Discover the real story behind a rising literary career with bestselling author and Drake graduate Ellen Won Steil, JO’07. In this Everclass session, Ellen reflects on her path from Iowa to the bookshelves, sharing the quiet persistence, reinventions, and even failures that fueled The Lives of Others, Becoming Marlow Fin, and Fortune. She will also discuss what it is like to have one of her books optioned for development as a series on Peacock and how her background in journalism and law sharpened her voice as a storyteller. Perfect for creators seeking motivation, insight, and a candid look at the publishing world.

This is a free event open to all and will be held virtually via Zoom on Thursday, February 26, at 8 p.m.

QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — the 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help.

• When: Tuesdays, Multiple Dates, 2:30-3:30pm. Register Here
• Where: JSC 350, Ernest Boardroom

Contact Kayla.Bell@drake.edu if you have any questions or need additional dates.

Most of us are on guard for suspicious emails, but cybercriminals have increasingly shifted to a more personal and immediate channel: text messages. This type of attack is known as smishing. Understanding what smishing is—and how to spot it—can help protect both your personal information and University data.

What Is Smishing?

Smishing (a blend of SMS and phishing) is a scam where attackers send fraudulent text messages designed to trick you into taking a risky action. These messages often try to create urgency or fear, so you’ll respond quickly without thinking.

For example, you may receive a text that looks like it’s from your manager:

“Hi, I’m tied up in meetings. Can you quickly buy a few gift cards and text me the codes? I’ll reimburse you.”

This is a classic smishing scam. Attackers impersonate managers or executives to pressure employees into acting quickly.

A smishing message may also ask you to:

• Click a malicious link
• Call a fake support number
• Share sensitive information such as passwords, PINs, or onetime codes
• Download a harmful app

How to Protect Yourself

• Be suspicious of urgent or unusual requests sent by text.
• Never buy gift cards, share passwords, or send codes based on a text message.
• Verify requests through another channel (call, Teams message, or email you know is legitimate).
• Don’t click links in unexpected texts.
• Select “Delete and report as spam” to discard the text message.

When in doubt, slow down and verify. A quick check can prevent a costly mistake.

— Chris Mielke, ITS

Have you been itching to find out where the J-Term 2027 travel seminars will be heading? The wait is almost over! Join us at the annual Study Abroad Fair (formerly J-Term fair) on Wednesday, March 4, from 4–6:30 p.m. in Parents Hall North, Olmsted Center.

This fair will be bigger and better, as it will showcase ALL opportunities to study and intern abroad for the upcoming academic year. All current students are invited to join us to learn more about our DU cohort programs (now in 3 locations around the world), meet faculty leaders & learn about the 2027 J-Term opportunities, discover semester program locations, find international internship options, hear about student life abroad from alums, and more! We can’t wait to see you there!

— Chelsea Funk, Global Engagement

DART will introduce all new bus routes in the metro this summer. Ten main routes will replace current bus routes to provide service more often, all week, along the busiest streets. All Express Routes, Flex Connect, On Call services and the LINK shuttle in downtown Des Moines will end. DART will continue to provide Paratransit service and will launch new DART On Demand zones this fall. Operating hours will also change.

New bus routes will begin on June 14, 2026.

Learn about the new routes and other DART changes coming this summer and view a map of the new bus network at ridedart.com/newroutes

As a reminder, all Drake students, faculty, & staff ride DART buses for FREE by simply just showing your digital Drake ID.

— Nate Reagen, Office of the President

Mark your calendars! Registration for the Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield opens on Tuesday, February 10. For two days only you can register for just $10.

Join the Drake community and runners of all ages for a mile through downtown Des Moines. Everyone gets a Grand Blue Mile shirt, kids 12 and under earn finish line medals, participants can aim for the iconic Bulldog Double. Plus, enjoy Mascot Madness, a festive Kids Zone, and the high-energy downtown atmosphere that makes this one mile unforgettable.

Whether you’re running, walking, or cheering from the sidelines, this is your chance to be part of the fun. Don’t miss out — set your reminder now.

For more information, visit: grandbluemile.com.

— Ben Huftalin, Drake Relays

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

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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.

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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

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).

 

 

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