Our current weekly Weight Watchers at Work series ends May 1. Tuesday meetings include a confidential weigh-in from 12 to 12:15 p.m., followed by a 30-minute class. Classes are held in Opperman Hall, Room 262. Weight Watchers’ unique mix of face-to-face interaction with a trained leader, group support, accountability, digital tools, and the convenience of meeting in the workplace has been a winning combination for many Drake faculty and staff.

The cost is $156 for a 12-week renewable series with a minimum of 15 participants. Payment may be made in a lump sum or split into three payments.

If you are interested in joining the next Weight Watchers at Work series, please contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu by Friday, April 27.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Members of the Human Resources team will be available Thursday, April 5, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Olmsted Center’s Drake Room. This is a convenient opportunity for you to talk with HR Partner Services about any HR topic that’s on your mind.  You’re also welcome to schedule a meeting at the HR offices, 3206 University Avenue, if another time works better for you. We look forward to meeting with you and hearing your ideas for making Drake an even better place to work.

— Debra Wiley, Human Resources

Join Human Resources on Wednesday, May 2, as we honor Drake employees who celebrated 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 or 40 years of service from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018 and those who are retiring or have recently retired.

This year’s event will be part of the Drake faculty/staff social on May 2 at 4 p.m. at the Shivers Hospitality Suite, adjacent to The Knapp Center.

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

40-Year Anniversaries
Kathy Jefferson

35-Year Anniversaries
Andrea Charlow
Claudia Frazer
LaRhee Henderson
Aggie Jones
Joe Lenz
William Lewis

30-Year Anniversaries
Danny Beaty
Ronald Caudle
Janet McMahill
Elizabeth Robertson
Robert Stensrud
David Wright
Venetta Hammond

25-Year Anniversaries
Andrew Classen
Laurie Dore
Matthew Dore
Gary Johnson
Nancy Reincke

20-Year Anniversaries
Matthew Esposito
Michael Fucaloro
Donna Knight-Donovan
Carrie Lewis
Glenn McKnight
Paula Peterson
Scott Raecker
Maria Reyes
Lola Spear
Jolaine Sweiger
Sofia Turnbull
Desi Woods

15-Year Anniversaries
Shaunarae Bury
Mary Butterwick
Richard Calvert
Anthony Doss
Paul Judd
Robert Lampman
JoBeth Malone-Schoneberg
Jeannie Nielsen
Michael Rothmayer
Heidi Sleister
Heather Stemsrud
Inchul Suh
Keith Summerville
Elisabeth West

10-Year Anniversaries
Sandra Alvarez-Herrera
Bridget Arrasmith
Heidi J. Ball
Mary Byers
Ronald Cliff
Cassandra Clyde
Brina Coppi
Brad Crowell
Debra Dodge
Darla Eastman
Muir Eaton
Brandy Eganhouse
Bengu Erguner-Tekinalp
Jordan Flynn
Rick Fox
Alice Fynaardt
Eduardo Garcia Villada
Sarah Grady
Lisa Grulke
Alison Harms
Renee Hennessy
Pramod Mahajan
Amahia Mallea
Mary McCarthy
James McNab
Christine Miller
Kristine Plagman
Sarah Plum
Kimberly Puetz
Donald Severs
Jennifer Tran-Johnson
Richard White
Gary Williamson

5-Year Anniversaries
Ann Allen
Heather Armstrong
Lisa Bailey
Jenifer Baugher
Jack Bush
William Cashmore
Leslee Cran
Armando Davila
Diane Eischeid
Megan Franklin
Thomas Ginn
Kristin Glenn
Dianna Gray
Alyssa Harrell
Ryan Harris
Matthew Hayden
Sara Heijerman
Carla Herling
Jerome Hilscher
Terry Janssen
Jeffrey Kappen
Deborah Kent
David Kozlowski
Kevin Lam
Aimee Lane
Diana Lei-Butters
Eric Lindstrom
Darrin McBroom
Wendy Mobley-Bukstein
Alicia Munoz Martinez
Bridget Nixon
Kevin O’Connor
Shannon Odenbach
Tyler Patton
Kelly Read
Judith Russell
James Sacco
Charitie Schaer
Miguel Schor
Stephanie Sinovic
Stephanie Sledge
Austin Strawhacker
Donna Tuttle
Timothy Welty
Beth Wilson

Retirees
Garry Frank
Thomas Heger
Gloria Lawless
Carolyn Nelson
Thomas Pokos
Marla Rigby
Lawrence Naylor
Eleanor Zeff
LaRhee Henderson
William Lewis
David Wright
Terry Thorpe
Aggie Jones

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Join dietitian Anne Cundiff and Chef Stacey Wertzberger on Wednesday, April 11, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Hy-Vee’s Club Room at 4605 Fleur Drive in Des Moines.

During this entertaining hands-on class, you will be the cook, making three lunch and snack recipes. You will learn new cooking tips and how to re-invent standard recipes, and when you are done, you can eat the fruits of your labor.

Cost is $20 per person. A minimum of 10 and maximum of 20 participants are required. Register for the class.

Participants will earn BUILD (Bulldogs United in Learning Drake) credits and be entered into a drawing at the end of the semester.

For more information or if you have trouble registering, contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Learn strategies to help you transition from career to retirement during the TIAA Retirement Workshop, “Within Reach,” on April 5 from 10 to 11 a.m. in Olmsted Center, Room 310. Spouses and partners are welcome to attend. Registration is not required.

— Marlene Heuertz, Human Resources

Members of the Human Resources team will be available Thursday, March 26, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Olmsted Center’s Drake Room. This is a convenient opportunity for you to talk with HR Partner Services about any HR topic that’s on your mind.  You’re also welcome to schedule a meeting at the HR offices, 3206 University Avenue, if another time works better for you. We look forward to meeting with you and hearing your ideas for making Drake an even better place to work.

— Debra Wiley, Human Resources

Naming your beneficiary, and keeping the information current, puts you in control of what happens to your retirement account, if something happens to you.

Updating your beneficiary information is quick and easy to do online:

• Go to TIAA.org and log into your account.
• Under the My Account tab, select Profile and choose Add/edit beneficiaries.
• Designate beneficiaries and select how much each should receive.

You may also update your beneficiary information by submitting a completed TIAA Beneficiary Form to the following address:

TIAA

PO Box 1268

Charlotte, NC 28201-1268

Missing or outdated beneficiary information can create significant delays and costs for those your leave behind. If have questions or need assistance, contact TIAA at 800-842-2252.

— Marlene Heuertz, Human Resources

Nominations are now being accepted for the Madelyn M. Levitt Distinguished Community Service Award and the Madelyn M. Levitt Employee Excellence Award. Nominations are due to Human Resources by Friday, March 30, at 4:30 p.m. Late nominations will not be accepted.

Madelyn M. Levitt 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.

Madelyn M. Levitt 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.

A nomination letter detailing specific examples of how the nominee exemplifies each of the applicable criteria is desirable. Additional letters of support are not necessary. A review committee will make award recommendations to the President’s Council.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

In the spirit of continuous improvement, Human Resources is working with an advisory group of faculty and staff to obtain feedback on how to improve the performance management program and enhance management training and development. The team has provided ideas on how to ensure performance reviews become more meaningful and effective. In addition, they plan to provide input on topics where managers would benefit from additional training and resources. Mary Alice Hill, director of HR Partner Services, would like to recognize the following group members for their time and thoughtful ideas.

Tricia Atterberg, College of Arts and Sciences
Marilea Chase, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Renae Chesnut, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Dan Connolly, School of Business and Public Administration
Scott Law, Public Safety
Brandi Miller, Student Financial Planning
Melissa Sturm-Smith, Academic Excellence and Student Success
Heather Travis, Finance and Administration
Drinda Williams, Provost’s Office

If you have ideas to suggest, you are encouraged to share them with any member of the team.

— Mary Alice Hill, Human Resources

Members of the Human Resources team will be available Thursday, March 22, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Olmsted Center’s Drake Room. This is a convenient opportunity for you to talk with HR Partner Services about any HR topic that’s on your mind.  You’re also welcome to schedule a meeting at the HR offices, 3206 University Avenue, if another time works better for you. We look forward to meeting with you and hearing your ideas for making Drake an even better place to work.

— Debra Wiley, Human Resources