All posts by Andrew Kennard

Campus-wide food drive

As you’re packing up and moving out, if you come across items (non-perishable foods, school supplies, hygiene items, etc.) that you don’t want to keep, put them in the designated boxes for collection.

Look for a yellow plastic bin or cardboard box near the entryway or lobby of your residence hall. The Interfraternity Council is holding a similar drive in fraternity houses, and there will be a bin at Alpha Phi and potentially other sorority houses. There will also be a bin near the C Store. If you have leftover flex dollars, consider using them to purchase food for this drive!

This drive is planned to last until mid-afternoon on May 13. It is organized by Next Course Food Recovery.

Items will be donated to the Little Free Pantries in the Drake Neighborhood or a nearby food pantry. Please don’t donate any perishable items or things that will not fit in the Little Pantries.

Contact andrew.kenanrd@drake.edu with questions about the Next Course drive and brian.orellana@drake.edu with questions about the Interfraternity Council Drive.

— Andrew Kennard, Junior

Join us for the Adams Leadership Awards

Join us for a campus-wide celebration of student leadership at Drake University. The Adams Leadership Awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday, May 4, at 6 p.m. in Sheslow Auditorium. All Drake students, faculty, and staff are invited and encouraged to attend. Nominees and selected winners will be announced for 18 student leadership awards, including:

  • Outstanding First Year Student
  • Outstanding Transfer Student
  • Outstanding Student Organization
  • Oreon. E Scott Senior of the Year Award

…and many more! Students in the Adams Leadership Institute and the leadership studies minor will also be recognized. No RSVP required; note the time and date on your calendar and show up with your friends and colleagues across campus. Appetizer reception to follow in Levitt Hall for award winners and their nominators. We hope to see you there!

— Kristin Economos, Student Leadership Programs

Deputy Provost 2:10: An appreciation

As we head toward May 1, I want to simply send a public note of appreciation to Dean of Admissions Annie Kremer and her entire team, as well as to the faculty and staff across the University who have worked so hard this spring to help families imagine their students here.

I’ve had the good luck of being present at several of our admitted student days and have seen the lovely mix of excitement and trepidation that families bring to the decision process. And, I’ve seen the high energy and thorough preparation that Admissions brings to these events, from the snappy welcome video to the heartfelt speeches from students, to the information-packed sessions on J-Term, global engagement, pre-professional programs, co-curricular activities, and more.

We wouldn’t be a university if we didn’t have students—and we wouldn’t have students without the tremendous work of Admissions and those of us who partner with that office.  So: thanks, Annie and all, for the work you’re doing!

— Renée Cramer, Deputy Provost

Deputy Provost 2:10: Questlove and higher ed?

I’ve just reviewed the slide deck for Prof. Cathy Davidson’s upcoming address to the campus community, and slide six features a quote from DJ Questlove, inviting us to reimagine ourselves and our institutions, post-COVID-19. Since I love Tribe Called Quest, I got excited—and since I love thinking about innovation in higher education as a great way to serve our students and keep ourselves engaged, the rest of the slides made my day!

Please consider joining us for what promises to be an interactive, illuminating, and invigorating virtual event on Wednesday, May 4, at 7 p.m. Sign up to receive the link to this event. If you’d like to join us for a catered watch party and after-presentation discussion, please let us know. We will also have the opportunity to gather together on Monday, May 9, from 3:30–5 p.m. in Howard Hall, Room 210, to discuss Dr. Davidson’s book, after her visit. Please register here, so we know how many books to buy and can provide an appropriate amount of refreshments.

Renée Cramer, Deputy Provost

In Memoriam: Robert Kemp, former Drake professor

Robert Kemp, former CBPA professor, passed away peacefully on March 15. From humble beginnings, growing up on his family’s farm during the Great Depression, to serving his country with the rank of Lt. Colonel and ultimately two successful careers in academia and the business sector, Robert lived a full life, grounded in the values of honesty and hard work. He exemplified what it means to be a friend, scholar, officer, and gentleman throughout his long life. Robert taught both graduate and undergraduate business students at Drake, and is remembered for developing connections between students and local businesses.

Read Robert’s complete obituary.

Drinda Williams, Office of the Provost

Faculty/staff golf league

Drake University Recreational Services offers a faculty/staff golf league in the summer for all faculty/staff. The league is 10 weeks (8 regular season, 2 weeks of playoffs) on Wednesday afternoons. The first week of matchups will begin at Grandview Golf Course on Wednesday, May 18.

This league will be administered on a handicap basis, with 80% of the difference between a person’s average and scratch used as the handicap. Spouse/significant others are welcome to play in the league.

Registration deadline is Wednesday, May 11, at 4 p.m. View the entry form for more information.

For questions, email ryan.parriott@drake.edu.

Emily Madsen, Rec Services

Ukrainian Voices event April 19

Join us for an event in which Ukrainians will tell the Drake community about their experiences of the Russian attack and occupation of their country. This is an opportunity for you to hear first-person living history and testimony from people close to these events.

When: Tuesday, April 19, 1–2:15 p.m
Where: Attend in person in Harvey Ingham, Room134. Or, join via Zoom (https://drake-edu.zoom.us/j/81937085671; Meeting ID: 819 3708 5671).

Speaker biographies:

  • Vira Babenko, Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Drake University, is a native Ukrainian. She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Mathematics from Dnipro National University in her hometown of Dnipro before coming to the United States for a Ph.D. program at the University of Utah. A lot of her relatives are now in Dnipro, Kyiv and Zaporizhzhya. She is remotely helping coordinate volunteering efforts and raising funds for families with little kids displaced to her hometown due to the war.
  • Olga Daubs was born in Kharkiv, Ukraine, during Soviet rule. She earned her master’s degree in history from Kharkiv National University and owned an event planning business in Kharkiv before immigrating to the United States in 2013. Today, she and her husband own a photo studio in Madison, Wisconsin. Her parents remain in Kharkiv. Olga is an active volunteer with Wisconsin Ukrainians, Inc., raising funds and awareness of the tragedy caused by Russia’s invasion of her home country.
  • Marina Delargy was born and raised in Kyiv, Ukraine. She has over ten years of diplomatic experience with Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as serving in an international organisation. She is currently a student at King’s College of London, where she is a candidate for two simultaneous programmes – MSc Russian and Eurasian Politics and Economics, and National Security Postgraduate module. Her focus is on Russia’s cognitive warfare and its impact on societies. Her mum Raisa escaped from Kyiv in March, but all her friends and the other members of her family decided to stay and protect Ukraine.
  • My name is Anastasiia Miroshnikova, and I am from Kharkiv, Ukraine. I’m 20 years old. I am a student of Ukrainian Leadership Academy, and before the war started I was living in Mariupol. It’s a beautiful city.  When the war started I was living underground with the rest of the students. It was tough. I decided to escape Ukraine, hitchhiked to Poland, and came to the USA. I felt like while I was here in Cincinnati, Ohio I could be more helpful for my country. So I decided to raise money for medical and army supplies for my friends who have joined the army. They’re the same age as me and also students of the ULA. Currently I have already sent 10 huge boxes of medical supplies, over 1000 tourniquets and a drone to Ukraine. Link for donations: https://fundly.com/m2/help-ual-raise-money-for-the-ukrainian-army.

— Rob Collis, History

Des Moines Consortium annual reception Sept. 21

Drake, DMACC, and Grand View University have transfer agreements among institutions. As part of this consortium, we hold an annual event to bring together faculty and staff. This event has resulted in introductions of individuals holding similar faculty and staff positions, scholarly collaborations, and sharing effective practices, as well as a chance for social interactions.

Please save the date: Wednesday, Sept. 21, from 3–4 p.m. on the DMACC Ankeny campus.

Drinda Williams, Office of the Provost

Drake’s Fulbright international exchange winners named

Three students at Drake University received Fulbright awards for the 2022–2023 academic year.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is an international educational exchange program that offers finalists a federally funded grant and the opportunity to spend a year researching, studying, or teaching abroad.

“We are so proud of our Fulbright finalists who have been chosen from among the country’s top candidates for this prestigious international scholarship,” said Karen Leroux, associate professor of history and the University’s coordinator for post-graduate scholarships. “Drake’s unprecedented number of Fulbright recipients reflects the University’s excellent academic programs and the unique learning experiences it affords to students, globally and locally.” Drake has been recognized as a top institutional producer of Fulbright recipients. The University has produced 46 Fulbright Students since 2000.

This year’s Fulbright finalists from Drake include:

  • Emily Kellogg (SoE, Elementary Ed major; Spanish minor), Spain ETA
  • Katie Lajoie (A&S, IR & Spanish majors; French minor), Mexico ETA
  • Kathlyn Wagner (A&S, IR major; Japanese and East Asian Studies minor), Taiwan ETA

Alternate:

  • Ben Schultz (A&S, Philosophy & LPS major; German minor), Belgium ETA

Fulbright recipients are selected on the basis of academic or professional achievement, as well as demonstrated service and leadership potential in their fields. According to Leroux, the Fulbright application process is extensive, and many of the candidates began working on their applications nearly a year in advance.

Drake University congratulates all of its Fulbright Students. For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit http://eca.state.gov/fulbright.

Drinda Williams, Office of the Provost

Drake Law School named a “Best Law School for Practical Training” by preLaw Magazine

Drake Law School once again earned a place on preLaw magazine’s list of “Best Law Schools for Practical Training.” Law schools were graded based on key offerings such as clinics, externships, simulation courses, and moot court participation. The annual rankings were featured in the Spring 2022 issue of the magazine.

“At Drake Law, we like to say that ‘practice makes professional,’” said Drake Law School Dean Jerry Anderson. “Practical training is key to ensuring that Drake Law students are ready to excel after graduation. In addition to an outstanding foundation in legal theory, students gain real-world experience through clinical programs, internships, and clerkships. At graduation, they have the skills and experiences they need to hit the ground running, making them strong candidates for many different employment opportunities.”

Drake Law School provides numerous experiential learning opportunities to students, beginning in their first year with two intra-school moot court competitions and the unique First-Year Trial Practicum. Drake is the only law school in the country where all first-year classes shift to a campus courtroom for a week, enabling students to view an actual state or federal trial. The Trial Practicum dissects every phase of a trial, from jury selection to verdict. Not only do students witness a trial, but they also have opportunities to discuss the proceedings with the presiding judge, lawyers and jurors.

Drake Law’s legal clinics give students the opportunity to build valuable professional experience by working with clients in real-world situations. Clinics include the Children’s Rights Clinic, Criminal Defense Clinic, General Civil Practice Clinic, Transactional/Entrepreneurial Clinic, Refugee Clinic, and Wrongful Convictions Clinic.

As the only law school in the capital city of Des Moines, Drake Law students have countless opportunities to participate in internships, externships, and clerkships. Students have served as legislative interns, drafted legislation, tried and won felony jury trials, interned for the Iowa Supreme Court, worked for government agencies and nonprofits, and more.

Drake Law students also develop practical skills in interschool competitions at the regional and national levels. The Law School sponsors nine Moot Court, Mock Trial, and skills teams, which annually are among the best in the nation.

“Many law schools like to say they teach students to think like a lawyer,” said Dean Jerry Anderson. “We teach them to be one.”

Terri Howard, Law School