Third annual Dogtown Lights will ceremoniously flip the switch at 6 p.m. this Saturday, Nov. 11. Join Dogtown businesses and neighbors for this premiere, and be sure to engage with the interactive lighting installation throughout the winter months.
— Ryan Arnold, Director, Community Engagement
Sleep significantly impacts so many aspects of health and well-being. Join our Broadlawns Drake University Student Counselors, Tyler and Sydnee, in our sleep hygiene workshop on Thursday, Nov. 9, at 4 p.m. Register.
— Kayla Bell-Consolver, Broadlawns Drake Counseling Center
The Tom and Ruth Harkin Center is now open to the public on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 2:30-4 p.m. Feel free to stop by during that time to check out its state-of-the-art, accessible building and exciting exhibits!
— Kathryn Kuckelman, Harkin Institute
Don’t forget to get out and vote on November 7th! This link will tell you your polling location and give you a sample ballot. https://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/.
— Chloe Lepak, sophomore, College of Arts & Sciences
The Events Management team strives to showcase Drake University as a top tier educational institution in all aspects – From special events to camps and conferences, and all matters in between. Their mission is to make sure all students, staff, and faculty feel supported in their creative pursuits. Outside of Drake, they hope to assist the Des Moines community in providing a premier event experience, enhancing the perception of Drake and its commitment to a greater social cause.
Housed in the Olmsted Student Center, Twenty-year team veteran and University Events Manager Matt Miller leads the way with Assistant Managers Betsy White and newcomer Dillon Beckmann. With the help of a 30+ student staff, the Event Management team’s impact reaches campus-wide assisting with all types of events.
2023 brought about the largest array of camps and conferences on Drake’s campus in years, including dozens of new clients. These opportunities as well as the upcoming political season open the door for the Events Management team to showcase Drake’s premium facilities on a local and national scale.
With two thirds of its team having Drake University roots, and participating on the All Staff Council, it’s obvious that they are fully committed to Drake’s success. That commitment can be seen everyday through the successful execution of a budget meeting or an ever-complex International Professional Development Conference.
For their positive attitudes and endless commitment to our campus-wide success, please join the Drake University – ASC Recognition Committee in giving the Events Management team a resounding Bulldog Applause!
— Amber Welsh, On Behalf of All Staff Council
Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week is recognized across the United States each November. In honor of that week, Next Course Food Recovery is inviting the campus community to a Hunger Simulation being facilitated by DMARC, a local organization that manages a food pantry network of 14 sites.
DMARC has shared that they have consistently been having their busiest months ever. This August, they saw an 18% increase from last August – with 23,886 people making 27,142 visits to DMARC food pantries.
Come to the Hunger Simulation to learn more about the issue of food insecurity in Central Iowa. This is an interactive, engaging experience.
It will be held Thursday, Nov. 9, from 4–5:30 p.m. in the Olmsted Conference Rooms 310-311. Register on DUgood.
Next Course Food Recovery recruits and trains volunteers to collect leftover, untouched food from the dining halls, catering events, and cafes at Drake and delivers it to local non-profits. Learn more or to sign up to volunteer.
— Amanda Martin, Community Engaged Learning
Join us Thursday, Nov. 16, at 5 p.m. to experience a one-of-a-kind conversation with legendary Phoenix Suns broadcaster, Al McCoy, FA’54. Recently retired after an incredible 51 seasons as “The Voice of the Suns,” Al McCoy is a true NBA icon. Join us for an exclusive opportunity to delve into his incredible career, hear unforgettable stories from Suns history, and get a behind-the-scenes look at his remarkable journey from the small town of Williams, Iowa, to Drake and the NBA.
This is a virtual event and it is open to alumni, faculty, staff, and students.
Register here.
Questions? Reach out to Mady Nachtman at mady.nachtman@drake.edu.
Students, faculty, and staff are invited to the Drake University Archives on Friday, Nov. 10, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a caucus-themed button making event. Stop by Cowles for to make your own button, take a look at the Archives’ political button collection, and meet special guest Griff II. This event is sponsored by the Iowa Caucus Project and the Drake University Archives. No RSVP required, please feel free to stop by any time between 11 a.m.– 2 p.m.
— Libby Johnson, Junior, College of Arts & Sciences
The Drake Principal Center for Global Citizenship is pleased to announce that it is now accepting nominations from the Drake campus community for the annual Global Citizenship Award, recognizing one current Drake student for their outstanding global and intercultural competency. The selected awardee will receive a plaque and an award of up to $1,000.
Eligibility
The nominee must be a current student enrolled in any Drake degree program and who is in good academic standing. This individual must be at Junior (third year) standing or higher at the time of nomination. Full-time international students and students enrolled in graduate/professional programs are eligible for this award. The nominee cannot have won this award within the past five years.
Timeline
Nominations for this award will be accepted from November 7, 2023, through February 11, 2024. Nominees will be reviewed by the Global Engagement Advisory Council (GEAC), and the selected awardee will be announced at the Global Citizen Forum in March 2024.
Nomination
A letter of nomination should be submitted recommending an individual for the award and explaining the context and manner in which the nominator has come to know the student. This may be submitted by any member of the Drake campus community, including faculty, staff, administration, current students, and alumni.
Students may self-nominate for this award, which will require that a letter of support from a member of the campus community be included in their nomination form.
Pursuant to the University’s mission to prepare students for “responsible global citizenship,” the nomination or support letter must explain how the nominee has made outstanding contributions toward enhancing their global and intercultural competency during their Drake career. Preference will be given for demonstrated leadership and impact.
Nominees who indicate a willingness to be considered will be invited to submit a resume/CV and a brief statement. One or two additional letters of support from faculty, staff, or students may be submitted to support the nomination; this is optional.
Any individual who was nominated for the award in the preceding year may be re-nominated. A record of previous nominees is maintained for two years. If a student is re-nominated, the nominator will be invited to review the file from the previous year to ensure that the nomination details are current.
Nominations should be submitted via this online form.
Please direct questions to global@drake.edu.
— Hannah Sappenfield, Global Engagement
On Wednesday, Nov. 8, students, faculty, and staff will be invited to participate in the Healthy Minds Study (HMS), which will be delivered via email. Two versions of the survey will be administered concurrently—a student version and a faculty/staff version.
The Healthy Minds Network (HMN) is one of the nation’s premier research organizations contributing to adolescent and young adult mental health. HMN is dedicated to improving the mental and emotional well-being of young people through innovative, multidisciplinary scholarship.
Be assured: all your answers will remain confidential. You will not be identifiable as an individual and your participation in this project is completely voluntary. The HMS will conduct the study to prevent anyone at Drake University from having access to the raw data and HMS will not share your individual responses with any 3rd parties. Once the survey is complete, HMS will only provide aggregate data sets to relevant individuals on campus. This data will then be used to identify areas that should be targeted during the quality initiative as well as informing other related projects being conducted by several colleges/schools.
By participating, you will be contributing to a full understanding of where our campus is relative to well-being and mental health. This information will be used to improve campus life and you will be contributing to a broader goal of promoting well-being within higher education.
Drake will be completing weekly prize drawings for anyone who completes the survey. One student will be randomly selected each week and will be able to choose AirPods, a sunrise alarm, or a weighted blanket. One faculty/staff member will be randomly selected each week and will be able to choose a student to take to lunch (using a $40 Bulldog Bucks credit). Additionally, all invited participants will be entered into the national sweepstakes and have a chance to win a gift card of up to $500.
More information about the Healthy Minds Network is available here: https://healthymindsnetwork.org/
Questions about the survey can be directed to Laura Shell, Strategic Director for Student Retention & Success.
— Laura Shell, Academic Excellence and Student Success
