All posts by Jill Allen, Slay Fund for Social Justice

Slay Fund for Social Justice: Call for Summer Internship Applications

Slay Fund for Social Justice: Call for Summer Internship Applications

The Slay Fund for Social Justice invites applications for funded student summer internships, available to current Drake undergraduate or graduate students for Summer 2026.

Interested students should identify a community organization or non-profit group working on a project related to community engagement, diversity, or social justice and submit a letter of interest and a copy of their resume/curriculum vitae to Dr. Jill Allen, Director of the Slay Fund for Social Justice, at slayfund@drake.edu.

Applications will be accepted through May 1, 2026, with funding decisions announced before the conclusion of the Spring 2026 Semester.

Program Requirements and Details

  • Community organization or non-profit organization partner identified, with project goals that align with the Slay Fund for Social Justice.
  • Application letter should identify project goals, contact information for internship supervisor, and a description of how the proposed internship advances both student learning and community partner goals.
  • Ability to commit to 15-20 hours per week for approximately 5-6 weeks in the summer.
  • Start and end dates of the program are flexible (based on student and community partner need), between June 1, 2026 and August 1, 2026.
  • Attendance at a pre-internship orientation meeting in May 2026.
  • Submission of a post-internship critical reflection at the conclusion of your experience, with willingness to inform the Slay Family of learning outcomes, by August 15, 2026.
  • Stipend: $1,250 awarded to student for successful completion of internship experience.
  • Preference will be granted to internship projects that are traditionally unpaid and/or supporting non-profit organizations.

Students are encouraged to follow the guidance of the Office of Community Engaged Learning & Service for identifying potential community partners or utilizing the DUGood platform to find current opportunities.

About the Slay Fund for Social Justice

The Slay Fund for Social Justice is a wide-ranging endowed fund which aims to (1) support programs and initiatives which directly advance social justice and (2) continues important ongoing work around advancing social justice work in the Drake community. This fund is made possible through the generous support of Drake alumni, Brent and Diane Slay, who have shared in Drake’s commitment to elevate diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice conversations and encourage social justice action.

— Jill Allen, Slay Fund for Social Justice Director

Humanities Reads Celebration/Book Chat March 6

Please join us for the Humanities Reads celebration of Natasha Brown’s Assembly on Friday, March 6, from 10 a.m.–11:30 a.m., in the Cowles Library Reading Room.

This is a casual event where readers of the book can chat while enjoying tea, scones, tea sandwiches, and strawberries. There will be discussion questions written by English students and Center for the Humanities Board members to prompt conversation, but no formal presentation or obligation to stick to the questions! Come for a few minutes or for the entire event. Hope to see you there.

— Jeanette Tran, Associate Professor of English

Olmsted Center Closure and Select Power Outages March 16

Facilities Planning and Management has scheduled several repairs and preventative maintenance to some key electrical equipment on campus that will necessitate power outages in several buildings on Monday, March 16, 2026.

The following buildings will be without power and will remain closed on March 16, 2026:

  • Old Main
  • Cole Hall
  • Carnegie Hall
  • Cartwright Law School
  • Opperman Law Library
  • Olmsted Center

The power outage in these buildings is scheduled to begin at 7:00am and last through 3:00pm. While there is a possibility work will be completed earlier than 3:00pm, these buildings will remain closed so as not to disrupt work schedules.

— Colin Atkinson, Associate Director, Facilities Planning and Management

Hygiene Drive and Housing Exhibit at Drake OTD Building March 23–26

Join the conversation about affordable housing in Iowa with open tours of the Community Crate, March 23–26, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., at the Drake OTD building parking lot, 3003 Forest Avenue. When you visit, consider bringing a donation for the OTD Hygeine Drive to benefit hygiene banks throughout the metro.

What is the Community Crate? Using local data and stories from Iowa housing experts, Uplift has transformed a shipping container into an interactive housing exhibit designed to dig into the challenges many Iowans face when it comes to finding a place to call home. Drake’s Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program has partnered with Uplift to host this exhibit, known as the Community Crate.

Tours are free and open to everyone. Please contact Ashley Ezzio, ashley.ezzio@drake.edu, if bringing a class or group.

FAFSA Requirement for Tuition Waiver

Students utilizing the Drake Tuition Waiver benefit for undergraduate degree programs in the Fall 2026 or Spring 2027 semesters are REQUIRED to complete the 2026–2027 FAFSA before by June 30, 2026. See Drake’s Tuition Waiver Policy for more details.

Employees should complete the Tuition Waiver Application for each semester that the employee or eligible dependent wishes to utilize this benefit.

— Laney Guintard, Financial Aid Office

Drake Law School Dean’s Speaker Series Features Melissa Murray and Stuart Delery

Drake University Law School will present Upholding the Rule of Law, the spring installment of its Dean’s Speaker Series, on March 3. Melissa Murray, New York University Law professor, legal analyst for MSNBC, and co-host of the Strict Scrutiny podcast, and Stuart F. Delery, a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Gibson Dunn and former White House Counsel to President Joe Biden will be the featured speakers.

The event’s fireside chat and audience Q&A will begin at 3 p.m., followed by a reception at 4 p.m. The program is free and open to the public, with advance registration required.

The conversation will be moderated by Drake Law School Dean Roscoe Jones, Jr. and will explore the role of the legal profession in upholding the rule of law.“This event reflects Drake Law’s commitment to engaging students and the broader community in meaningful dialogue about leadership, civility, and the principles that sustain our legal system,” said Dean Jones. “We are honored to welcome Professor Melissa Murray and former White House Counsel Stuart Delery, whose careers exemplify public service, national impact, and promoting a more just world.”

Melissa Murray teaches constitutional law, family law, criminal law, and reproductive rights and justice at NYU School of Law. She is a co-author of the New York Times #1 bestseller The Trump Indictments: The Historic Charging Documents with Commentary, and her forthcoming book, The U.S. Constitution: A Comprehensive and Annotated Guide for the Modern Reader, will be published in May 2026. Her writing has appeared in leading legal and national publications, including the Harvard Law Review, Yale Law Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic. Additionally, Murray is a legal analyst for MSNBC and co-host of Strict Scrutiny, a podcast focused on the Supreme Court and legal culture.

Stuart Delery brings more than 30 years of experience in senior government leadership and private practice. As White House Counsel from 2022–2023, he advised the President on constitutional, statutory, and regulatory matters, managed responses to congressional investigations, and supported the federal judicial nomination and confirmation process. Previously, he served as Acting Associate Attorney General of the United States and as Senate-confirmed Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division at the U.S. Department of Justice. He is currently a partner at Gibson Dunn, where his practice focuses on high-stakes litigation, crisis management, and regulatory matters involving complex legal and reputational risks.

— Taylor Johnson, Law School

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

Just Dropped: March Griff of the Month T-Shirt

The Griff of the Month series rolls on, and March is bringing the luck.

Each month, we release a new limited-edition Griff design so you can build your collection all year long. Collect all 12 designs and you will unlock a bonus exclusive at the end of the year.

For March, meet St. Paddy’s Day Griff.

Dressed for St. Patrick’s Day and ready to celebrate, this festive design adds a little extra charm to your Bulldog gear lineup.

Collect them all!

— Bulldog Shop

Join All Staff Council for Trivia Prior to Drake Social March 23

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