All posts by Christine Urish

Jennifer Kray, author of “My Other Half,” to deliver Pi Theta Epsilon lecture

Plan to attend the Pi Theta Epsilon lecture by Ms. Jennifer Kray entitled “Redemptive Suffering” at Levitt Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m. Kray, author of the text “My Other Half,” will describe her experience as a graduate student who experienced an eating disorder, to a brainstem hemorrhage. The lecture will provide insights into the importance of patient connection and the impact of hope in healthcare. 1.0 CEU available for OT practitioners.

— Christine Urish, Professor of Occupational Therapy

Members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority selected for national leadership program

Two Drake students who are members of the Phi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. were selected for their National Leadership Delta Program.  This is a competitive program that is offered to collegiate members across seven regions. The women submitted applications, letters of recommendation and participated in an interview process and were selected as two of the 38 women in this year’s cohort.

The Leadership DELTA (Defining Emerging Leadership Through Advocacy) program is an eight-month leadership development program for collegiate members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. focused on personal, professional and leadership development, self-care; and networking.

Please help us congratulate Trinity Harris and Jade Sklar!

— Liz Cadwell, Director, Fraternity and Sorority Life

Artists Duane Slick and Martin Smick on campus for several events at the Anderson Gallery

Contemporary artists Duane Slick and Martin Smick will be on campus on October 27 and 28th for two events in conjunction with their site-specific installation What the Night Tells Us at the Anderson Gallery. The exhibition opening reception is on October 27 from 5-7 pm and the artists will lead an exhibition tour on October 28 from 1-2pm. Both of these events are free and open to the public.

Duane Slick is an artist of Native American descent, the Meskwaki Nation of Iowa and the Ho-Chunk Nation of Nebraska. His acrylic paintings blend the subjects of oral and visual Native American traditions with a focus on trickster strategies and modernist/post-modernist painting histories. Martin Smick is an artist who has been living and working in Rhode Island since 2007 and has taught in the Painting Department at Rhode Island School of Design since 2013. Both artists have exhibited nationally and have collaborated on two previous exhibitions. As collaborators, Slick and Smick are conscious of their respective cultural identities and have been able to create exhibitions that engage in issues surrounding Native culture.

The exhibition is supported by a National Endowment for the Arts grant. More details can be found on the Anderson Gallery webpage andersongallery.wp.drake.edu.

— Lilah Anderson, Anderson Gallery

Advancement team moves to Old Main and Alumni House

The Advancement team in the Kinne Center is moving. John Smith and Erica Hartschen are already located in the President’s Office suite. During the week of Oct. 30, Advancement Officers will move to the Alumni House and all other Kinne staff will be relocating to the third floor of Old Main. Old Main’s third floor will soon house the annual giving team, records, and donor engagement.

— Heather Winslow, Facilities Planning and Management

Phi Beta Kappa Welcomes Dr. Anna Brickhouse

Drake University Phi Beta Kappa is excited to welcome Dr. Anna Brickhouse, University of Virginia, to campus Oct. 26–27 as part of the National Visiting Scholars program. Her visit will include work with Bright College, English, Pharmacy & Health Sciences, and World Languages and Cultures. All are invited to her public lecture ““Curse and Doom:” Writing the Americas as Catastrophe on Thursday, Oct. 26, at 6 p.m. in Sheslow Auditorium co-sponsored with the Susan Glaspell Writers and Critics Series.

— Jeff Kappen, Zimpleman College of Business

Cybersecurity Awareness Month: You can make a difference

The fourth week of Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a reminder that you as an individual make all the difference in keeping yourself and Drake safe and secure. Everyone on campus is part of our security culture, and you play the most important role in keeping yourself safe.

Trust your gut and stay vigilant for phishing attempts, suspected ransomware, use of bots, and unsafe social media practices. Remember good cybersecurity practices, such as keeping your software updated, strengthening your passwords, and verifying information you find online. Make it a habit to report suspicious emails and contact ITS with questions, concerns, and for other tech assistance.

Your contributions and actions keep everyone at Drake safe. While Cybersecurity Awareness Month may be coming to an end, good cybersecurity practices apply year-round. Learn more about cybersecurity, watch videos, and become a part of Drake’s security culture at drake.edu/its/csam.

There’s still time to take the cybersecurity quiz! The first 150 people to complete the quiz will receive a coupon to use at the campus Starbucks, and all student participants will be entered into a random drawing for 1 of 10 Griff II t-shirts. Complete the quiz by October 31, 2023.

For ITS assistance, submit a ticket at service.drake.edu/its, visit the lower level of Carnegie Hall, or call 515-271-3001.

— Chris Mielke, ITS

Check out the new DU Well Newsletter

The wellbeing of Drake employees is very important to us. So in addition to the existing programming, we are rolling out a new DU Well Newsletter.  Each edition will highlight upcoming wellness events, discuss relevant wellbeing topics and health observances, test your trivia knowledge (for prizes), and hopefully challenge you to try something new.

Please take a few minutes to check out the first edition of this new resource, and feel free to contact us at drakehr@drake.edu, using the subject line, DU Well Newsletter, with ideas for future editions.

You can explore other ways Drake supports employee wellness on our new DU Well webpage. We have some great employee perks that will also make it easier for you to focus on your wellness.

If you haven’t yet explored the new Drake HR internal website, you should. It is your go-to site for the latest information about your employment and the support services we provide. In addition to the pages linked above, you can also access information about employee benefits, check out upcoming BUILD learning & development classes, and much more. Spend a few minutes exploring and let us know what you think. If you have suggestions for additional enhancements, we’d love to hear them.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Accepting feedback: Space heater approval policy

A space heater approval policy has been developed to ensure the safe operation of space heaters on campus.  The policy will help prevent electrical circuit overloads and direct FPM to possible heating issues.

A reminder that this does not pertain to residence halls, as space heaters are not allowed in those buildings.

If you have any comments, please use the comment function through the Policy Development Page.

— Hannah Remke, Sustainability Coordinator

Celebrating True Blue staff

Please join us in congratulating our most recent recipients of the True Blue Award. Here is a little information about our honorees with excerpts from their nominations.

Kayla Bell, Director of Broadlawns Drake University Counseling Center, Drake Counseling Center

“Kayla has moved mountains to make changes at Drake’s Counseling Center, specifically to make it a more welcoming environment for ALL students. The fear of getting help due to shame or stigma does not exist at the center anymore. Kayla is actively involved and always looking for new ways to be inclusive, give back to the Drake community, and teach others how to be the same.”

Katherine Coady, Julie Olinger, and Cindy Liska, Zimpleman College of Business

“Thank you to Katherine, Julie, and Cindy for your leadership and teamwork. Your hard work does not go unnoticed, and we are grateful for your ability to deliver a well-organized and highly successful conference.”

Korrine Jackson, Payroll Coordinator, Finance

“Korrine is the epitome of Drake’s core values commitment to mission and all in this together. She is always willing to go above and beyond to ensure that all aspects of payroll are done correctly and on time. Korrine has a meticulous eye for detail and pays close attention to all of the small particulars that could otherwise go unnoticed. In addition, she also has a kind spirit and is easy to work with.”

Laura Krossner, Electronic Resources & Access Services Librarian, Cowles Library

“Laura acts as a team member invested in the success of my courses, and she exemplifies the “we’re all in this together” value that Drake prizes. I would not be able to teach my courses and deliver the educational value that Drake promises without the expert assistance Laura has provided.”

Matt Probasco, Budget Director, Finance and Administration

“Thank you, Matt, for the work you do. Every equation has a story behind it, and inside those you’re working on you’re helping create room for access to higher education for more students, giving a stronger sense of security to our team members, and helping strengthen the future of this institution.”

Jorge Romero-Castro, Administrative Assistant/Office Manager, Music

“He is incredibly organized, helpful, professional at all times, though approachable and warm, and is such an asset to our department. His assistance with recruiting (meeting with parents and students, as well as audition days) is invaluable – so many parents and students have commented on how helpful and kind he is as they navigate this process.”

Kyle Schura, Assoc Director, Customer Relations Management System Strategy, Admissions

“Kyle is incredibly thoughtful about student and family experiences. He is always striving to make sure the online systems are accessible and user friendly. He also considers the in-person experiences and how we can be sure we are creating a comfortable and inclusive environment when students and families come to visit campus.”

Do you know of a staff member or department that has gone above and beyond to exemplify True Blue spirit? Nominate them today!

— Betsy Wilson, On behalf of All Staff Council