All posts by Suzanne Wisslead

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Opportunities to Serve: All Staff Council Open Positions

Following the spring elections for All Staff Council (ASC), additional opportunities have become available. The following positions and committee members are needed starting June 1. Terms are 2–3 years, depending on the position.

ASC is a good way to network with other campus staff and work to help promote a positive and collaborative campus work environment. If you are classified as a staff member, interested, and committed to serving, please contact Lauren McCarthy, 2026-2027 ASC chair, at  lauren.mccarthy@drake.edu.

Events & Community Service Committee (2 positions)

The Events & Community Service Committee develops and implements plans for special events on campus and creates awareness of community service opportunities available for staff participation.

Governance Committee (1 position)

The Governance Committee finalizes the structure of the ASC by developing rules. This committee conducts yearly elections and attends to any rule changes, recommendations, or policies proposed.

Special Interest Committee (2 positions)

The Special Interest Committee explores initiatives, questions, and/or concerns presented to ASC through research, planning, and collaboration with appropriate offices on campus.

Visit the All Staff Council website to learn more.

— Suzanne Wisslead, on behalf of the ASC Governance Committee

Campus Announcements Archive

University Transitioning to New Reporting Service Provider: Drake Ethics Hotline

Beginning July 1, 2026, the University will transition its whistleblower reporting service provider from NAVEX EthicsPoint to MITRATECH Ethics Hotline (the Drake Ethics Hotline). Drake remains committed to offering a safe, secure, and anonymous avenue for community members to report concerns regarding suspected or known ethics and compliance violations. Functionally, nothing is changing. This decision was made in the course of standard contract review and in an effort to offer an important campus resource at a better price point. Stay tuned for more information. Questions may be directed to Samantha Nordstrom at samantha.nordstrom@drake.edu.

— Samantha Nordstrom, Title IX Coordinator & EEO Specialist

HR Information Archive

Play HealthyU BINGO and Kickstart Your Summer Health Goals

Looking for a fun way to stay on track with your health goals this summer? Join us for HealthyU BINGO this July.  The goal is to fill up a blank BINGO card (or two) during the month, with healthy activities that you complete from a provided list and then get together to play some games of HealthyU BINGO for prizes.

To get started or if you have questions, contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu.  All participants will receive a packet that includes a list of HealthyU BINGO activities and a blank BINGO card.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

News & Achievements Archive

Drake Law School Names Professor Jeremy Kidd as Kermit S. Sutton Research Fellow

Drake University Law School is proud to announce the appointment of Professor Jeremy Kidd as the inaugural Kermit S. Sutton Research Fellow. This prestigious fellowship is awarded to a Law School professor who demonstrates exceptional dedication to teaching, research, and public speaking.

Professor Kidd, who joined the Drake Law faculty in 2021, is an expert in law and economics, focusing primarily on business law and regulatory issues. His work explores the complex intersections of market theory and legal regulation and includes publications in the University of Pennsylvania Journal of Business Law, the Oklahoma Law Review, and most recently the Pepperdine Law Review. Professor Kidd is a respected speaker on public choice and law and economics, as well as a frequent panelist and presenter at both legal and economics conferences.

In a year of milestones, Professor Kidd was also named a co-recipient of Drake Law School’s 2026 Stevens Faculty Scholar of the Year Award. This honor, alongside his new fellowship, serves as a powerful affirmation of his academic distinction and his role as a leader in the national legal community.

“Professor Kidd embodies the spirit of intellectual curiosity and rigorous analysis that we value at Drake Law,” said Roscoe Jones Jr., Dean of Drake University Law School. “His appointment as the Kermit S. Sutton Research Fellow is a well-deserved recognition of his dedication to excellence and his significant contributions to our culture of rigorous academic inquiry. We are proud to support his continued work in shaping the future of commercial and corporate law.”

— Taylor Johnson, Drake Law School

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

New Podcast Episode: SPARC’ing a Conversation with Diana Otido & Dorcas Egya-Mensah

In the latest episode of SPARC’ing a Conversation, we sit down with Diana Otido and Dorcas Egya-Mensah, two talented interns working in the Office of Sponsored Programs Administration & Research Compliance (SPARC).

Listen here: Episode 4 Diana Otido & Dorcas Egya-Mensah | SPARC’ing a Conversation

Tune in as Diana and Dorcas share insights about their hands-on internship experience with the I-RAISE program, an initiative proudly funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) GRANTED award.

If you are interested in discussing your research projects or scholarly endeavors on an upcoming episode, please reach out to preston.miller@drake.edu.

— Preston Miller, Sponsored Programs Administration & Research Compliance

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Congratulations to the Newly Elected All Staff Council Members

The All Staff Council Governance Committee extends its congratulations to the following newly elected members!

Governance Committee

  • Patrick Williams, Grounds

Recognition Committee

  • Allyssa Ruths, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
  • Colin Atkinson, Facilities Planning and Management
  • Crystal Fierro-Galbraith, Drake Online and Continuing Education
  • Timm Pilcher, School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Events/Community Service Committee

  • Joanna Gilmore, Office of the Registrar
  • Nichole Stabile, Drake Online and Continuing Education
  • Rebecca Muntz, Career Services
  • Sydney Dvorak, Facilities Planning and Management

Special Interest Committee

  • Lilah Anderson, Anderson Gallery
  • Trey Leech, Drake Online and Continuing Education

Chair Elect

  • Betsy White, Office of Conference and Event Services

— Suzanne Wisslead, On behalf of All Staff Council

HR Information Archive

Welcome New Bulldogs: RSVP for the June 10 New Employee Orientation

Managers, please encourage your new team members to attend the first available New Employee Orientation after their start date.

The next orientation session is scheduled for:

  • Date: Wednesday, June 10
  • Time: 9–11:30 a.m.
  • Location: Johansen Student Center, Scripps Meeting Room 301 (3rd Floor)

Either the manager or the new employee can reserve a spot. To RSVP, please send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu and include “NEO” in the subject line.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Secure Your Drake Athletics Faculty/Staff Fall Sports Pass

Cheer on the Bulldogs all season long with the Drake Athletics Faculty/Staff Fall Sports Pass!

For just $125, Drake faculty and staff can enjoy admission to all regular-season home events for:

  • Football
  • Volleyball
  • Men’s Soccer
  • Women’s Soccer

Passes are also available for purchase for your immediate family members. 

Purchase today by clicking the link here, by emailing tickets@drake.edu, or by calling 515-271-3647. 

Go Bulldogs! Thank you for your continued support of Drake Athletics.

— Greg Kay, Athletics

Campus Announcements Archive

Changes Coming to DART Bus Routes This June

Starting June 14, DART is launching all new bus routes to improve frequency and service.

Key Service Updates For Routes Around Drake:

  • Route 3: Buses will run every 15 minutes (down from every 20 minutes)
  • Route 5: Service is moving to every 30 minutes (previously every 45–60 minutes)
  • Route 60: This route will be discontinued.

Please note that effective June 12 the following services will no longer be available: Express routes, Flex Connect, On Call, and the LINK Shuttle.

— Nate Reagen, Office of the President