University Avenue is closed from 25th Street to 31st Street through Saturday, June 27, at 9 p.m. This closure is for paving improvements along University Avenue. For more information, see Des Moines Road and Trail Closures.
As a result of the closure, the Olmsted, Aliber West, and GK parking lots are not accessible. We strongly advise anyone coming to the campus to approach and use the lots along Forest Avenue. If you have any questions, please direct them to Kevin Moran (Kevin.moran@drake.edu) or Scott Law (Scott.law@drake.edu).
— Scott Law, Executive Director Public Safety & University Operations
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is warning college students of phishing scams targeting their personal information. These emails claim to be from the Financial Department of Drake University or another school and instruct you to click a link to see a message about your COVID-19 economic stimulus check, then log in with your Drake ID and password. If you do log in, you could be giving your ID, password, and other personal information away to scammers, as well aspotentially downloading malware to your computer or smartphone.
Fortunately, these scams are easy to avoid by taking a few steps:
Research where a legitimate university email would be coming from, as many phishing emails use inaccurate department names.
Call Drake’s Finance or Registrar’s office (or whatever office it claims to be from) directly to confirm the email’s authenticity.
Examine the message closely. While some phishing emails can be nearly impossible to distinguish from the real thing—bad grammar and spelling can give them away.
The following message was sent from Erin Lain, associate provost for campus equity and inclusion; Tony Tyler, associate dean of students; and Danielle Green, director of the counseling center, to the campus community on Monday, June 1.
Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students,
We write you today in a very serious time in our nation. Not only are each of us determining how to stay safe in a worldwide pandemic, but we are faced with continual reminders of violence Black communities face.
The death of George Floyd has struck a chord with many people. For many it resonates deeply in a long string of extra-judicial killings from Ahmaud Arbury to Breonna Taylor and highlights long standing violence against marginalized communities in our country. We have seen violence even in the Des Moines community in the past few weeks with the attack on DarQuan Jones.
It seems like every week we hear about a Black person being killed, a Jewish grocery store being attacked, refugees being mistreated, LGBTQ folks facing homophobia and transphobia, or Asian communities facing xenophobia. The list goes on and on. The reports of violence and inequity can be overwhelming.
It is important that at this time we not only take care of ourselves as we are bombarded with violent images, but also that we reaffirm our commitment to equity and inclusion. We must take action to show those from marginalized groups that their lives matter.
The added stress and ambiguity of navigating the COVID-19 pandemic adds additional challenges right now. Below are some suggestions and guides for staying well and engaging your community.
Educate yourself If you are looking for a way to take action and respond, often the best place to start is educating yourself. The Office of Equity and Inclusion has developed a series of Social Justice Toolkits, located here. There is an Anti-Racist Toolkit listed after the list of other toolkits.
A Time to Come Together On Wednesday, June 3, at noon, faculty, staff, and students are invited to come together virtually to share, grieve, and organize. In order to join this session please register here.
Prioritizing Mental Health Mental health challenges may creep up in ways we do not anticipate. When we are alone, or quiet, or without distraction is often when challenging mental health concerns can arise. The answer is not to avoid being alone or quiet or without distraction, rather, it is notice what you are thinking and feeling and take action to care for yourself. Some simple ways to do this are to eat well, sleep well, check in with others, and visit with the counseling center. This website provides additional tips and tools you can use to cope.
If you are a student, the Counseling Center is offering a Zoom Call with Sharaine Conner, (LMSW, IADC), a therapist at Thriving Family Counseling Services in Des Moines to discuss mental health during this time of social unrest. We will share on Drake Student Central on Facebook opportunities to register for this Zoom Call.
The following message was sent from President Martin to the campus community on Monday, June 1.
Dear colleagues and students,
George Floyd died one week ago today, handcuffed and pinned to the ground by Officer Derek Chauvin of the Minneapolis Police Department. The video of the arrest shows Officer Chauvin with his knee on Mr. Floyd’s neck while Mr. Floyd pleads with the officer, telling him that he is in pain and that he cannot breathe, before he calls out for his mother. Officer Chauvin kept his knee on Mr. Floyd’s neck for more than two minutes after Mr. Floyd became non-responsive.
Mr. Floyd was pronounced dead at the Hennepin County Medical Center a little over an hour after he was first approached by Minneapolis police officers. He was forty-six years old. He was a son, a brother, a friend, the father of two daughters, and a grandfather to a three-year-old girl. He died telling Officer Chauvin, “I can’t breathe.” He died saying to Officer Chauvin, “please, please, please.” He died calling out to his deceased mother.
Officer Derek Chauvin has been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, and he and the three other Minneapolis police officers involved in Mr. Floyd’s death have been fired. While it is commendable that these actions have been taken, it remains heartbreaking and infuriating that Mr. Floyd’s pleas were met with such callous disregard by Officer Chauvin and his fellow officers. This is made all the more heartbreaking and infuriating by the fact that Mr. Floyd is not the first Black man to die while telling a police officer, “I can’t breathe.”
We can and we must do better. This is required of every single one of us and every single institution in this country. Justice demands that we all do our part to confront and overcome the legacy of bigotry that motivates an Officer Chauvin to put his knee on Mr. Floyd’s neck and keep it there as Mr. Floyd’s life is extinguished.
This institution and its people – faculty, staff, students, and alumni – have worked and will continue to work to stamp out bigotry and intolerance, to make our campus and our communities welcoming and safe for all. Indeed, we demonstrated our willingness to be in this fight together nearly two years ago with the Paint It Black movement. Drake University is committed to equity and inclusion and we will – through education, scholarship, service, and advocacy – strive to be part of whatever it takes to ensure that the right to life and liberty is not denied to anyone because of the color of her or his skin.
At Drake, we are committed to equity and inclusion on our campus and in our communities. This is a painful and challenging time, and our priority is helping support students, faculty, staff, and all who are part of the Drake family. For that reason, we are putting the All In 24-hour giving challenge on hold. We look forward to launching this campaign when the time is right; for now, we encourage you to take care of yourself and those around you. We are all in this together.
The following message was communicated to campus in a COVID-19 Update on May 14, 2020:
Drake University will receive funding through the CARES Act to provide emergency grants to students. Per the direction of the U.S. Department of Education, these grants can only be used for student “expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child-care expenses.” The Department of Education has explicitly prohibited using the grant dollars to compensate a student for lost income due to their or another’s loss of employment.
You may be eligible for this funding if you meet all of the following criteria:
You are eligible to receive federal student aid as either an undergraduate or graduate-level degree-seeking student. Eligibility must be confirmed through submission of your 2019–2020 or 2020–2021 FAFSA;
You were enrolled in coursework in the spring 2020 semester, and that coursework is not part of a program that is offered entirely online; and,
You incurred eligible expenses caused by the disruption to campus operations.
Students who meet the above criteria must complete the CARES Act Student Grant Application to be considered for these federal funds. Applications will be reviewed on an on-going basis and funds will be distributed until they are exhausted. Completing an application does not guarantee that a student will receive funds. As part of the application, students will be asked to substantiate their reported eligible expenses. The maximum amount of assistance a student may receive from this funding is $6000.
Drake University will provide these federal funds to students as quickly as possible, while adhering to the U. S. Department of Education’s guidance. To apply, complete the CARES Act Student Grant Application.
Please visit drake.edu/coronavirus, which houses a repository of campus updates and messages pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic, and also provides answers to many frequently asked questions.
During a time of transition and uncertainty, I am most grateful to recognize two extraordinary leaders within the School of Education.
First, let me recognize the extraordinary leadership of Randy Peters. When first asked to serve as dean, bridging the gap of transition, Randy was reluctant. Not because he was afraid of the challenge, but because he thought of the qualifications of all of the other leaders with whom he serves. His humility and grace, his ability to think strategically along with thoughtful understanding of his colleagues and the School, and his unwavering servant leadership were absolutely what the School needed. Dean Randy Peters is a leader among leaders.
This week marks a new chapter in the life of the School of Education and Drake University. Welcome, Dean Ryan Wise, on your first official week of deanship. In this extraordinary time, you have already demonstrated extraordinary leadership through your commitment, deep understanding, and passion that give all of us optimism and confidence for the future of the School.
Thanks to generous donations from the Lees’ family, Nellis and Coolidge families, Polk County Supervisors, and Wells Fargo, work will begin this summer on a new plaza in front of Old Main. As you can see from the conceptual images below, the plaza will feature a bronze bulldog statue in the likeness of Griff.
Also, the area will feature new landscaping and hardscape that will welcome families to campus on the path toward The Office of Admission at Cole Hall.
The bulldog statue is positioned in a way to create a unique photo opportunity for visitors and the campus community with the bell tower of Old Main in the background. The new plaza work is anticipated to be completed in July 2020.
— Michelle Huggins, Facilities Planning and Management
The College of Business and Public Administration held their annual awards and recognition ceremony Friday, May 8. There were three faculty members recognized for promotion.
Andrew Bryant from the Department of Marketing—promotion from assistant professor to associate professor with tenure
Royce Fichtner from the School of Accountancy—promotion from associate professor to full professor
Ina Purvanova from the Department of Management and Organizational Leadership—promotion from associate professor to full professor
Retirement: Rick Long, finance professor, is retiring this year. Rick has been a standout both in and out of the classroom as a teacher, mentor, and friend. He has a gifted knack for relating to students and bringing content to life in ways that make complex concepts seem intuitive.
Outstanding Graduate Admissions Ambassadors: A number of faculty members were honored for their graduate recruiting efforts by participating in information lunches, scheduling coffee chats, and connecting with prospective students. These individuals include Kelley Ellis and Steve Gara for the Master of Accounting program; Heidi Mannetter, Alanah Mitchell, Matthew Mitchell, and Carl Vieregger for the MBA; and Anna Clark, Lance Noe, and Allen Zagoren for the MPA.
Teaching Awards Adam Drake, Management Professor is the recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award for Adjunct or Part-Time Instructor. In nominating Adam, students spoke of his caring and compassionate nature, the ability to present information clearly, and a willingness to provide constructive feedback that would challenge students to become their best selves. He instills confidence in students and helps the overcome one of people’s most dreaded fears, speaking in public.
David B. Lawrence Outstanding Undergraduate Teacher of the Year: Marketing Professor Heidi Mannetter was presented with the David B. Lawrence Outstanding Undergraduate Teacher of the Year award. Our undergraduate students nominate faculty for this award and the student sentiment was clearly evident in comments such as: “Great class! Super motivated professor – definitely feel like the professor cared about us and our learning! The professor’s enthusiasm helped to always make class engaging.”
Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award: This year’s Graduate Teaching award, chosen by our graduate students was presented to Carl Vieregger, Management Professor. One individual summed it up best: “This instructor was great. I can honestly say that I looked forward to this class almost every day I had it. Class was engaging and intellectually stimulating. I’m so glad I had this instructor.”
Harry Wolk Research Award: Economics Professor Heath Henderson received The Harry Wolk Research Award which recognizes a CBPA faculty member who has published exemplary research in top journals and made significant contributions to the bodies of knowledge in an academic business discipline. Heath was selected because of the quantity, breadth, and quality of his research.
Dianna Gray
Jenny Jones
Madeline Mongar-Brodie
Team Innovation Award: The Team Innovation Award was presented to the Office of Graduate Programs team of Dianna Gray, director, graduate admission and engagement; Jenny Jones, director, graduate student programs; and Madeline Mongar-Brodie, administrative assistant. This team is collectively recognized for its deep knowledge of programs and systems to support the student experience. The members of this team support each other; they lift each other up, and through their generosity of spirit, they inspire each other to do their best.
Anna Clark
Kelley Ellis
Unsung Hero Award: Anna Clark, public administration professor, was a recipient of the Unsung Hero Award. She has identified creative collaborations and works tirelessly to integrate experiential learning into courses to provide outstanding learning opportunities while increasing Drake’s connectivity with our community. Her close attention to student needs and their ability to think in a broad perspective has been a true asset to all with whom she works.
Kelley Ellis, director and chair of the Accounting Department, was also a recipient of the Unsung Hero Award. She addresses each challenge as an opportunity with a can-do spirit, an attitude of resolve, and the ability to figure it out. Through it all, she maintains a ready smile for others, a positive perspective, and a willingness to collaborate and find solutions.
Extra Blue Mile Service Award: The Extra Blue Mile Service Award was presented to Success Coach Sophie Tibbals of the Undergraduate Office. Sophie is truly exceptional and has stepped up when asked and stepped in when there were holes needing filling. Her dedication and loyalty to the CBPA is unmatched. Sophie has a positive attitude and serves as a warm, friendly representative for the College.
Blue Star Award for Teamwork: Lendie Follett, business analytics professor, is the recipient of the Blue Star Award for Teamwork. Despite a very full plate and juggling multiple balls, she is quick to say yes when asked for help with research, especially when it comes to statistical modelling, leading to successful collaborations and co-authored publications with her colleagues.
Outreach Award: Matthew Mitchell, international business professor, is this year’s Outreach Award recipient. In a community like Des Moines, it is important to create connections and be visible. This person connects with the community in person, through social media, and via the media. He made a promise to willingly respond when asked to be an “expert” voice – being connected with the media, engaging in panels, and answering questions.
Blue Star Award for Leadership: The Blue Star Award for Leadership recognizes Professor Alanah Mitchell whose leadership has been instrumental in moving an initiative forward. She is an innovator in the classroom and has been the catalyst behind several important initiatives. She was the primary architect in creating the online Master of Data Analytics Leadership degree and led the recent effort to rename the degree to the Master of Science in Business Analytics. She is a part of the Faculty Senate’s Information Technology Committee, Program Co-Chair for Data Analytics, and Chair of the Department of Information Management and Business Analytics.
Brooks Excellence Award: The Brooks Excellence Award goes to Academic Support Manager Karen Pomeroy who has gone above and beyond the call of duty and has made key contributions to advance the College’s mission. Always ready to serve, Karen often plays a parental role for our students. Karen has been a rock of stability in the Office of Undergraduate Programs, played key roles in transforming the office and assuming additional duties during times of transition and maternity leaves.
Legacy Award: John Rozycki, finance professor, is the recipient of the Legacy Award. John is passionate about his work and about Drake. Over his illustrious career, John has served Drake and the College in many ways, including as a faculty senator, a member of the Faculty Senate Budget Committee, and as associate dean of the College. Within the College, besides being known as an outstanding teacher, fabulous colleague, and friend, John is probably most known for being a man of integrity, for reminding us why we are here at Drake (to serve our students), We salute John and say congratulations on a job well done. Good luck to John in your new adventures.
