The Sprout Garden will be relocating this fall from its Forest Avenue location to make room for the DMPS Community Stadium project. The garden’s new location will be in the grassy area west of campus on 31st Street, just south of Drake West Village. The new space will allow the garden to expand its growing capacity and educational opportunities through the addition of native plants, trees, and permaculture. You may start seeing this move occur over the next several weeks. While the proposed expansion will happen in phases, click on the photo to see what the space may look like one day.

There are volunteer opportunities and opportunities for classes to get involved with the garden. Email amanda.martin@drake.edu to learn more.

— Amanda Martin, Community Engaged Learning

DU Good Day, Drake’s annual day of service, is extending to DU Good Month for 2020. We encourage students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of Drake to find socially distant ways to volunteer and join together for service-oriented virtual events during the month of October. Visit the DU Good Month website to see how you can get involved—share your volunteering/community service story, attend a virtual event, volunteer in your community, and more.

For questions, contact Amelia Klatt, assistant director of Alumni Relations, at amelia.klatt@drake.edu or 515–271–3378.

— Amelia Klatt, Alumni Relations

Drake University welcomed 18 new faculty members and two new deans for the 2020–2021 academic year. Coming from various backgrounds and communities, these new faces will help drive the University’s mission to provide an exceptional learning environment that prepares students for meaningful personal lives, professional accomplishments, and responsible global citizenship.

Learn more about the 2020–2021 new faculty cohort, including why they chose Drake and their field of study.

— Sandra Harris, Provost’s Office

Add some steps to your day while exploring campus with the Bulldog Mile! This bulldog-shaped, one-mile path around and through campus is perfect for easy walking, jogging, or running.

Most signs have been posted and blue paw prints placed strategically around the route. The main sign with a map of the route will be installed outside of Olmsted by the end of the month.

To view the route, go to drake.edu/map, click on the drop down tab next to Points of Interest, and click on The Bulldog Mile.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Are you looking for some motivation to get moving? The Walktober Step Challenge may be the answer.

You will receive a journal and instructions to track your daily steps both on and off campus during the month of October. Any movement that records steps counts, including walking, working in the yard, and fitness classes. Along the way, you will receive fun facts and have a chance to win individual prizes.

This event is open to all faculty, staff, and students. To register, send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu. The deadline to register is Friday, Sept. 25.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

The 2020 Lawrence C. and Delores M. Weaver Medal of Honor, the highest honor given by the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, is being awarded to national pharmacy leader, Charlie Porter, PH’70, of Jefferson, Iowa.

A livestream of Charlie Porter’s lecture is taking place on Friday, Sept. 25, at 11:30 a.m. and can be accessed at drake.edu/cphs/weaver-lecture/.

Learn more about Charlie and the Weaver Medal of Honor.

— Kaylyn Maher, College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences

Back to Class features speakers from Drake’s campus in a virtual setting. Bulldogs are invited to join from wherever they are to learn about unique topics, hear from voices on campus, and connect with the Drake community.

Griff II (aka George) stepped into the Live Mascot role this summer as Griff I is now happily living the retired life. Griff II is a two-year-old English bulldog, and brings playful energy to his role of recruitment ambassador, campus celebrity, and beloved community figure. Erin Bell, director of the Live Mascot Program, will provide an update on the program and insights into life with Griff II, and answer your questions. (Please submit your questions via the Qualtrics link in your registration confirmation email.)

Register here.

When: Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 6:30 p.m. CDT
Where: Blackboard Collaborate (Note: A link to join will be emailed prior to the start of the event. You do not need to download any software or have a web camera.)

Have a topic you would like to share for the alumni relations Back to Class series or any questions about this Back to Class? Contact Amelia Klatt, assistant director of Alumni Relations, at amelia.klatt@drake.edu or 515-271-3378.

— Amelia Klatt, Alumni Relations

The Drake University Constitutional Law Center is pleased to announce Stephen Gardbaum as the 2020 Constitution Day speaker. Gardbaum will present “The Counter-Playbook:  Resisting the Populist Assault on Separation of Powers.” The Constitution Day Lecture is scheduled for Sept. 17, 2020, at 3 p.m. and will be delivered virtually.

Gardbaum holds the Stephen Yeazell Endowed Chair in Law at UCLA School of Law. An internationally recognized constitutional scholar, his research focuses on comparative constitutional law, federalism, and the foundations of liberal legal and political theory. His numerous articles on constitutional law have appeared, among other places, in the Harvard Law Review, Stanford Law Review, International Journal of Constitutional Law, and American Journal of Comparative Law. His widely-reviewed book The New Commonwealth Model of Constitutionalism: Theory and Practice (Cambridge University Press, 2013) explores a novel approach to protecting rights in democracy. His scholarship has been cited by the U.S. and Canadian Supreme Courts.

Gardbaum received a B.A. with first class honors from Oxford University, an M.Sc. from London University, a Ph.D. in political theory from Columbia University, and a J.D. from Yale University.

The Drake University Constitution Day Lecture is held annually to commemorate the signing of the Constitution on September 17, 1787, and to recognize all U.S. citizens.

View registration information.

— Theresa Howard, Law School