All posts by Kathryn Kuckelman

Deadline extended for The Harkin Institute’s DC Experience Scholarships

The application deadline for The Harkin Institute D.C. Experience Scholarship and the Robert J. Waters and Patricia J. Beneke Endowed Washington, D.C. Experience Scholarship has been extended! Applications are now due April 1, 2024.

Our scholarships help cover the costs of housing and travel expenses for those completing an internship in Washington, D.C.

Haven’t secured an internship yet? No problem. You can still apply for our scholarship while searching.

Click here to learn more and apply!

— Kathryn Kuckelman, The Harkin Institute

Spring 2024 Sussman Lecture: Pain and Politics in the Heart of America with Dr. Jennifer Silva

The Harkin Institute’s Spring 2024 Sussman Lecture, “Pain and Politics in the Heart of America” with Dr. Jennifer Silva is this Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Dr. Silva will discuss the economic, social, and cultural challenges currently facing America’s working class and how those challenges have impacted the ability of the working class to achieve the American Dream. Dr. Silva has written two books surrounding these topics, Coming Up Short: Working-Class Adulthood in an Age of Uncertainty and We’re Still Here: Pain and Politics in the Heart of America. In Coming Up Short, Dr. Silva conducted one hundred interviews with working class residents in two towns-Lowell, Massachusetts, and Richmond, Virginia, and shed light on their experience of heightened economic insecurity, deepening inequality, and uncertainty about marriage and family. In We’re Still Here, Dr. Silva conducted more than a hundred interviews of Black, white, and Latino working-class residents of a declining coal town in Pennsylvania to examine the civic and political disengagement of working-class people.

Date: March 6, 2024

Time: 7–8 p.m. CT

Location: Tom and Ruth Harkin Center (2800 University Ave., Des Moines, IA 50311)

YouTube Live Stream on The Harkin Institute’s YouTube Channel

Registration: This event is free and open to the public but registration via Eventbrite is required.

Accommodations: American Sign Language (ASL) and Live Captioning (CART) will be provided for both in person and virtual attendees. Additional accommodation requests can be made by emailing harkininstitute@drake.edu.

Click here to register

— Kathryn Kuckelman, The Harkin Institute

2024 Retirement Security Symposium: Navigating the Journey to Financial Wellness

Whether you’re budgeting for the present or planning for your retirement, managing your finances can be an overwhelming task. That’s why The Harkin Institute chose “Navigating the Journey to Financial Wellness” as the theme for this year’s Harkin Retirement Security Symposium. The event will bring together advocacy and community organizations, government agencies, and private companies and their foundations that work on financial wellness and retirement security. The symposium will provide a forum to discuss the most pressing challenges and find collaborative opportunities to address documented financial wellness needs and their relationship to retirement security, with an emphasis on vulnerable populations.

WHAT: 2024 Harkin Retirement Security Symposium: Navigating the Journey to Financial Wellness

WHEN: Tuesday, April 30, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.

WHERE: Olmstead Center at Drake University (2875 University Ave., Des Moines, IA 5031)

RSVP: Registration is free for Drake students, staff, and faculty. The event will also be live streamed on The Harkin Institute’s YouTube channel.

For more information on the 2024 Harkin Retirement Security Symposium, click here.

— Kathryn Kuckelman, The Harkin Institute

Dogtown After Hours March 22

Dogtown After Hours is a large-scale, collaborative, alcohol-alternative event that entertains over 850 attendees every year during the spring. This year’s event will take place on Friday, March 22, from 8 p.m. to midnight. Drake students will be participating in numerous safe activities on campus, such as: giant yard games, inflatable activities, zorb ball tracks, life size hungry hungry hippos, performances from Drake student groups, etc. In addition to these activities, students will be able to participate in service opportunities that benefit local communities. The event will also include a great deal of food and chances to win prizes.

— Carissa Johnson, Senior

Bulldog Applause goes to Student Services

It’s time to put on our party hats and break out the confetti because we’re shining a spotlight on the incredible team at the Student Services Center (SSC)! This dynamic group, led by the indomitable Sara Heijerman and the fantastic Tiffany Hach, has been making waves and creating smiles on our campus. Need assistance? Look no further than the Olmsted Student Center, just off the breezeway, where the SSC team works its magic.

The SSC boasts two full-time staff members, Sara and Tiffany, who form the powerhouse of the department. Alongside them, a squad of talented student staff, adds an extra layer of awesomeness to the team.

Sara, the maestro orchestrating this symphony of efficiency, has been at the helm since the SSC’s grand opening in August 2014. She’s been a part of the Drake family since January 2013, starting off in the Student Accounts office. Talk about dedication!

Tiffany burst onto the scene in August 2022, diving headfirst into the hustle and bustle of our busiest month. She’s not only been managing the student staff like a pro but has also been the face of top-notch customer service.

Their Mission: Making Campus Life a Breeze.
Ever wonder who’s behind the scenes making campus life run smoothly? That’s our SSC crew! From keys to ID’s, door access to parking permits, Bulldog Bucks to HR paperwork, they’ve got it all covered. Need a print job done? No worries, they’re your go-to print superheroes. Their motto? Turning campus chaos into coordinated calm!

Did you know the SSC recently revolutionized campus identification with the rollout of a mobile credential? Not only is it convenient, but it also enhances security, embraces modernity, and champions eco-friendliness. Now that’s what we call a game-changer!

But wait, there’s more! The SSC team isn’t confined to their office; they’re out and about, participating in campus events and committees. From All Staff Council to the University Book Club, Wellness classes to HR Build opportunities, Sara and Tiffany actively foster a sense of community and belonging.

So, let’s give a resounding Bulldog Applause to the Student Services Center – the unsung heroes making our campus tick, one Bulldog Buck at a time. Thank you, SSC, for your dedication, humor, and the positive vibes you bring to our university family!

Here’s to the SSC squad – where every challenge is met with a smile and every problem is just an opportunity for another triumph!

— Amber Welsh, On Behalf of All Staff Council

Drake political scientist co-edits volume on Václav Havel

Kieran Williams, associate professor and co-chair of the Department of Political Science, has co-edited a collection of essays on the Czech writer-statesman Václav Havel. Each chapter focuses on a keyword closely associated with Havel’s thought – such as truth, power, responsibility – and what it tells us about the enduring meaning of his work and life in our time. Contributors were recruited by Williams and his co-editor, David Danaher (University of Wisconsin-Madison) from a range of disciplines and from around the world; Williams himself wrote two of the chapters. Williams’s 2016 biography of Havel recently appeared in a Turkish translation.

J-Term Fair March 6

The annual J-Term Fair will be held Wednesday, March 6, from 4:30–6:30 p.m. in the upper lobby of Olmsted Center. Discover the 2025 travel seminars destinations and speak with the faculty members leading the experiences to find your perfect opportunity to study abroad next J-Term. First-year students are welcome and snacks will be provided.

— Chelsea Funk, Global Engagement

I Belong, I am Worthy: BIPOC, Neurodivergent, and LGBTQ+ Mental Health Panel Event March 22

In honor of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Week, join the Broadlawns Drake Student Counseling Center and office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for a mental health panel on March 22 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. focused on disrupting the harmful narratives given to marginalized communities, and an open discussion on ways to enhance worth and belonging in the face of social injustice. Participants will also receive free self-care prizes and free food, and admitted students will have the opportunity to be entered into a raffle to win additional self-care prizes, such as weighted blankets, self-help books, and MORE! This is a wonderful opportunity to experience a taste of the culture of inclusivity, belonging, and well-being at Drake! Register here. The event will take place in Parents Hall South.

Kayla Bell-Consolver, Student Counseling Center

BIPOC Women (+) Healing Circles

BIPOC Women (+) Healing Circles are focused on cultivating a space of connection, healing, and belonging as we hold space for various shared experiences that impact wellness and mental health. All BIPOC students that self-identify as or have been socialized as women are encouraged to attend.

When: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month from 5–6 p.m.

Where: Counseling Center

Contact Kayla.bell@drake.edu with any questions.