All posts by Kathryn Kuckelman

Campus Announcements

Long-Term Care Policy Options Webinar

The cost of long-term care has nearly doubled from the early 2000s to 2024, both for at home care and nursing home care. These costs are out of reach for everyone except the wealthiest households. Long-term care costs are internalized by caregiver families in some combination of the following: diminished or lost earned income, early retirement, direct caregiving expenditures, and mental and physical health issues.  There are a variety of policy options to address this economic burden on families across the income distribution. Join us for a free webinar featuring a panel of leading experts on LTC policies to learn more about current state, national, and international policies addressing long-term care needs.

Date: Thursday, May 22, 2025

Time: 2:00–3:00 p.m. CT

Location: Zoom Webinar (link will be sent to attendees closer to the event)

Cost: Free, but registration is required.

Accommodations: Live-captioning in English will be provided for attendees. American Sign Language interpretation is only available upon request due to interpreter shortages throughout Iowa. ASL and other accommodation requests can be made by emailing harkininstitute@drake.edu.

Click here to register!

— Kathryn Kuckelman, Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement

HR Information

Join Drake’s Team for the Des Moines Corporate Games

Join Drake’s Corporate Games team!  This annual company-based competition for organizations in central Iowa runs from May 18 through July 31.  With over two dozen events to choose from, Des Moines Corporate Games (DMCG) is a great way to meet new people and have fun.

Events range from team-based to individual and competitive to recreational. Try everything from pickleball, ping pong and golf, to a fitness walk and 5K run. You may participate in as many events as you want.

All in-person activities will be held in the evenings and on weekends and are free (except golf cart rental). ALL Drake faculty and staff, student employees, interns, and retirees are invited and encouraged to join Drake’s team.

To participate in this year’s Des Moines Corporate Games, please send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu for registration instructions.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Campus Announcements

Congratulations to the 2025 Drake Student Leadership Award Winners

The 2025 Adams Leadership Awards Ceremony, held on May 3, recognized exceptional student leadership, service, and engagement across the Drake University campus. Please join us in celebrating the following students, staff, and organizations for their remarkable impact on our community:

  • Outstanding First-Year Students: Allie Koenigsfeld & Sean Groh
  • Outstanding Sophomore Students: Emerson Whittemore & Audrey Martin
  • Outstanding Junior/P1 Students: Eli Benson & Olivia (Liv) Swaney
  • Outstanding Senior/P2 Students: Josie Hildreth & Skylar Lathrop
  • Oreon E. Scott Legacy Award: Ashley Dyson
  • Outstanding Bright College Student: Princess Winters
  • Outstanding Transfer Student: Brooklynn Grooms
  • David Maxwell Outstanding Student Organization President: Eli Benson
  • Outstanding Student Organization Officer: Chloe Isbell
  • Outstanding Residence Hall Leaders: Valerie Vera & Sean Groh
  • Wanda E. Everage Outstanding Peer Mentor Award: Elliot Nelson & Mia Stefani
  • Drake Outstanding Individual Service Award: Beth Posey
  • Outstanding Student Organization Advisor of the Year: Mary Edrington
  • Outstanding Student Organization: NAMI on Campus
  • Outstanding Group Service Award: American Pharmacist Association (APhA)
  • Outstanding Educational Program: AOE Club: Alpha Phi
  • Outstanding Social Program: Ramen Noodle Night at Herriott Hall
  • Outstanding Equity & Inclusion Program: Alpha Phi’s DEI Committee
  • Outstanding Alcohol Alternative Program: Dogtown After Hours
  • Outstanding Collaboration Award: SAA’s 2024 Halloween Hoops

We are proud to recognize these students and organizations for their dedication to leadership, service, inclusion, and community-building. Their contributions continue to shape a stronger and more connected Drake University.

—Kristin Economos, Senior Director, Adams Leadership Institute

Campus Announcements

Cowles Library May Featured Collections

Stop by Cowles Library to explore our featured collections. Find something new, engage with fresh perspectives, and discover resources that support you through the end of term.

As the end of the term approaches, take a moment for yourself with our Mental Health Awareness Month collection. Whether you’re seeking a good book to unwind, tools for focus, or ways to relax, we’ve got you covered. Check out our Sensory Collection for sensory regulation resources, grab a self-measure blood pressure device to keep track of your heart health, or take a moment to relax with our community puzzle or records at the record player station. Stop by, take a break, and discover something new to recharge at Cowles Library.

Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with books that spotlight the rich diversity, culture, and history of AAPI communities. From memoirs and fiction to stories of activism and resilience, these works give voice to a wide array of experiences. Learn about the trailblazers and everyday heroes who’ve shaped the AAPI community and explore fresh perspectives that continue to influence our world today.

— Joanna Stankiewicz, Cowles Library

Campus Announcements

Drake University Social Science Journal

The 2025 edition of the Drake University Social Science Journal is now available at: https://www.drake.edu/dussj/currentedition/.

The Journal publishes exceptional social science research conducted by Drake University students. Any current Drake undergraduate (or recent graduate) is eligible to submit a paper on a topic in the social sciences (political science, international relations, anthropology, sociology, economics, history, and social psychology).The first edition of the Journal appeared in 1999 (back editions are available at: https://www.drake.edu/dussj/). 

The 2025 edition features articles by Lauren Buchanan, Stell Depuydt, Mitchell P. Davis, Catalina Samaniego, and Chloe Q. Slater. 

The Journal’s student editorial board consisted of Berkeley Coyne, Anna Knueve, Lizzy O’Neel, Carson Smith, Reid Stevens, and Madison Tarr. 

Congratulations to the above students for their hard work and dedication to high-quality social science research.

— David Skidmore, Professor of Political Science/Global Citizenship Director

HR Information

Adventureland Park Discount Tickets

Opening Day for Adventureland Park is Saturday, May 17. Drake employees may purchase discounted tickets by going to AdventurelandResort.com/PromoCode.  Select how many tickets you want to purchase, enter the promotional code DRAKE (must be all CAPS and no spaces) and click REDEEM.  You will be routed to their online discount ticket website to complete your purchase.  Discounted tickets are $37.99 + tax.  This price does not include parking.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

News & Achievements

Drake Law Professor Christoph Henkel Named Richard M. and Anita Calkins Distinguished Professor of Law

Drake University Law School is proud to announce that Professor Christoph Henkel has been appointed as the Richard M. and Anita Calkins Distinguished Professor of Law, recognizing his outstanding scholarship and expertise in international law, commercial arbitration, and financial regulation.

A scholar and respected voice in international legal circles, Professor Henkel has published more than 30 peer-reviewed and student-edited law review articles, book chapters, and scholarly works. His publications have been cited in over 150 scholarly articles, referenced in the Restatement (Third) of U.S. Law of International Commercial Arbitration, and are recognized as leading contributions in their respective fields. His work is accessed and engaged with by scholars and practitioners in more than 115 countries.

Professor Henkel is also the 2024 recipient of the Stevens Faculty Scholar of the Year Award, further affirming his academic distinction. In addition to his scholarship, he serves as an international arbitrator for the European Union and a public arbitrator for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in the United States, extending the reach of his legal expertise far beyond the classroom.

“Professor Henkel embodies the excellence the Richard M. and Anita Calkins Distinguished Professorship was created to honor,” said Dean Roscoe Jones, Jr. “His scholarly impact, global reputation, and ongoing contributions to the legal field make him a truly deserving recipient of this prestigious appointment.”

Campus Announcements

Rec Services Finals Week Hours

Rec Services will have modified hours during finals week, May 12–18.

Bell Center
May 12–13: 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
May 14–15: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
May 16: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
May 17–18: Closed

Underground Fitness
May 12: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
May 13–summer: Closed

Roger Knapp Tennis Center
May 12–13: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
May 14: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
May 15–18: Closed

Bell Center Pool
Check rec.drake.edu for reservations

Campus Announcements

“From Promise to Progress: Black Voices Who Compelled Drake University to Fulfill Its Founding Ideals”

Now on display in the Collier Heritage Room adjacent to the Cowles Library Reading Room, this new exhibit showcases the contributions of Black voices who shaped Drake University’s journey toward fulfilling its founding principles. The exhibit opened during Drake Relays weekend and will continue through September 30. It is presented through the collaborative efforts of Drake University Archives & Special Collections, Drake University Black Alumni Association, and Drake University Alumni Relations.  Visit during regular library hours.

Can’t make it to the physical exhibit? Explore the companion digital exhibit available at https://bit.ly/promisetoprogress, offering accessibility to these historical narratives from anywhere.

— Hope Bibens, University Archives and Special Collections