All posts by Ashton Hockman

Strategic Updates Archive

Drake to host President of Kosovo for moderated conversation Oct. 25, registration required

Drake is honored to welcome the President of the Republic of Kosovo, H.E. Dr. Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu, to campus on Wednesday, Oct. 25. President Osmani will participate in a moderated discussion in Sheslow Auditorium from 10–11 a.m. Students, faculty, and staff are invited to attend this special event. Professor Deb DeLaet will lead the discussion, followed by an audience Q&A. Registration is required.

Register to attend

If you would like to ask a question of President Osmani, please submit your question in advance by Oct. 23 to global@drake.edu. Questions will be pre-selected for the Q&A portion of the discussion.

This event is part of the Iowa-Kosovo relationship that first started when the Iowa National Guard and the Kosovo Security Force partnered in 2011. Soon after, in 2013, the State of Iowa and the Republic of Kosovo became sister states. Kosovo opened a consulate in Des Moines in 2016, located on Court Avenue. This consulate remains Iowa’s only foreign diplomatic office.​

Drake has a strong history of engagement with Kosovo since 2017, starting with an official partnership agreement with the Ministry of Education. Since then, Drake has partnered with the Ministry and other entities in Kosovo in several ways, including:

  • Faculty from the School of Education have led several teaching workshops at multiple universities in Kosovo and have partnered with Kosovar professors on joint research.
  • Students and faculty participated in a J-Term travel seminar in 2019: Kosovo: Repairing and Rebuilding.
  • Recent Drake graduates have worked at non-profit organizations and corporations in Kosovo as part of Drake’s Working Worldwide program.
  • Three students attended the University of Prishtina’s international summer program in 2023.
  • Current education students can complete an international student teaching placement at the International Learning Group (ILG) school in Prishtina.
  • In addition, the Law School is currently hosting Zahir Çerkini, Professor at the University of Mitrovica Faculty of Law in Kosovo, as a Fulbright Visiting Scholar for the fall semester. Drake previously hosted two Kosovar Fulbright Scholars in Fall 2019.

President Osmani’s visit to campus is one of many ways Drake is weaving global thinking and intercultural learning into the Drake experience.

About Dr. Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu – President of the Republic of Kosovo
Dr. Vjosa Osmani Sadriu is the sixth President of the Republic of Kosovo. President Osmani was elected on April 4, 2021, having previously served as the Speaker of Parliament and after being elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) of the Republic of Kosovo in five consecutive mandates. She graduated from the Faculty of Law of the University of Prishtina and received her master’s and doctorate degrees in international law from the University of Pittsburgh.

The President of the Republic of Kosovo is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Kosovo Security Force and leads the country’s foreign policy, as per Kosovo’s constitution. As a staunch advocate for an impartial and professional justice system, President Osmani has strongly supported extensive rule of law reforms in Kosovo.

As President, Vjosa Osmani has relentlessly championed women’s rights, with regards to participation of women in processes of peace and security as well as their economic and political empowerment. The President is devoted to raising awareness for and supporting children with special needs. She is also committed to the empowerment of disadvantaged and marginalized groups in Kosovo. The President’s work has also focused on ensuring that action on climate change starts from the individual and gains further support at the highest political levels. In addition, empowerment of youth in different areas, from information technology to political decision making, has been an important part of the work of the President.

Read more about President Osmani

Strategic Updates Archive

Drake to expand Martin Bucksbaum Lectureship Series 

Drake University is excited to announce the expansion of the Martin Bucksbaum Lectureship Series. Under the expansion, the University will now have two lectureship tracks—the original Bucksbaum Distinguished Lectureship and a newly launched Bucksbaum Lectureship in Business, which is made possible by an additional gift from Melva Bucksbaum and Mary Bucksbaum Scanlan. 

Managed through Drake’s Zimpleman College of Business, the new lecture track addresses topics at the intersection of business and society. Students and community members are invited to take part in an intellectual conversation with some of the nation’s foremost thought leaders to discuss how business and entrepreneurialism can make both an economic and societal impact.  

Inaugural Speaker: Heather McGhee 

Heather McGhee, the New York Times best-selling author and a champion of equality in America, will be giving the Inaugural Bucksbaum Lectureship in Business on Nov. 1 in Sheslow Auditorium on Drake’s campus. McGhee’s lecture will begin at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, but attendees will need to register ahead of time at Drake.edu/Bucksbaum. The lecture will also be livestreamed at Live.Drake.edu. 

Throughout her career in public policy, McGhee has crafted legislation, testified before Congress, and helped shape presidential campaign platforms. Her book The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Us and How We Can Prosper Together, spent 10 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and was longlisted for the National Book Award and Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction. She has most recently adapted her book for young readers with companion materials for classrooms. Her 2020 TED talk, “Racism Has a Cost for Everyone,” has been viewed more than 2.5 million times.    

“We couldn’t think of a better speaker to kickstart our inaugural lecture. This is an incredible opportunity to offer students, our campus community and anyone with a vested interest in the business field an important perspective to better enable business as a force for good,”​​ said Alejandro Hernandez, Dean of the Zimpleman College of Business. “I want to recognize and thank the late Melva and her daughter Mary for their continued generous support of Drake as we work to honor Martin’s memory with this second track of the lectureship series.” 

Carrying on the Legacy 

Nearly 30 years ago, Martin and Melva Bucksbaum launched their vision for sparking community discussion about the most poignant issues of our time through a generous gift to the University that helped establish the Martin Bucksbaum Lectureship Series. The late Martin Bucksbaum was a local business leader who served as chairman and CEO of General Growth Properties. He was also a member of the University’s governing board. Over the years, the Lectureship has included world-renowned speakers including Maya Angelou, Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson, Bob Woodward, and many others—historically attracting more than 1,000 guests to the Knapp Center. 

Campus Announcements Archive

Fire drills to be held in campus buildings Oct. 18–23

Drake will hold fire drills on Oct. 18, 19, 20, and 23 in compliance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act and in conjunction with National Fire Prevention month. All drills will be conducted at 10:45 a.m. with the exception of the residence halls, which will be conducted from 6 to 9 p.m. on Oct. 23. We have planned this to minimize disruption to classes, and the majority of academic buildings will be completed the week of fall break. This also allows us to have a more efficient utilization of our staff for these drills. The residence halls will be done from 6-9pm to increase participation in the residence hall evacuation.

Fire alarms will be activated in all campus buildings to signal the start of the drill. When the alarm sounds:

•        Evacuate the building.

•        Buildings will be locked down and cannot be re-entered until the drill ends.

•        Remember to dress accordingly.

The fire drills will be coordinated through the Office of Public Safety (271-2222) working with the Office of Environmental Health and Safety (271-3804) and Facilities Services (271-2706). Please report any fire alarm malfunctions or evacuation problems to Facilities or Public Safety. Your cooperation in this very important campus safety exercise regarding the Drake Emergency Response Plan is appreciated.

Fire drill schedule:

Oct. 18
Meredith 
Aliber   
Cowles    
Opperman
Cartwright
Harmon Fine Arts Center
Howard
Carnegie
Medbury
Collier-Scripps

Oct. 19
Olin
Science Connector Building
Harvey-Ingham
Cline
Fitch
STAH
Occupational Therapy

Oct. 20
Olmsted Center
Hubbell
Student Health
Alumni House
ROTC
Bell Center
Knapp Center
Fieldhouse
Tennis Center

Oct. 23
Cole
Old Main
Public Safety
University Communications
Kinne Center
Vote Smart
Legal Clinic
Dial Center

All residence halls (6–9 p.m.)

Campus Announcements Archive

Ambassador Branstad’s fall book selection: Party of One

Former U.S. Ambassador to China, Terry Branstad, hosts a book club during the academic year to engage the Drake community on topics related to China and U.S.-China relations. This activity is part of the Ambassador-in-Residence initiative at Drake. Learn more at drake.edu/branstad.

The Ambassador’s book selection for the Fall 2023 semester is Party of One: The Rise of Xi Jinping and China’s Superpower Future by Chun Han Wong. The book was published in May 2023. A limited number of free copies are available for current students, faculty and staff who wish to participate in the book club. Sign up by emailing ambassador@drake.edu stating your intent to read the book and attend the discussion event on November 13th, as well as to your request your free copy of the book (distributed on a first-come-first-serve basis.)

A description of the book from Amazon.com is below:

“From one of the most admired reporters covering China today, a vital new account of the life and political vision of Xi Jinping, the authoritarian leader of the People’s Republic whose hard-edged tactics have set the rising superpower on a collision with Western liberal democracies.

Party of One shatters the many myths and caricatures that shroud one of the world’s most secretive political organizations and its leader. Many observers misread Xi during his early years in power, projecting their own hopes that he would steer China toward more political openness, rule of law, and pro-market economics. Having masked his beliefs while climbing the party hierarchy, Xi has centralized decision-making powers, encouraged a cult of personality around himself, and moved toward indefinite rule by scrapping presidential term limits—stirring fears of a return to a Mao-style dictatorship. Today, the party of Xi favors political zeal over technical expertise, trumpets its faith in Marxism, and proclaims its reach into every corner of Chinese society with Xi portraits and hammer-and-sickle logos. Under Xi, China has challenged Western preeminence in global affairs and cast its authoritarian system as a model of governance worthy of international emulation.

As a China reporter for the Wall Street Journal, Chun Han Wong has chronicled Xi Jinping’s hard-line strategy for crushing dissent against his strongman rule, his political repression in Hong Kong and Xinjiang, and his increasingly coercive efforts to reel in the island democracy of Taiwan, as well as the domestic and diplomatic fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic. When the Chinese government refused to renew Wong’s press credentials and forced him to leave mainland China in 2019, he moved to Hong Kong to continue covering Chinese politics and its autocratic turn under Xi. Now, Wong has drawn on his years of firsthand reporting across China—including conversations with party insiders, insights from scholars and diplomats, and analyses of official speeches and documents—to create a lucid and historically rooted account of China’s leader and how he inspires fear and fervor in his party, his nation, and beyond.

Timely, revelatory, and important, Party of One explains how the future Xi imagines for China will reshape the future of the entire world.”

— Hannah Sappenfield, Global Engagement

Strategic Updates Archive

Let Freedom Read: A panel discussion on book banning

Join the Drake community for a panel discussion Wednesday, Oct. 4, from 6–7:30 p.m. in Sussman Theater as we come together to advocate for the preservation of intellectual freedom.

Registration is required

Our communities thrive on diversity and free expression, and it is essential that we amplify the importance of access to a wide range of literary works, even those that may be challenging or controversial. Drake University supports the right to explore different perspectives and defends the freedom of thought and expression. 

Panelists will range from legislators, educators, librarians, and activists who will share their experiences and perspectives on book banning. Topics discussed will include:

  • The history and impact of book banning on literature and society. 
  • The importance of diverse voices and viewpoints in literature. 
  • Strategies to protect intellectual freedom and combat censorship. 

Audience members will have an opportunity to ask questions of the panelists. The event is free and open to all individuals who value the freedom to read, think, and explore new ideas. Whether you’re an avid reader, a concerned parent, an educator, or simply someone who believes in the power of literature to challenge and expand our understanding of the world, this panel discussion is an opportunity to stand up for the right to access diverse literary content. 

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Also, check out Cowles Library’s featured collection this month that showcases some of the books currently being challenged in Iowa.

Strategic Updates Archive

Grand opening of Mediacom Stadium Oct. 12

Faculty, staff, and students are invited to celebrate the opening of Mediacom Stadium, the new home for Drake Soccer and new venue for Des Moines Public Schools athletics and activities on Thursday, Oct. 12. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. A program and ribbon cutting is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. The Des Moines Roosevelt football team will play Waukee at 7:30 p.m. on new the field, marking the first-ever contest in the stadium.

— Ryan Arnold, Community Engagement

Strategic Updates Archive

U.S.-China Symposium Sept. 22

Ambassador Branstad will host the second annual U.S.-China Symposium at Drake University on Friday, Sept. 22, in Levitt Hall. This event is free and open to the public.

This annual symposium is an initiative of the Ambassador-in-Residence program at Drake, convening experienced professionals, academics, and other experts to speak on various topics related to China and U.S.-China relations, with the aim to provide a platform for multiple viewpoints and opportunities for candid discussion.

The 2023 symposium will include sessions on national security and defense with Lieutenant General Larry Nicholson (Retired), advisor to the Joint Chiefs of Staff; trade and business with Greyson Mann, Government Affairs Manager at the U.S.-China Business Council; and international relations with Bobby Richey, former Deputy Chief of Mission and Agriculture Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing.

Learn more and register for the symposium at drake.edu/branstad.

— Hannah Sappenfield, Global Engagement

HR Information Archive

Get your annual flu shot on campus

The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is partnering with Hy-Vee Pharmacy to offer flu vaccinations on campus in Harvey Ingham, Room 107 (Johansen Lab), for Drake faculty, staff, and students.

The flu vaccinations are available through a scheduled appointment (strongly preferred), or on a walk-up basis. Walk-up vaccinations will require additional time on the day of vaccination for completion of paperwork and processing. Signing up at least two days in advance is highly encouraged. 

Sign up for a flu vaccination appointment.

Appointments will be offered the following dates/times.

  • Wednesday, Sept. 27, 9 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
  • Friday, Sept. 29, 1:30 p.m.–4 p.m.

All clinics will use the same sign up link.

Important: 

  • Prescription insurance is required for this flu vaccination clinic. (We are unable to accept cash/credit card payments for services at this clinic). Most insurance plans cover the cost of a flu vaccination.
  • You will need the information from your prescription insurance card to complete the sign-up process.  
  • You must complete this online consent form at least two days prior to your scheduled flu vaccination appointment.
  • COVID vaccines will not be available at this clinic, only flu vaccinations.
  • The Broadlawns Community Clinic at Drake is also providing flu vaccinations this fall (and other primary care, urgent care, mental health services, etc.).

—Linda Feiden, Human Resouces

Campus Announcements Archive

Drake to host Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest Sept. 15–16

Drake will host the Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest Sept. 15–16 at the Olmsted Center. This annual contest is put on by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of Interior and the winning art will be reproduced as a stamp to be sold nationwide, with proceeds going to support wetland conservation. To date, proceeds from stamp purchases have earned $1.2 billion and protected more than six million wetland and wildlife refuge acres. Submitted artwork from across the country will be on display at the Olmsted Center on Friday, Sept. 15, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 16, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Students, faculty, and staff are invited to attend the contest to see the artwork. A panel of five noted art, waterfowl, and stamp authorities will judge the competition.

Jay N. “Ding” Darling

The contest is coming to Drake as part of its legacy with Darling. In 1934, Darling created the nation’s first Federal Duck Stamp under an appointment with President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. In 1949, the tradition of inviting artists from around the United States to submit their designs began, and with it, a vital contribution to America’s wetlands and wildlife refuges.

The first duck stamp designed by Darling.

Today, Drake University works to inspire the next generation of conservationists through Darling’s work, serving as the home of the Jay N. Darling Institute. Drake established the institute in 2021 with a mission of providing educational and scholarly expertise for rural communities to improve access to quality health care and education, nutritious food, unimpaired natural resources, and ongoing economic and cultural opportunities. Drake is also a proud steward of a significant portion of Darling’s artwork and papers. His inspirational artwork will be on display during the Duck Stamp contest.