Category Archives: For Faculty Archive

Congratulations to the Drake faculty granted tenure and/or promotion

At its April meeting, the Drake Board of Trustees voted to approve the newest cohort of tenured and promoted faculty, the Sammons Endowed Professorship of Actuarial Science, the inaugural Flapan Professorship of Biology, and Troyer fellow.  Our colleagues’ hard work and passion as educators are truly extraordinary.

College of Arts & Sciences:

  • Vira Babenko, associate professor with tenure
  • Adam Case, associate professor with tenure
  • Jerry Honts, professor and inaugural Flapan Professorship
  • Erin Horst, associate professor with tenure
  • MaryAnn Huey, professor
  • Shauna Kaplan, associate professor with tenure
  • Vince Kenney, associate professor with tenure
  • En Li, associate professor with tenure
  • Kieran Williams, associate professor with tenure

College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

  • Stacy Gnacinski, associate professor with tenure, Troyer Research Fellow
  • Cassity Gutierrez, professor
  • Jon Hurdelbrink, associate professor with tenure
  • Abebe Mengesha, professor
  • Shankar Munusamy, professor
  • Nate Newman, professor
  • Jamie Pitlick, professor of pharmacy practice

School of Journalism and Mass Communication

  • Lakshmi Tirumala, associate professor with tenure

School of Education

  • Tonia Land, professor

Zimpleman College of Business

  • Doug Bujakowski, associate professor with tenure, Sammons Professorship of Actuarial Science
  • Lendie Follett, associate professor with tenure
  • Alanah Mitchell, professor

— Sue Mattison, Provost

Farewell open house for Director of Community Engaged Learning Renee Sedlacek Lee

All are welcome to join for an open house to celebrate the contributions of Renee Sedlacek Lee, director of Community Engaged Learning, and wish her well in her new role at Workiva, where she will start at the end of May. The Open House will be Wednesday, May 17, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the lower level lobby of Cowles Library and people are welcome to come and go as they are able. Food and beverages will be available.

Renee said, “It has been an absolute pleasure serving as the Director of Community Engaged Learning since 2017 and working to build the capacity and infrastructure of CEL at Drake since 2013.”

— Amanda Martin, Community Engaged Learning

May Provost’s Social and HR recognition night

You are invited to join us at the next Provost’s Drake Social on Thursday, May 18, in Shivers Hospitality Suite, adjacent to the Knapp Center, beginning at 4 p.m.

During this event, faculty, and staff who celebrated (or will be celebrating) a milestone service anniversary or retirement between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023, will be highlighted. Their names will be scrolled on video screens around the room. There will be cake, soft drinks, wine, beer, and light snacks. President Martin will speak at 4:30 p.m.

Please take a moment to stop by and congratulate your co-workers.

Be advised: this event falls on the same day as the State Track Meet, so on-campus parking may be limited. Please allow yourself ample time to find parking before the event.

— Madison Bemus, Office of the Provost

Updates to Drake’s COVID-19 guidance upon conclusion of the national public health emergency

May 11, 2023, marked the end of the federal COVID-19 national public health emergency. Drake has adjusted its COVID-19 guidance to reflect the expiration of the PHE as indicated below.

  • Masking: Masks are not required on Drake’s campus. Individuals who choose to wear a mask based on their own circumstances are encouraged and supported to do so. Changes in this positioning will be predicated on community transmission levels.
  • Test Availability: PCR tests will no longer be available to Drake from the state of Iowa Department of Public Health as a state testing site. Students will be able to obtain tests at the Student Health Center.
  • Test Benefit for Faculty and staff: Drake’s medical plan will no longer pay the full cost for COVID-19 testing services or the purchase of over-the-counter COVID-19 tests as of May 12, 2023. Employees will be responsible for paying the required office visit co-pay amount for testing services as well as the full cost for over-the-counter COVID-19 tests.

Note: If you are on Drake’s medical plan and  wish to get tested for COVID-19 at a pharmacy, you will be required to submit a claim form to Wellmark for reimbursement. The service will be processed per the plan’s cost-share amount. Medicap and Hy-Vee Pharmacies can submit claims for testing services directly to Wellmark.

  • Employee vaccination benefit: Drake’s medical plan will continue to provide COVID-19 vaccinations at no cost. If you have questions about these changes, please contact Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield customer service at 800–362–2230.
  • Reporting Positive COVID-19 Tests: Faculty, staff, and students with a positive test will no longer be required to report test results to the University. Everyone, however, should refer to the CDC for guidance after a positive test and consult with their provider for appropriate care.
  • Relocation Procedures for Residential Students: As of the conclusion of the Spring 2023 semester, the University has discontinued relocation procedures of on-campus students who test positive for COVID-19. This means an isolation room in Ross Hall will no longer be offered as a temporary housing option. Prior to move-in this fall, residential students will be provided additional information about what to do should they test positive for COVID-19.

As always, the University will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation carefully and adjust these measures as needed. Although the official public health emergency has ended, please remain vigilant about protecting yourself and others.

For questions on Drake’s COVID-19 guidance, contact Scott Law at scott.law@drake.edu.

Register for the All Staff Council Kickball Tournament

All Staff Council is bringing back the highly anticipated staff and faculty kickball tournament on Thursday, May 25, to celebrate the start of summer! Register your team or as a free agent today and view the attached flyer for details. Registration must be submitted by Wednesday, May 24, at noon.

Spectators welcome and encouraged! Yard games and refreshments will be provided – we look forward to seeing you there!

— Sydni Jennings, On behalf of All Staff Council

Hazardous waste pick up requests due May 12

An important part of Drake’s ongoing compliance and safety efforts is timely disposal of hazardous waste. If you have waste to be picked up by EHS please complete the following form by Friday, May 12:

https://forms.gle/r1XwPXjHn2gnj4jQ9

Nick Crumpton, chemistry lab instructor, is coordinating the waste disposal effort this spring. If you have questions, reach out to Nick at nicholas.crumpton@drake.edu.

— Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer

Apply now for post-graduate global scholarships coordinator

Job Description
The Post-Graduate Global Scholarships Coordinator position seeks to assist current undergraduate and recent graduates from Drake University in discovering and applying to prestigious scholarships with a global focus. In this position, one can expect to assist mainly in Fulbright applications, but also in other global oriented scholarships such as the Rhodes scholarship or Boren scholarship when requested.

The position runs on an annual, renewable contract, and will be effective from July 1st – June 30, beginning in summer 2023. Faculty will receive two course reassignments or a combination of a course release and a stipend for serving in this capacity. Candidates must be full-time (tenured or consecutive term) faculty members at Drake University at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor.

Primary Job Responsibilities
• Maintaining familiarity with the various fellowships – the award types, eligibility, different country programs, and selection process – to effectively advise students
• Promoting scholarship opportunities via outreach such as information sessions and classroom visits
• Helping students determine the fellowships that best suit their qualifications and interests
• Providing guidance and support to students on their application essays and revisions
• Giving constructive, developmental feedback to students on their writing
• Managing various online application systems and uploading documents
• Coordinating institutional responsibilities for student applicants, such as: panel interviews, institutional endorsements or evaluation documents, and letters of recommendation
• Celebrating successes and helping unsuccessful students manage their disappointments and pursue alternatives
• Helping students recognize what they learn/gain from the process, especially when their work does not succeed in winning a fellowship
• Working with University Marketing and Communications to assist with press releases and publicity to celebrate student awards

Key Qualifications/Skills
• Grant writing skills and an ability to teach those skills to mostly undergraduates for writing statements of grant purpose and personal statements
• Mentoring skills
• International/intercultural experience to advise students about country decisions
• Strong faculty/staff network to recruit for panel interviews and mock interviews
• Ability to run efficient meetings, lead panel interviews, give outreach/recruitment presentations
• Ability to write letters of recommendation and draft institutional endorsements

Additional Information
• The heaviest workload can be expected in August and September
• Workload will vary depending on familiarity with the application process and number of applicants
• As the position mainly assists in Fulbright applications, it may be of interest to visit https://us.fulbrightonline.org/fulbright-program-advisers

Questions concerning the position should be direct to Annique Kiel, Executive Director of Global Engagement and International programs at annique.kiel@drake.edu.

Application Process:
• Interested individuals should submit a statement of interest, outlining strengths in key areas of responsibility, as well as how the position supports their growth and development as a professor at Drake University. The statement of interest should also reference prior experience with or commitment to internationalization efforts and Drake as a global university.
• Applicants must include a letter of support from the individual’s college/school dean
• Files must be submitted to Annique Kiel (annique.kiel@drake.edu) by May 31, 2023. Interviews will take place June, with a July 1 start date.

— Annique Kiel, Global Engagement

Workshop focused on understanding student expectations

On May 22 and May 23, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Deputy Provost Office will be hosting a faculty development workshop seeking to understand what students are expecting of their education, and what we are expecting of them.  In partnership with colleagues from across the University, we will examine what it means to create inclusive syllabi, assignments, and classroom spaces—how we create relationship rich, equitable, and compassionate education—and how we care for our own needs as faculty and staff, while serving our students.

We will be together as a large group for most of that development—with separate tracks during part of the time, for FYS instructors.  New and returning FYS instructors are especially welcome and encouraged to attend.

Participants will be well fed (breakfast, lunch, and a snack), and compensated at a rate of $125 per day.

Please email with questions, and sign up here to signal you’ll be joining us.

— Renée Cramer, Deputy Provost

Upcoming Drake Social to recognize service anniversaries and retirees

You are invited to join us at the next Provost’s Drake Social on Thursday, May 18, in Shivers Hospitality Suite, adjacent to the Knapp Center, beginning at 4 p.m.

During this event, faculty, and staff who celebrated (or will be celebrating) a milestone service anniversary or retirement between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023, will be highlighted.  Their names will be scrolled on video screens around the room.  There will be cake, soft drinks, wine, beer, and light snacks.  President Martin will speak at 4:30 p.m.

Please take a moment to stop by and congratulate your co-workers.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources