All posts by TERI KOCH

For Faculty Archive

Cowles Library OER grant stipend opportunity

Cowles Library is excited to announce an opportunity for full-time Drake faculty interested in learning more about using open educational resources (OER) in their courses. After successfully offering these grants last fall, the Provost’s Office is generously supporting them again this fall. These open resources replace costly textbooks and are beneficial to students in your courses in so many ways.  The Drake Faculty Open Education Grant Program is offering $500 stipends to participants who complete the program, which comprises a workshop, self-paced learning modules, and peer discussion.

This program will be limited to six (6) participants in fall 2023, and participants must complete all required components to receive their stipend. We expect the time commitment for the program to be ten to twelve (10-12) hours, which includes the virtual kickoff workshop on Friday, October 6, 3:30-5:00 p.m.

Apply now: Drake Faculty Open Education Grant Program Application

Deadline: Applications are due by Wednesday, Sept. 27. Individuals will be notified of the status of their application by Monday, Oct. 2. Grants will be awarded based on representation of a wide range of disciplines and the alignment of application responses to the proposed content of this program.

Questions? Contact the project leads: Teri Koch, at teri.koch@drake.edu or Andrew Welch at andrew.welch@drake.edu.

— Teri Koch, Cowles Library

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Celebration of Life for Maddy Maxwell Oct. 5

Please join President Marty Martin, Emeritus President David Maxwell, and the Board of Trustees in celebrating the life and leadership of Madeleine “Maddy” Maxwell on Thursday, Oct. 5, from 4:30–6 p.m. at the Patty and Fred Turner Jazz Center.

Maddy passed away June 14. Emeritus President David and Maddy Maxwell led the University from 1999–2015. As the University’s first lady for 16 years, Maddy worked tirelessly to bring the campus and community together. She was a true servant-leader, and she lived a life devoted to transforming lives and strengthening communities. Maddy’s joyful spirit, boundless energy, and deep commitment to students will serve as inspiration for generations of graduates and community friends.

Please RSVP by Sept. 29 to Erica Hartschen at erica.hartschen@drake.edu or 515-271-4990.  
Parking for the celebration can be found off Forest Ave across from the Knapp Center.

— Erica Hartschen, University Advancement

Campus Announcements Archive

Diverse student/alumni welcome receptions

The Office of Alumni Relations reaffirms Drake’s commitment to diversity by recognizing and nurturing different identities. In 2020, we committed to fostering community between our diverse students and alumni. Starting this week, Alumni Relations will host two receptions to welcome our LGBTQ+ and BIPOC students to campus for another great year! These welcome receptions serve to create community among diverse students, alumni, faculty, and staff. For students, this is an opportunity to meet individuals like you who have been where you are. And of course, there will also be refreshments (and Griff…shhh)!

On Tuesday, Sept. 12, from 7–8:30 p.m., we welcome all LGBTQ+ students, alumni, faculty/staff, and allies to the Reading Room in Cowles Library for Rainbow Welcome. And then, next week on Tuesday, Sept. 19, from 6:30–8 p.m., we welcome all BIPOC students, alumni, faculty/staff, and allies to the Alumni House for the BIPOC Student/Alumni Welcome.

— Gregory Lin, Alumni Relations

For Staff Archive

All Staff Council Special Interest Committee wants your input

The All Staff Council Special Interest Committee explores initiatives, questions, and/or concerns through research, planning, and collaboration with appropriate offices on campus.

To help ensure that the work of our committee is aligned with staff needs, please share any suggestions, concerns, or other feedback you’d like us to look into using this form. If you’d like us to respond to your feedback directly, please include your name and contact information, otherwise let us know your thoughts anonymously.

The Special Interest Committee chair is Erica McGowan. Additional members of the committee are Laura Shell, Diana Newman, Alicia Mann, Kris Brewster, Teresa Downs and Mady Nachtman.

— Erica McGowan, All Staff Council

Campus Announcements Archive

Drake Municipal Observatory fall schedule; Astronaut Peggy Whitson special guest Sept. 22

Check out the Fall 2023 schedule for the Drake Observatory. Events take place Friday nights from Sept. 15–Nov. 3 at 8 p.m. and are free and open to the public. For more information, visit: https://www.drake.edu/observatory/.

The Observatory is honored to host astronaut Dr. Peggy Whitson on Sept. 22. The Observatory is teaming up with Capital City Pride of Des Moines to make this event possible.

— Aaron Haack, College of Arts & Sciences

Strategic Updates Archive

Provost’s Social Sept. 27 at 4 p.m.

Faculty and staff are invited to join us for the next Provost’s Drake Social, on Wednesday, Sept. 27, in the Cowles Library Reading Room, beginning at 4 p.m.

Refreshments will include wine, beer, soft drinks, and light snacks. This is a family friendly event. Feel free to bring your children and partner.

— Madison Bemus, Office of the Provost

HR Information Archive

New Broadlawns Community Clinic taking patients Sept. 11 with no co-pays for Drake employees

The new Broadlawns Community Clinic at Drake is opening Sept. 11. The clinic will be open to the general community as well as Drake students, faculty, and staff. 

For faculty and staff that choose to use their services, this is an urgent care and family medicine clinic: 

  • With no co-pays for walk-in visits, primary, and specialist visits 
  • A lower out-of-pocket maximum 
  • Lower deductibles for emergency room visits, as well as for both outpatient and inpatient care 
  • All in network 
  • Right across the street! 

You can review the pricing in greater detail on page seven of Drake’s new digital benefits guide. 

— Maureen DeArmond, Human Resources

For Staff Archive

Bulldog Connect Networking Lunch

All Staff Council is holding a Bulldog Connect Networking Lunch for staff members on Wednesday, Sept. 6, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Come join us for a $5 lunch at Hubbell Dining Hall. We encourage attendees to wear their Drake name tag. Anyone is welcome to come—bring a fellow Bulldog along with you. Look for the table with the Drake swag and a special Bulldog Connect table tent in Hubbell. Members of All Staff Council’s Events & Community Service committee will host lunch so you’ll always have a friendly face to talk to! Come and go as your schedule allows.

— Elissa Johnson, On behalf of All Staff Council

Campus Announcements Archive

Anderson Gallery opens with exhibition by internationally recognized artist Judy Pfaff

The Anderson Gallery is pleased to show the work of Judy Pfaff, an internationally recognized artist who is often cited as a pioneer of installation-art and contributor to the Pattern and Decoration Movement. The solo exhibition, Freehand: Prints and Drawings by Judy Pfaff, showcases over 50 drawings and prints and is on display from Sept. 7 through Oct. 15. There are multiple events associated with this exhibition including an opening reception on Sept. 7, an exhibition tour on Sept. 21 and the premiere of the immersive opera Cadence of Life by Nathan Felix, inspired by the work of Pfaff on Oct. 5. The Anderson Gallery does not charge admission and all events are free and open to all. Freehand is supported by a grant from the Iowa Arts Council.

— Lilah Anderson, Anderson Gallery Exhibitions and Community Engagement Manager

News & Achievements Archive

Law Professor Melissa Weresh receives the Berger Award for Excellence in Legal Writing Scholarship

Congratulations to Drake Law Professor Melissa Weresh, the 2023 recipient of the Association of Legal Writing Directors’ (ALWD) Linda Berger Award for Excellence in Legal Writing Scholarship. The Berger Award is ALWD’s highest award recognizing scholarship in the field of legal writing. It specifically recognizes the recipient’s lifetime dedication to and advancement of legal writing scholarship.

Weresh is the Dwight D. Opperman Distinguished Professor of Law and the Herb and Karen Baum Chair of Ethics in the Professions at Drake University. Her scholarship examines the art, science, and ethics of persuasion and advocates for the modernization of law school teaching. Mel has championed the professionalization of the legal writing discipline, including improving status for legal writing faculty. She has previously served as president of the Legal Writing Institute, chair of the AALS Teaching Methods Section, member of the LexisNexis Law School Publishing Advisory Board, and member of the Editorial Boards of both Legal Communication & Rhetoric: JALWD and The Journal of Legal Education. In 2017, she was awarded the Thomas F. Blackwell Memorial Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Legal Writing.

— Theresa Howard, Law School