Category Archives: Campus Announcements Archive

Professional Headshot Sessions April 25

University Communications and Marketing will hold professional headshot sessions Friday, April 25, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Old Main, Conference Room 115. The sessions are free to all students, faculty, and staff.

Visit the Drake University events calendar and select REGISTER to select a time for your photo.

High-resolution portraits are made available for download through SmugMug 3–6 weeks after the photos are taken. Images can be downloaded at https://drakeuniversity.smugmug.com/Headshots-1.

— Jimmy Hoover, University Communications and Marketing

Beautiful Bulldog Contest April 21

Mark your calendars for the 46th Annual Beautiful Bulldog Contest®. The contest will take place Monday, April 21, at 6 p.m. Doors will open to fans at 5 p.m. to enjoy the Rescue Dog Festival and Kids Zone before the pageant begins. The event is free and open to the public. There will be a giveaway for the first 125 students to show up with their Drake ID.

The Beautiful Bulldog Contest® at Drake University is a unique trademarked event with an over 40-year history. The event kicks off a week-long Drake Relays celebration. Thirty English Bulldogs walk the pup-way to impress judges in hopes of being crowned the Most Beautiful Bulldog. The winner of the contest will reign as the Most Beautiful Bulldog for the 2025 Drake Relays.

For questions, email beautifulbulldog@drake.edu.

— Courtney Conrad, Alumni Office

Cowles Library April Featured Collections

This April brings a literary treat,
With poems and books, both can’t be beat!
It’s National Poetry Month so let’s celebrate,
With rhymes and stories that captivate!

For bookish hearts and poets, too,
We’ve got the perfect reads for you.
Come browse in person, or click online,
A book, a poem – your perfect find.

National Poetry Month – Immerse yourself in the power of poetry with a curated collection featuring classic and contemporary poets. Explore diverse voices, styles, and themes that bring language to life.
Books About Books (Early April) – Dive into stories where libraries, bookstores, and book lovers take center stage! Our selection includes fiction and nonfiction that celebrate the magic of books and the people who cherish them.

Stop by, get inspired, and discover your next favorite read at Cowles Library!

—Joanna Stankiewicz, Cowles Library


Disability Awareness Week April 7–12

Join the Disability Coalition for its third annual Disability Awareness Week from April 7–12. From a panel on the connections between mental and physical health, to a student-led presentation on how Drake can best support disabled students, to trivia and resources in the Olmsted Breezeway—there’s something for everyone in this week dedicated to accessibility and advocacy.

Professional captioning will be available at the events on April 7 and 9. Contact disabilitycoalition@drake.edu with any questions or additional accommodation requests.

— Morgan Ryan, AS

2025 Constitutional Law Symposium: “A Global Comparison of Presidential Immunity in Democracies”

The Drake Constitutional Law Center will host the 2025 Constitutional Law Symposium on Saturday, March 29, from 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. The program will be delivered in Cartwright Hall, room 213, or virtually via Zoom. The annual Constitutional Law Symposium invites scholars, judges, and lawyers from across the country to discuss a timely constitutional issue. Speakers include:

Penelope Andrews, John Marshall Harlan Professor of Law and director, Racial Justice Project, New York Law School

Carlos Bernal, professor of law, University of Dayton School of Law and former Justice of the Columbia Constitutional Court

Stephen Vladeck, professor of law, Georgetown University Law Center

Kieran Williams, associate professor and co-chair, Department of Political Science, Drake University

“This Symposium seeks to examine the question of Presidential immunity in democracies globally,” said Professor Mark Kende, the Director of the Drake Constitutional Law Center. “There are certain countries, for example like Brazil, where a losing incumbent is often prosecuted by the winner. This is chaotic and not very democratic. In other countries, like France, Presidents are untouchable, based on supposed democratic necessity. The goal of comparing these different countries and approaches is to see what can be learned about the best frameworks for Presidential immunity.”

Iowa Continuing Legal Education credit applied for and pending. This event is open to the public and free for Drake Law students, faculty/staff, alumni, and all Drake undergrad students. Register online here.

The proceedings are published in an upcoming issue of the Drake Law Review. Registrants may pre-order a copy for $15.

— Taylor Johnson, Law School

Iowa Character Awards, Nominations Due May 2

Let’s work together to bring attention to what makes Iowa great—our people! Our Character Awards highlight Iowa’s role models, and you can help make sure the deserving individuals/organizations in your life are recognized.

Your nomination makes a big impact! By submitting our quick and easy nomination form, you’re helping deserving Iowans receive meaningful recognition.

Nominate a deserving person or group for a 2025 Iowa Character Award by May 2, 2025.

Get started on your nomination at IowaCharacterAwards.org.

— Amy Smit, Robert D. & Billie Ray Center

Register for the Harkin On Wellness Symposium: The Future of Clean Water

The 2025 Harkin On Wellness Symposium will take place April 16, 2025, focusing on the Future of Clean Water. This year’s theme was chosen to highlight and synthesize the progress being made around the country in protecting and improving water quality through community engagement, environmental education, watershed protection, water conservation initiatives, and innovative water quality monitoring programs.

Clean water is fundamental to public health and environmental sustainability and is increasingly under threat from climate change and other human-caused risks. Community-based initiatives that protect and improve water quality have been shown to have lasting, positive impacts on both human and environmental health. Furthermore, programs that engage communities in hands-on water quality improvement and conservation can foster environmental stewardship that benefits current and future generations.

This year’s event will recognize groups working to preserve clean water, including nonprofit organizations, environmental groups, and community organizations, for the tremendous role they play in protecting this vital resource.

Learn more and register here!

Drake Dining Satisfaction Survey

This spring, Drake Dining Services wants to hear from you! Fill out our survey, and you’ll automatically be entered to win one of three $100 Dining Dollar Prizes!

Our goal at Drake Dining Services is to create exceptional experiences every day. Your feedback is vital as we continue to evolve the dining program, and we invite you to take just a few short minutes to share your experience. The Customer Satisfaction Survey allows us to capture feedback on critical areas, such as food quality, variety, availability of healthy items, and customer service. In return, you will be entered to win one of three $100 Dining Dollar Prizes. The survey will be open from March 3rd to March 15th.

Get started by clicking: https://imo.cx/1S1bHVqE

We look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for helping us build a better dining program!

— Nicholas Mussman, Dining Services

Drake Road Races Student and Employee Discount Reminder

Registration for the Drake Road Races and Grand Blue Mile, presented by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, is open, and you can save by using these exclusive discount codes! But don’t wait—these codes expire on April 1, so make sure to register before then to secure the lower prices.

  • 5k – Use code 2025Drake5k
  • 10k – Use code 2025Drake10k
  • Half Marathon – Use code 2025DrakeHalf

Also, prices for the Grand Blue Mile, presented by Wellmark, will increase on April 1, so now’s the time to sign up and lock in the current rates before they go up!

Whether you’re running the 5k, 10k, Half Marathon or the mile, don’t miss your chance to be part of America’s Athletic Classic!

— Ben Huftalin, Drake Relays