Description: Drake University has established formal partnerships with multiple institutions abroad. Joint faculty and staff projects with our global partner institutions may be eligible for financial support through the Global Partnership Grants. Contact Hannah Sappenfield at hannah.sappenfield@drake.edu for more information or to get connected with a global partner institution.

Eligibility and criteria: Full-time faculty and staff members are eligible to apply for Global Partnership Grants for activities taking place during FY22. Preference will be given to proposals that:

• identify a specific set of activities with distinct outcomes with one (or more) of our partner institutions
• demonstrate specific impact on Drake curriculum, students and current global partnerships
• advance Drake’s global engagement with existing partners in new ways
• support involvement by individuals who have not previously been globally engaged
• are financially supported by the school, college, or department of the individual submitting the proposal
• align with internationally or globally focused unit objectives and/or the University’s Continuous Improvement Plan

Application process:

1. Discuss the proposed activity with your unit Director or Dean prior to submission to help determine its strategic value and if it aligns with the unit’s global engagement priorities. The discussion will help determine the unit’s interest and ability to support the proposal with financial resources.
2. Submit the online application via Qualtrix, which includes a description and budget (*see note) for the proposed activity. Deadline: December 18, 2020
3. Deans/Directors will review all proposals for their unit with the Global Partnerships Coordinator and the Executive Director of Global Engagement for prioritization and to make collaborative funding decisions. Final award decisions will be announced in February 2021.

*Global Engagement grant funds are not typically awarded for stipends for Drake faculty and staff; however, stipend requests may be considered for funding by your unit’s Dean/Director on a case-by-case basis. The College of Arts & Sciences will not fund stipends.

Travel restrictions: At this time, any travel outside of Iowa on behalf of the University is currently suspended, unless deemed critical and approved by the senior administrator in your area. This policy applies to all University-sponsored travel, including international, academic, athletic, conferences, and workshops, and research-related travel, and will continue until further notice. Although grant funds may be awarded for travel purposes, these funds may not be expended until the University’s travel restrictions have been lifted.

— Hannah Sappenfield, Global Partnerships Coordinator

This month, the All Staff Council Recognition Committee would like to highlight the staff of The President’s Office.

How many staff members are in the department?  Just three: Marty, Cheryle, and Nate.

What is the primary function of the team? Our primary function is to support the President in any way we can.

Who has been with the team the longest, and what is their job title and length of employment? Cheryle Anania! She is the Assistant to the President and has been here longer than Marty & Nate as she has been at Drake since April 2012.

Who is the newest team member, and what is their job title and month/year of start?  Nate started at Drake in his current role as Chief of Staff in November of 2016. Nate also worked with Drake before that as a consultant starting in 2015.

What campus buildings do your team members “live” in?  We are all normally in Old Main 211, but with the pandemic we’re a mix of working at home and in the office.

What are some recent challenges and accomplishments of note that others in the University might not know about?  There’s so much to talk about here. Just drive down University Avenue to see all the progress.  You’ll notice the new development across from Old Main, the Home2 Suites hotel and future retail, the new Harkin Institute, streetscape improvements, and the new Kum & Go gas station. Whew! On campus, we’re proud to launch the new Bright college all while keeping up with the challenges the pandemic has thrown our way. At the time of this writing, our COVID-19 case numbers are relatively low; which represents a mountain of work by so many. We’re proud of what’s been accomplished in this “unique” semester.

Anything else noteworthy/interesting/special about your department that bears mentioning?  We’re fortunate that we all have a similar outlook on things: we don’t get too distressed regardless of what gets thrown at us. From unexpected visitors at the President’s Office, to boisterous phone calls, to all the issues Marty has to handle—we deal with what’s in front of us. It’s a good team.

— Amelia Klatt, Alumni Relations/All Staff Council