Category Archives: For Staff Archive

Putting “wellness” into the Nov. 3 Benefits & Wellness Fair

Are you looking for more mental health resources? Would you like to find ways to eat healthier and be more active, get your blood pressure checked, and hang out with Griff II?

This is all included in the “wellness” portion of this Friday’s Benefits & Wellness Fair.

  • Employee & Family Resources (EFR) will be on-hand to share their mental health resources. In addition to counseling, EFR offers financial and legal consulting, eldercare and childcare resources, and life coaching.
  • Samantha Matt, our on-campus dietitian, will answer your nutrition questions. She will also be facilitating a Gut Health BUILD class on Tuesday, Nov. 14, from 2–3 p.m. in Olmsted CR 310/311. Take advantage of both opportunities.
  • Students from the Drake Athletic Training Club will offer free blood pressure checks. It is always good to know this number.  There will also be students from the Kinesiology capstone class on-hand to discuss the connection between physical activity and mental health, and how physical activity can help reduce your chances of getting a cold or the flu this season.
  • And, we will have staff from Recreational Services ready to share information on upcoming Group X classes, and much more.

Griff II will make an early appearance so don’t be late. The annual Benefits & Wellness Fair will be held this Friday, Nov. 3, from 9–11:30 a.m. in Levitt Hall, in Old Main.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Upgrade your computer to Windows 11

ITS is pleased to announce that faculty and staff are eligible to upgrade their computers to Windows 11. To start the process, simply enter a Software Request ticket through our service portal. A campus tech will reach out to you to assist with the upgrade. 

We encourage everyone to upgrade as soon as it’s convenient; this allows you to upgrade on your timeframe and avoid a forced upgrade at a later date. 

If you have questions, contact us by submitting a ticket though the service portal (service.drake.edu/its) or by calling the Support Center at 515-271-3001. 

— Jerome Hilscher, ITS

Share ideas and concerns with Access to Success Nov. 1 during office hours

How Can I Help?

If you are wondering how to offer support for your students or are wanting assistance providing accommodations, let’s chat.

Join me on Wednesday, Nov. 1, in the Olmsted Starbucks between 1–3 p.m.  I would love to discuss your concerns and offer guidance on how to navigate the rest of the semester.

Michelle Laughlin, Director of Access & Success

In memoriam: Claudia Murphy, beloved Head Start staff member

It is with a very heavy heart that I share that Claudia Murphy, former Drake University Head Start staff member, passed away on Oct. 15.  Please see below for her obituary.

For those that were not fortunate enough to know or work with Claudia, she was with the Drake University Head Start for more than 30 years—since January of 1990.  Claudia retired in February 2023.

Claudia was instrumental in establishing our agency’s governance structure, coordinating and facilitating many variations of that structure,  supporting thousands of parents and families, recruiting and coordinating with numerous community members as well as University Leadership. Claudia was fiercely committed to the belief that parents and families are their child’s first and most important teacher, and she lived that out through the work she did every day.  Her drive and passion to support and engage families was infectious.

Claudia also led the agency’s work in recruiting, training and supporting community volunteers and helping to generate non-federal share. Connecting our program to individuals and organizations throughout central Iowa, bringing them into the program, generating donations to support the work staff do, and showcasing the program for the past 30 years.

She also helped to bring the Living History Farms, Science Center and Zoo events to our families every year – rain or shine, snow storms and all.

Claudia had a one-of-a-kind ability to engage and uplift parents and families. Her kindness and integrity are unmatched. You simply could not be in Claudia’s presence and not feel safe, supported and empowered.  When you were with Claudia, you knew you mattered!

What Claudia has contributed to Drake University Head Start and the communities we serve is truly remarkable and immeasurable. When I look at the high quality, supportive, innovative and impactful program that Drake University Head Start is today, I see Claudia’s influence throughout. She was passionate about Head Start. Claudia truly embodied everything that is our core values, and she will be missed beyond measure.

Read Claudia’s full obituary here.

— Lisa Proctor, Director of Drake University Head Start/Early Head Start

Student Success Spotlight: Timm Pilcher

Welcome back to the Student Success spotlight, an opportunity to recognize the people and resources that make a difference in Drake students’ lives. Each week, we’ll shine a light on the outstanding individuals and initiatives that contribute to the success and growth of our community.

This week features Timm Pilcher, Professional and Academic Support Specialist in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, who takes an innovative approach to office hours.

Tell us a little bit about your creative approach to office hours:

Tuesdays with Timm came about because of my love of walking the Bulldog Mile. Ideally I try to get out daily and walk a couple of laps, although some days are better than others. My Associate Dean, Dr. Kelly Bruhn, noticed this and asked if I would be willing to put it out there for students to join as an alternative way for them to connect to the School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC) and their academic and career advisor.

What prompted you to make the change?

Most know I’m a pretty non-traditional person in many ways, and any alternatives that I can use to connect with students, I’ll try. Especially for EFRs, the college transition can be daunting, and I used to tell my high school students that they needed to bridge any barriers between themselves and their professors and advisors to ease that transition. This is just one bridge to use.

Talk about any differences you experienced in level of participation, student engagement, etc.

I think students can really relate to being approachable by any means, and I know that Tuesdays with Timm and the “open door” policy of everyone the SJMC make for a family-like atmosphere within the school, allowing for students to have better relationships and thus better outcomes and achievement.

What is your favorite thing about teaching and advising Drake students?

Oh my gosh, that’s a tough question. Coming from 30 years of working in public education (a field I never would have imagined myself getting into when I first went to college) I realized that I absolutely love working with students. They are smart, funny, and creative, and they bring a lot of energy! I consider myself a pretty high-energy person, so it’s a good fit!

Please share your student success spotlight ideas!  Email Melissa Sturm-Smith, Associate Provost for Student Success.

Neighborhood Playwright Series: Call for submissions

Drake University Department of Theatre Arts seeks new, original plays by local playwrights as part of the 2024 Neighborhood Playwrights Series. Entries will be read by a committee of Drake Theatre students and faculty. The writer of the winning entry for this year’s Series will receive a prize of $500 and have their work produced as a public reading for two performances as part of Drake Theatre’s Main Stage Season.

The deadline for submissions is Friday, March 8th, 2024.
The winning entry will be announced on or before Monday, June 3rd, 2024. Rehearsals will begin Monday, August 26th, 2024 with performances on Friday, September 13th and Saturday, September 14th, 2024.

If you have any questions, you can e-mail Michael Rothmayer at the address listed above, or contact Jacob
Lemons, Administrative Assistant for the Department of Theatre Arts at (515) 271-2018 or jacob.lemons@drake.edu.
To see the complete list of rules online, go to: https://www.drake.edu/theatre/productions/drakeuniversitytheatreneighborhoodplaywrightsseries/.

— Jacob Lemons, Fine Arts

Advancement team moves to Old Main and Alumni House

The Advancement team in the Kinne Center is moving. John Smith and Erica Hartschen are already located in the President’s Office suite. During the week of Oct. 30, Advancement Officers will move to the Alumni House and all other Kinne staff will be relocating to the third floor of Old Main. Old Main’s third floor will soon house the annual giving team, records, and donor engagement.

— Heather Winslow, Facilities Planning and Management

Accepting feedback: Space heater approval policy

A space heater approval policy has been developed to ensure the safe operation of space heaters on campus.  The policy will help prevent electrical circuit overloads and direct FPM to possible heating issues.

A reminder that this does not pertain to residence halls, as space heaters are not allowed in those buildings.

If you have any comments, please use the comment function through the Policy Development Page.

— Hannah Remke, Sustainability Coordinator

Celebrating True Blue staff

Please join us in congratulating our most recent recipients of the True Blue Award. Here is a little information about our honorees with excerpts from their nominations.

Kayla Bell, Director of Broadlawns Drake University Counseling Center, Drake Counseling Center

“Kayla has moved mountains to make changes at Drake’s Counseling Center, specifically to make it a more welcoming environment for ALL students. The fear of getting help due to shame or stigma does not exist at the center anymore. Kayla is actively involved and always looking for new ways to be inclusive, give back to the Drake community, and teach others how to be the same.”

Katherine Coady, Julie Olinger, and Cindy Liska, Zimpleman College of Business

“Thank you to Katherine, Julie, and Cindy for your leadership and teamwork. Your hard work does not go unnoticed, and we are grateful for your ability to deliver a well-organized and highly successful conference.”

Korrine Jackson, Payroll Coordinator, Finance

“Korrine is the epitome of Drake’s core values commitment to mission and all in this together. She is always willing to go above and beyond to ensure that all aspects of payroll are done correctly and on time. Korrine has a meticulous eye for detail and pays close attention to all of the small particulars that could otherwise go unnoticed. In addition, she also has a kind spirit and is easy to work with.”

Laura Krossner, Electronic Resources & Access Services Librarian, Cowles Library

“Laura acts as a team member invested in the success of my courses, and she exemplifies the “we’re all in this together” value that Drake prizes. I would not be able to teach my courses and deliver the educational value that Drake promises without the expert assistance Laura has provided.”

Matt Probasco, Budget Director, Finance and Administration

“Thank you, Matt, for the work you do. Every equation has a story behind it, and inside those you’re working on you’re helping create room for access to higher education for more students, giving a stronger sense of security to our team members, and helping strengthen the future of this institution.”

Jorge Romero-Castro, Administrative Assistant/Office Manager, Music

“He is incredibly organized, helpful, professional at all times, though approachable and warm, and is such an asset to our department. His assistance with recruiting (meeting with parents and students, as well as audition days) is invaluable – so many parents and students have commented on how helpful and kind he is as they navigate this process.”

Kyle Schura, Assoc Director, Customer Relations Management System Strategy, Admissions

“Kyle is incredibly thoughtful about student and family experiences. He is always striving to make sure the online systems are accessible and user friendly. He also considers the in-person experiences and how we can be sure we are creating a comfortable and inclusive environment when students and families come to visit campus.”

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

— Betsy Wilson, On behalf of All Staff Council