All posts by Kristin Economos Novotny

Serve as a Reviewer for the Drake Student Leadership Awards

Drake faculty and staff are invited to help recognize exceptional student leadership across campus through the Drake Student Leadership Awards.

Ceremony: Tuesday, May 5, from 4–6 p.m. in Sheslow Auditorium

Nominate a Student Leader: Know a student or student organization demonstrating outstanding leadership at Drake? Please consider submitting a nomination here by April 12.

Serve as an Award Reviewer: Faculty and staff are also invited to help review award nominations! Time commitment includes: 

  1. 60 minutes reviewing submissions (April 13–15)
  2. 1-hour committee meeting to select winners (April 16–17)

If you’re willing to serve as an award reviewer, please indicate so here by March 12. (https://drake.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_efAbZudsfoYv8fI)

Thank you for helping us celebrate student leadership on campus!

— Kristin Economos Novotny, Office of Student Involvement and Leadership







Please Join Us for a Faculty Research Celebration, April 9 from 4–5:30 p.m.

Please join us for a special celebration of faculty research and academic achievementon Thursday, April 9, 2026, from 4–5:30 p.m. in the Cowles Reading Room. Faculty who submitted their recent publications will be featured on a rolling slide show, and their physical publications may be displayed. Please join us to celebrate the incredible contributions of our faculty! 

Refreshments will include an assortment of light snacks and beverages. 

— Anne Marie Greenwood, Office of the Provost

Get Graduation Ready

Graduation is right around the corner. Join us March 25 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. for Grad Fair at Pomerantz Stage and get everything you need to cross the stage with confidence.

Meet with representatives from the Student Alumni Association, the Registrar’s Office, and Herff Jones (class rings and announcements) to place orders, ask questions, and make sure you’re fully prepared for graduation.

If you’ve already ordered your regalia, Grad Fair will be the first day you can pick up cap & gown orders!

If you haven’t ordered yet, stop by the Grad Fair to grab a grad bundle and get $26 off a diploma frame or a free souvenir tassel with your bundle purchase. Grad bundles include cap & gown, tassel, and stole of gratitude (hood included for Master’s and Doctorate).

We even heard that Griff might make a special appearance! We’ll see you there.

— Bulldog Shop

Faculty Regalia Rentals

Faculty participating in May Commencement must order their regalia rentals through Herff Jones using the customer and order numbers below. Order online at: https://facultycapgown.herffjones.com

Deadline Information:

April 18 – Last day to order with free shipping

April 27 – Final deadline to place your order (rush shipping fees will apply after April 18)

MAIN FACULTY – Standard Regalia

Customer #: 14001855000

Order #: 5491961

LAW – Doctor of Law Regalia (purple panels and chevrons)

Customer #: 14001855000

Order #: 5491962

Please ensure you select the correct order number when placing your rental.

— Bulldog Shop

Little Women: The Musical

Drake University Department of Theatre Arts invites you to our production of Little Women: The Musical, performing in the Performing Arts Hall of the Harmon Fine Arts Center April 2–4 at 7:30 p.m. and April 5 at 2 p.m.

The heartfelt story of the March sisters is brought to the stage! Experience the beloved characters of Louisa May Alcott’s book, and get swept away in the music and the journey. This “astonishing” classic is one you won’t want to miss.

Secure your tickets now by visiting the fine arts box office (located at the front of the Harmon Fine Arts Center), viewing the fine arts box office website, calling 515–271–3841, or emailing boxoffice@drake.edu.

— Ella Appelbaum, Theatre Arts Intern

Summer and Fall 2026 Registration, Schedule of Classes

The Summer and Fall 2026 schedule of classes and related registration information is available online. Registration begins Monday, April 6.

View registration information, including the registration time table that shows when you become eligible to register. View the schedule of classes.

Some courses will be temporarily reserved for students who have declared a certain field-of-study (major, minor, concentration, or endorsement). On Monday, April 20th, those reservations will be removed. Note that some courses have restrictions that are permanent.

If you are an undergraduate or pharmacy student intending to make any changes to your field-of-study and have those changes take effect before registration begins, file your changes via the change of record request no later than 4:30 p.m. on Monday, March 30th. Requests submitted after this date may be delayed.

The change of record request can be found by navigating to myDrake, selecting Self-Service under commonly used apps, and clicking on the link for the change of record request under Student Records.

— Ryan Trump, Office of the Registrar

Call for Applications: DUSCI Summer Research Fellowship Program

The Drake Undergraduate Science Collaborative Institute (DUSCI) will host ~10 summer research fellows for an eight-week, full-time, paid summer research experience from May 26 through July 17, 2026.

The DUSCI Summer Research Fellowship Program offers STEM and STEM education students an opportunity to work closely with a faculty mentor on a significant research project. Fellows gain valuable hands-on research experience, problem solving, and professional communication. The program helps students strengthen preparation for graduate study, health professions, teaching, research careers, and other STEM-related pathways.

Applications are due Wednesday, April 1 at noon, and should be developed and submitted by students in collaboration with a faculty research mentor.

This program is made possible through support from the Drake University President’s Office, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, School of Education, NASA- ISGC Base Program, and the Clifford G. Rea Endowment. Students doing research on campus in the summer with funding from other sources are invited to join the DUSCI cohort.

Additional program details, eligibility information, and application materials are available on the DUSCI website. Please reach out to Heidi.Sleister@Drake.edu with questions.

— Heidi Sleister, Director of DUSCI

All Staff Council Presents Trivia

Join All Staff Council on Monday, March 23, from 2:30–4 p.m. in Parents Hall North, Olmsted Center, for trivia. All are welcome—form a group or come as an individual and join a team. The Provost’s Social will take place following the event, held at the same location. It is sure to be an afternoon of fun! Sign up at: https://drake.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1IaKSUMYwhrbdps.

— Toni White, On behalf of All Staff Council

Recognize a Colleague with a “Shout Out”

As part of Employee Appreciation Month, Human Resources is encouraging everyone to submit a shout-out for a faculty, staff, or student employee.  This is a great way to recognize others.  Simply write a sentence or two of appreciation for an individual or team and submit it to linda.feiden@drake.edu between now and March 25. They will be compiled and posted in the March 31 edition of OnCampus.

Sharing positive energy is contagious.  When you look for the good in people, you strengthen relationships, improving both their lives and your own.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources