All posts by Scott Law

Parking Updates For Spring 2026 Career Events

PLAN AHEAD!

Parking near Olmsted Center will be impacted during several Career Services events this spring. Most important: On Thursday, February 12, the Olmsted Lot will be closed ALL DAY for the Drake Spring Career Fair.

  • Individuals with Olmsted Lot permits may park in any campus lot except the Ray Promenade Lot (Red Zone).
  • Please allow extra time for parking and consider alternative lots and ways to travel.

The Career Services Office is excited to host several professional development events this spring. These events will bring additional visitors to campus and may affect parking availability in the Olmsted and Harkin Lots. We appreciate your cooperation in making these events successful for our students and employer partners.

Key Parking Information

  • Visitors attending these events will be provided with parking passes and directed to designated lots, including Lot 1A, Lot 1, Lot 20, and Lot 24. Parking will be allowed in lot 16 after 4:30 p.m.
  • Faculty, staff, and students should plan ahead for potential congestion near Olmsted Center during event times.

Event Schedule and Parking Details

Thursday, February 5, 2026 (9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)
Resume Critiques in Upper Olmsted

Friday, February 6, 2026 (7:30 – 10:00 a.m.)
Networking Event in Upper Olmsted


Important Notice: Thursday, February 12, 2026

Drake Spring Career Fair (1:30 – 7:00 p.m.)
This is our large campus wide spring career event.

  • Olmsted Lot will be closed ALL DAY to accommodate event needs.
  • Special Note: Individuals with Olmsted Lot permits may park in any campus lot except the Ray Promenade Lot (Red Zone) on this date.

Please plan accordingly and allow extra time for parking on this date.


Additional Events:

  • Thursday, March 5 (4:30 – 7:00 p.m.): Mocktails Event
  • Tuesday, March 10 (5:30 – 9:00 p.m.): Marketing Speed Network
  • Thursday, March 26 (4:30 – 8:00 p.m.): Arts & Sciences Panel

Thank you for your understanding and support as we welcome employers to campus and provide valuable career opportunities for our students.

— Scott Law, Executive Director for Public Safety and University Operations

Writing Center Opens Feb. 9

WHAT WE DO: The Writing Center’s trained peer tutors advise and assist students at any stage of the writing process:

  • Understanding instructions/prompts
  • Generating ideas and ways to develop ideas
  • Outlining and organizing
  • Writing, expanding, revising, and/or copyediting a draft

We are a free service for all Drake students, including graduate students and those in professional programs.

HOW TO SIGN UP TO VISIT: We use Starfish for scheduling. Please go here to book an appointment with a tutor, or use the QR code below.

Appointments are approximately 30 minutes, and students can sign up for more than one session if they wish. They may also request that a tutor keep a regular time slot available for them if they would like to come in each week. If you cannot attend your scheduled appointment, please remember to cancel and reschedule.

WHERE WE ARE: The lower level of Cowles Library—please follow the signs. We offer hours daily, from mornings to late afternoon/evening (including weekends). Students with health concerns can request an appointment on Zoom.

FOR FACULTY AND STAFF: If you refer a student to the workshop or require all students to visit, please let us know via email (megan.brown@drake.edu). Ask students to bring their assignment prompt/instructions to the Writing Center, as well as any writing they have done so far. When students are referred, or required, to visit, the tutor will email you to let you know that your student has attended and briefly describe what work was done. When students attend on their own, we do not inform professors unless they specifically ask us to do so. Note: please contact megan.brown@drake.edu for instructions on how to ascertain if a student has attended a Writing Center appointment.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS please contact Prof. Megan Brown, Director of Writing (megan.brown@drake.edu).

 

 

New Spiritual Wellness Room On Campus

We’re pleased to share that Collier Scripps Room 133 is now a Spiritual Wellness Room as a welcoming resource for our campus community. Students, staff, and faculty are invited to use this interfaith space for quiet reflection, prayer, meditation, gentle rest, or nursing. Available items include prayer rugs, shawls, yoga mats, and a meditation bowl, along with other supportive materials.

I would like to thank the Muslim Faculty/Staff Affinity group for spearheading this initiative. I also appreciate Dr. Ryan Wise, Dean of the School of Education, and the School of Education’s Diversity Committee for their support in these efforts.

— Terrance Pendleton, Office for Campus Equity and Inclusion

W-2 Forms Available On MyDrake

W-2 forms are available online through myDrake’s Employee Dashboard. To access and print your W-2, look to the “Taxes” section of the Employee Dashboard. Within this section, click “W-2 Wage and Tax Statement” and select the tax year for 2025.  Instructions are available for your reference. If you have questions, contact Payroll at 271–3190 or Human Resources at 271–3133.

— Lisa Etnyre, Human Resources

Top 5 Reasons To Attend Level Up With AI: An Alumni Networking Breakfast

#5  Free breakfast 

#4  Open networking time to meet people who want to help you succeed  

#3  Advice from alumni who’ve turned Drake experiences into careers 

#2  Honest talk about AI – a keynote from Ben Weinberg (Class of 2017) 

And #1… A morning that might change your future! 

 Event Details: 

Friday, February 6 

8:30 – 10:00 AM 

Olmsted Student Center, Parents Hall 

AI is here. Students have questions, and Drake alumni have some advice! Join Career Services, Alumni Relations, and Drake alumni from diverse academic and industry areas for a conversation about IF, WHEN, & HOW to use AI to support your career development! Sponsored by The Principality Group of Wells Fargo Advisors. 

Keynote Speaker: 

Ben Weinberg (Class of 2017), Director of Talent Development at F&G and former religion major at Drake University, shares that most people don’t really understand AI, but everyone is going to need the knowledge to talk about it and the skills to use it. He’s excited to share is expertise about talent development, AI, and the power of relationships. Students will walk away feeling energized, informed, and ready to leverage new networking relationships! 

Registration: 

Students can register in Eventbrite, and space is limited. The full agenda is below. 

8:30 AM – Check-In 
8:45 AM – Breakfast & Networking
9:00 AM – Keynote Address: Ben Weinberg ‘17
9:25 AM – Open Networking 

**Drake faculty and staff are welcome to attend and may use the same Student Registration Eventbrite link. Faculty and staff who plan to attend are encouraged to bring at least two students with you! 

Last Chance To Sign Up For The Career Fair

All students from all majors are invited! 

Who: Employers, graduate/professional program partners, students, alumni, and more! 

  • Over 300 students attend the fair annually. 
  • Alumni from the Class of 2024 and 2025 are invited.  
  • Nearly 100 employers and educational representatives from graduate and professional programs.  
  • Drake Faculty and staff are also encouraged to attend.  

What: Networking, internship/job searching, learning about graduate/professional programs, career exploration, collecting free swag, and more!  

When: Thursday, February 12, 3:00 – 6:00 PM; Come and go as you are able! 

Where: Olmsted Student Center 

  • Student Check-In – Olmsted Breezeway 
  • Career Fair – Upper Level 

Why: Let us count the ways! 

  • New this year, University Communications and Marketing will be providing Drake students with an opportunity to have your professional headshot taken (images to be shared following the fair – approximately one week).  
  • Drake employers often recruit FIRST from the stack of resumes they receive at our Career Fair. 
  • Between 60-80% of jobs are secured through professional networks, and you must build your network BEFORE you need it! 
  • Opportunities exist that you never knew about with organizations you might never consider.  
  • Practice builds confidence. You may not be formally searching for an opportunity right now, but you can build your confidence for future fairs by practicing your elevator pitch, sharing your resume, and talking with employers NOW! 

Student Registration is open! 
Sign up on Handshake: https://drake.joinhandshake.com/edu/career_fairs/57887 

Professional attire required at the fair!
No jeans or sweatpants. A suit is recommended. If you don’t own a suit, wear trousers/dress pants/skirt and a button-down shirt, blouse or sweater. 

Polish Your Resume & Other Career Fair Resources: Thursday, February 5; walk-in, in-person anytime between 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM 

Become An Orientation Leader

Orientation leaders are dedicated to providing incoming students and their families with all of the information and resources necessary to ensure their transition to Drake is a smooth and enjoyable one.

We need you to help make this happen. Each year we recruit current Drake students to become part of the orientation leader staff. Orientation leaders play a vital role in this exciting process, working closely with new students and their families on a wide variety of topics including academics, student involvement, housing options, and more.

We highly encourage you to attend one of the information sessions being offered. Click here to sign up for a session.

  • Tuesday, February 3, at 8 p.m. on Zoom
  • Wednesday, February 11, at 5 p.m. in JSC 250

You will be compensated for your time and effort and gain valuable skills in this position. Learn more about the position. For questions, contact Marina Verlengia at marina.verlengia@drake.edu.

— Marina Verlengia, New Student and Parent Programs

Join Drake’s Welcome Weekend Team

Peer Mentor/Academic Consultants (PMACs) aim to assist new first-year students in feeling welcome, comfortable and connected at Drake. They do this by initiating communication with incoming first-year students in July, facilitating peer connections during Welcome Weekend, and continuing to assist students as they navigate their first semester at Drake.

We highly encourage you to attend one of the information sessions being offered. Click here to sign up for a session.

  • PMAC Info Session – Thursday, February 5, at 6 p.m. in JSC 250
  • PMAC Info Session – Tuesday, February 10, on Zoom at 8 p.m.

For more information about the role and application, visit our website.