Each month a faculty member, nominated by their dean, is recognized for their efforts to integrate innovative technology into their classroom. February’s digital faculty member of the month is Alanah Mitchell, associate professor of Information Systems, College of Business and Public Administration. Read an interview with Alanah below:

Which course do you use this technology in? 
IS 160: Database Management. In this course, required for all Information Systems students as well as Data Analytics students, we cover foundational database concepts and technologies. It’s also open to students in other majors where students are encouraged to understand data and where and how it’s stored and accessed. 

What type of technology do you use?The students in this class learn Structured Query Language (SQL). We use technologies including a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), Citrix Workspace, MySQL, MySQL Workbench, Microsoft Vizio, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerBI, and Tableau. 

In what context do you use this technology? 
Students work in groups to design and implement their own database using real data. Groups begin by identifying data they want to use and developing a data model in Microsoft Visio to present their database plans. The initial data models are converted to specific database design using MySQL Workbench. They then use SQL to create the tables and data in a MySQL database. Additional work is done to identify interesting questions and answers with the data. Finally, groups develop visualizations using Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerBI, and Tableau. 

How does this type of technology align with your teaching pedagogy?Understanding the theoretical foundations of database management is important. However, having the hands-on experience is the best way to really understand “why” as well as other best practices in database management. I don’t expect that every student in this course will go on to work as a database administrator (DBA); however, the majority of the students in this course will work with data and database administrators. 

How long did it take for you to implement this technology? 
Immediately upon my arrival at Drake, four years ago, I was able to identify the right people in ITS to help me. ITS was able to make a server available with the necessary software for my students to learn hands-on. I am really happy with the ongoing success of this arrangement. 

Did ITS assist you in implementing this technology? If so, how?
Every semester ITS helps me create both individual and group storage accounts to make this class successful. The help desk also assists students with initial setup or connection issues.

Are you interested in trying out new technology in your classroom? Want help from ITS staff? Schedule a technology adoption consultation.

Jon Hurdelbrink, CPHS, and Carla Herling, ITS

The Provost’s next Drake Social is fast approaching, scheduled for Wednesday, March 6, from 4–6 p.m. at Shivers Hospitality Suite. 

Faculty and staff who are great examples of our fourth Drake Core Value will be honored. Nominations are due to Drinda Williams by Monday, March 4, at drinda.williams@drake.edu.

All Staff Council will be hosting a faculty/staff Trivia Night during the last hour of the social. All are invited to join a table for the fun! See the separate story on Trivia Night.

Commitment to Mission is defined as: We are united in service to our students and communities. We are optimistic about our future, and act with integrity and purpose as we deliver on our mission. Watch a video to learn what Commitment to Mission means to those around campus.

Drinda Williams, Academic Support Specialist, Office of the Provost

Have you ever noticed the names etched into the south portal of Cowles Library? Did you ever wonder how these scholars were chosen for representation? Did you ever think there might be other scholars worthy of recognition? We have answers…and questions for you.

The names — Galileo and Newton, Plato and Kant, Bacon and Pasteur, Beethoven and Wagner, Euripides and Shakespeare, Michelangelo and Rembrandt — were chosen to represent “the six branches of knowledge—Philosophy, Science, Music, Art, Literature, and Astronomy,” according to a 1939 document by (we think) Mary Bell Nethercut, director of Cowles Library. “The first of each group was one of the older and recognized representations and the other, one typical of a trend of the newer age.”

As we look at the list now, though, with 21st Century perspective, what leaps to mind is that they’re all white men. We believe that there have been other scholars worthy of recognition in the Cowles portal: scholars of color, women scholars, scholars with disabilities. We invite your help in identifying them. Submit a nomination by March 15.

For questions, please reach out to a member of Cowles Library’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee: Marcia Keyser and Cameron Tuai, co-chairs; Hope Bibens, Dan Chibnall, Laura Krossner, Kathy Lincoln, and Jill Gremmels, members.

Jill Gremmels, Dean, Cowles Library

Test your trivia knowledge by joining All Staff Council for a faculty and staff trivia night immediately following the Provost’s Social on March 6 from 5–6 p.m. at Shivers Hospitality Suite. Teams of up to six are encouraged, but not required, and there will be prizes for the winning team.

Anthony Leto, Collection and Loan Specialist

Faculty, it’s time to submit your course material requests for summer. The deadline for submitting your materials is March 15. Receiving your list of materials as soon as possible allows the Book Store to source the most affordable books for your students and provide top dollar for students selling books back at the end of this term. With the Book Store’s Online Adoption Tool, selecting your course materials is fast and easy.

Access the Online Adoption Tool
— Visit www.drake.bkstr.com
— Go to Books in the top navigation and under the Information heading, click Online Adoptions.
— If you need additional training to use the Online Adoption Tool, please contact me.

Are You a New User?
— Follow the steps listed above.
— Click on New? Register Here and complete the required fields.
— Enter 1623 in the Bookstore Supplied Password field.

Download the 6 Ways to Help Students Save on Textbooks to learn about Follett’s different types of course material purchasing options. If you have any questions about the Online Adoption Tool or how to save students money, please contact Donna Hallstrom, course materials managers, University Book Store.

Donna Hallstrom, University Book Store

Last month, Drake’s All Staff Council Recognition Committee celebrated the Athletics Department with a surprise treat delivery, compliments of Drake Dining. This spotlight below provides a few facts about the Athletics Department. Thank you to the department for everything they do to make Drake a great place!

How many staff members are in the department? 90

What is the primary function of the team? Do you have a mission/vision/motto?  Our team’s mission is to serve and positively change the world through sport, one student-athlete at a time. Our culture is defined by what we call ‘Living the Bulldog Way’.  The Bulldog Way is articulated through the following touchstone: 

We act with INTEGRITY
We demonstrate an uncompromising COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE
We OUT WORK and OUT HUSTLE our opponent in pursuit of CHAMPIONSHIPS
We desire the BEST FOR and expect the BEST FROM each other
We MAXIMIZE OUR POTENTIAL by ASPIRING TO GREATNESS
WE LIVE THE BULLDOG WAY.

Who has been with the team the longest, and what is their job title and length of employment?  Charlie DiSilvestro, Head Rowing Coach, hired in July of 1993.

Who is the newest team member, and what is their job title and month/year of start? Katie Walker, Assistant Volleyball Coach, started January 24, 2019

What campus buildings do your team members “live” in? Our team occupies offices north of Forest, in the Fieldhouse, Bell Center, Knapp Center, and Roger Knapp Tennis Center.

What are some recent challenges and accomplishments of note that others in the University might not know about? Recently, we were scheduled to host a men’s basketball game on the night of the Polar Vortex. Classes were canceled and offices were closed, but the game would still go on. With the impending weather, we weren’t sure if we would get any fans to the game. Our department collaborated with several other units on campus to generate student interest in attending. Thanks to these partnerships, we were able to safely transport students to and from the game, and provide a fun experience with free food, t-shirts, and music, while setting a season high for student attendance at a single game!  

Anything else noteworthy/interesting/special about your department that bears mentioning?

• Last semester, our student-athletes posted a cumulative GPA of 3.29 (the strongest fall semester in recorded history)
  • 44 of our 362 student-athletes recorded a 4.0 GPA
  • 71.8% of our student-athletes recorded a GPA of at least 3.0
• Two student-athletes were named Academic All-Americans (Jacob Bacon, Football; Linda Fiorito, Women’s Soccer)
  • Drake has been recognized with 10 Academic All-Americans since the start of the 2017 school year, the most of any institution in the Missouri Valley Conference
• Our department is on pace to eclipse 4,000 hours of community service this year (2 years ago, our athletes recorded fewer than 2,400 hours of community service)
• We strive to get each student-athlete an international study abroad experience with their teams before they graduate.  This year, football took a trip to China, and our men’s and women’s soccer programs traveled to Mexico.  During these experiences, student-athletes participate in an academic course, compete in their respective sports, and serve in the community where they travel.

Cathy Williams, University Advancement

Last fall, the All Staff Council Recognition Committee presented Called to Be True Blue Awards to seven deserving staff members. A staff member or team that is True Blue epitomizes the values of excellence, integrity, leadership, teamwork, and commitment to the Drake community. Here’s a little information about our honorees with excerpts from their nominations.

Linda Feiden, Wellness & Recognition Specialist, Human Resources
“Linda is always positive, always smiling, and epitomizes joyful accountability for Drake University.” “Linda truly embodies the word ‘partner’ and is a shining example of someone willing to work across departments to promote new initiatives, build relationships and create our vibrant campus culture. Drake is a better place because Linda works here!”

Jenny Reitano, Director, Graduate Student Programs, CBPA
“When I think of a leader within the CBPA that continuously works together for the betterment of our team, Jenny instantly comes to mind. She is a strategic leader focused on our team goal of fostering a sense of community across graduate programs.”

Diana Newman, Business Manager, CPHS
“Diana epitomizes the values of leadership, teamwork, and integrity, and exhibits her commitment to Drake on a daily basis. We are very fortunate at Drake and in the CPHS to have Diana Newman on our team. She is a deserving employee that has consistently gone above and beyond.”

Suzanne Wisslead, Assistant Director, Admission
“Suzanne surpasses expectations when questions arise…and never under delivers! I appreciate her view of bettering Drake University from the very first point of contact.”

Marina Verlengia, Director, New Student and Parent Programs, Academic Excellence and Student Success
“Marina is an incredible member of the Drake community who made an instant impact in her very first year here, and continues to challenge herself to grow programs, try new things, and improve the impact of her programs on students.”

Erin Bell, Live Mascot Director, Athletics
“From striving to find new and unique ways to share Griff with the world, to always being friendly and warm with our constituents and fellow staff, to saying yes and finding ways to squeeze in one more appearance in a jam packed calendar to embodying our mission, Drake is lucky to have Erin Bell.” “Erin Bell not only shows us all what it means to be True Blue, she is forging a path to inspire all of us to go beyond that and to help those around us.”

Congratulations to all of our True Blue honorees!

Do you know of a staff member or department that has gone above and beyond to exemplify True Blue spirit? Nominate them today!

Nominations are now being accepted for the Madelyn M. Levitt Employee Excellence and Distinguished Community Service Awards. Nominations are due to Human Resources by Friday, March 29. Late nominations will not be accepted.

Distinguished Community Service Award
Madelyn M. Levitt established the Distinguished Community Service Award to recognize the outstanding contributions of Drake faculty and staff to the Drake community. Recipients are chosen on the following criteria:

• A demonstrated personal commitment to volunteerism and community service
• An outstanding record of leadership or substantial involvement in community projects, services and activities contributing to the quality of life in our region, state and/or the nation
• Professional and personal values and behavior that typify the ideals of “giving back to others” and “making a difference in the lives of others”
• The nominee must be a current faculty or staff member with at least five years of service at Drake

Employee Excellence Award
The Employee Excellence Award is presented to a staff member who demonstrates exceptional commitment to excellence in the performance of their duties. Criteria for the award include:

• Exceptional performance as an employee of Drake University
• Outstanding dedication to providing courteous, prompt and quality service.
• Demonstrated commitment to University programs, initiatives and services.
• Professional values and behavior that demonstrate exceptional service to others and a commitment to Drake University 
• The nominee must be a current staff member with at least one year of service at Drake.

To nominate a colleague, submit a letter of nomination to the Levitt Award Committee, care of (c/o) Human Resources. Nomination letters may be sent through campus mail or electronically to drakehr@drake.edu. The letter should detail specific examples of how the nominee exemplifies each of the applicable criteria. Additional letters of support are not necessary. 

The screening committee will review all nominations and make appropriate recommendations to the President’s Council.

The 2019 recipient of the Madelyn M. Levitt Employee Excellence Award and Distinguished Community Service Award will be announced during the Sapphire Awards on May 9 at 1 p.m. in Levitt Hall or during the Faculty Honors Luncheon.

Linda Feiden, Wellness & Recognition Specialist

Road Trip to Drake, formerly known as the Chicago Bus Trip, is a 15+ year tradition and we want everyone to be a part of it. This Sunday and Monday, Drake is hosting over 180 prospective high school seniors for an overnight visit that will help solidify that Drake is the place they all will call home next fall. Let’s showcase why we love being a bulldog and why we bleed blue. On Monday, Feb. 18, we ask that all faculty/staff wear Drake blue.

Josefina Lopez Valdivia, Admission Counselor