspiration statement that “together we transform lives and strengthen communities.” Drake University is proud to play a role in bringing this trusted community health care provider to our diverse, vibrant neighborhood.

Services available at the clinic will include family medicine, urgent care, mental health, and a rotation of specialties. Students, faculty, and staff will be able to schedule routine visits such as wellness exams and vaccinations, as well as be seen for non-emergent, acute illnesses and injuries. Additionally, the Broadlawns partnership will allow our employees participating in Drake’s health plan to realize significant savings when they choose Broadlawns. Employees and their dependents on our health will experience lower co-pays, deductibles, and out-of-pocket maximums for Broadlawns’ services. Coupled with the convenience of a clinic immediately adjacent to campus, this is a meaningful enhancement to the quality benefits already provided to Drake employees. Human resources will share more information on how we can all take advantage of this opportunity later this fall.

This is a great day for Drake University. I hope you all take pride in being part of an institution that continually works to address the needs of our community through education, research, and service.

— Marty Martin, President

Campus Announcements Archive

Alumni Relations welcomes new employees

The Office of Alumni Relations is pleased to welcome Courtney Conrad to the role of assistant director of regional engagement and Greg Lin to the role of assistant director of volunteer engagement. Courtney and Greg will begin their new positions Monday, Sept. 20.

Please take a moment to learn more about Courtney and Greg below and join me in warmly welcoming them to Drake.

Courtney Conrad
Courtney recently relocated to Des Moines from Colorado where she served as the Coordinator of Transition Programs at Colorado State University. Courtney brings with her a wealth of experience in program development and execution. While at CSU Courtney took a significant program idea that had been a concept for several years, refined it, and carried it through to execution.

Her references shared the following comments:

“Her ability to connect with others and serve as a mentor is unbeatable. She can engage with anyone, any age, any background. She asks the right questions (valued skill I admired in her) and seems to be the staff member that many of my teammates miss the most. She has an ability to leave that mark/impact on others through her first conversation.”

“Working with Courtney has been one of the greatest gifts of my professional career in Higher Ed.  She is hands down incredible.”

In her role, Courtney will be tasked with managing all aspects of our regional alumni outreach and engagement including volunteer management, event programming, and communication. Courtney will serve as the staff liaison to our eleven regional advisory boards (RABs) across the country. Additionally, she will also be responsible for developing and executing strategic virtual engagement programs including the Back to Class series.

Greg Lin
Greg has worked at Drake for the past five years serving as an Assessment Coordinator in Institutional Research. In his time at Drake Greg has built countless personal and professional relationships across campus. His experience working with data and assessment, coupled with his natural relationship building skills will serve the department well. 

Greg is currently the President of the Young Professionals Connection of Greater Des Moines and is also a 2021 Des Moines Business Record 40 under 40 recipient. 

His references shared the following comments: 

“Greg left for his position at Drake several years ago. He still frequently communicates with several of his former peers after all this time. We just finished preparing for our accreditation visit in March, and it was commented several times that we were very well prepared because of processes that Greg implemented during his time here. Greg Lin is someone that if you encounter him, you don’t forget him. You don’t forget his kindness, his selflessness, his dedication, his intellect, his contributions, or his work ethic. I know that he would be a valuable asset to any team that welcomed him.”

In his role, Greg will be tasked with establishing and growing a dynamic volunteer program through volunteer selection and management, communication, and event programming. Greg will also be responsible for supporting our LGBTQ+ and Black Alumni Association affinity groups, helping foster deep connections between alumni and with students.

—Andy Verlengia, Alumni Relations

Campus Announcements Archive

In Memoriam: Robert Shultz

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Robert R. Shultz, 102, who taught piano and theory at Drake University from 1946 until his retirement in 1984. He also served as the assistant dean of the music department for several years.

Bob served as president of the Iowa Music Teachers Association and Civic Music Association, and was on the board of directors for the Des Moines Symphony. The Iowa Music Teachers Association awarded him the Distinguished Service Award in 1983. The Music Teachers National Association awarded him the Iowa Foundation Fellow Award in 2015. Bob was an adjudicator for piano competitions, a piano tuner, a woodworker, and built Mozart pianos and a harpsichord. He wrote the manual, “The Pianists Interpretation of Bach,” used by many teachers and students. His interests were many, his talents immeasurable, his spirit indefatigable, his goodness ever-present.

He will be dearly missed by his family, friends, and students. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or American Lung Association. Read Bob’s full obituary.

Strategic Updates Archive

POSTPONED: Bucksbaum Lecture featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning presidential historian Jon Meacham

The Martin Bucksbaum Distinguished Lecture with Jon Meacham planned for Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Knapp Center has been postponed to Spring 2022. A specific date and time during the spring semester are being determined. This decision is due to the rising cases of COVID-19 around the region, state, and nation, and part of Drake University’s response to help minimize the spread COVID-19.

Read more