Congratulate the following full-time staff and faculty celebrating employment anniversaries this month:

Joy Bachmann, College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
Jill Brimeyer, University Communications
Shaunarae Bury, Legal Clinic
William Cashmore, Athletics
Cheryl Clarke, College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
Larry Cox, ITS
Kerwin Dobbins, School of Education
Anthony Doss, Facility Services
Catherine Gillespie, School of Education
Victoria Haugen, Head Start
Marla Johnson, Facility Services
Venessa Macro, Finance & Administration
Shawn Madsen, ITS
Anne Murr, School of Education
Carolyn Nelson, Finance & Administration
Errond Powell, Facility Services
Linda Ryan, President’s Office
Tyler Spoon, ITS
Chrystal Stanley, Professional & Career Development Services
Thomas Stier, Athletics
Jolaine Sweiger, Student Financial Planning
Jennifer Tran-Johnson, College of Arts & Sciences
Elizabeth Walters, Head Start
Debra Wiley, Human Resources
Beth Wilson, University Communications
Jeanette Zika, Facility Services

—Human Resources

Great news! We have just started a 12-week Weight Watchers at Work series. Classes meet Mondays at 11 a.m. starting today through Aug. 1 (no meetings on Memorial Day or Fourth of July).

Weekly meetings include confidential weigh-ins from 11 to 11:15 a.m., followed by a 30-minute class. The cost is $156 for the 12-week renewable series. If you are interested in attending this Weight Watchers at Work series, please contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu for registration and room information.

—Linda Feiden, Assistant Director, Wellness & Engagement

On Tuesday, May 3, we will host our annual event to honor Drake employees having reached 20, 25, 30, or 35 years of service, and those who are retiring or have recently retired. Additionally, we will announce this year’s Madelyn M. Levitt Distinguished Community Service Award winner and the Madelyn M. Levitt Employee Excellence Award winners.

Please join us for light refreshments and a brief program in Parent’s Hall, Olmsted Center, from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

The list of faculty and staff being recognized this year is below. We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, May 3, for this celebration of achievement!

20-Year Anniversaries
Kara Blanchard
Law School

Catherine Gillespie
School of Education

Sheila Govoni
Office of Student Accounts

Sandra Henry
Advertising, School of
Journalism and Mass
Communication

Marla Johnson
Facility Services

Cathy Mansfield
Law School

Raynette Meyers
Alumni and Development

Kevin Pendras
Facility Services

Karen Pomeroy
College of Business and
Public Administration

Thomas Rosburg
Biology, College of Arts
and Sciences

Carol Spaulding-Kruse
English, College of Arts
and Sciences

Shari Tenney
School of Journalism and
Mass Communication

Jennifer Williams
Head Start

25-Year Anniversaries
Jerry Anderson
Law School

Margaret Corkrean
College of Arts and Sciences

Robert Craig
Art and Design, College of Arts
and Sciences

Daniel Downey
Facility Services

Sheri Gavin
College of Business and Public
Administration

John Holman
Theatre Arts, College of Arts
and Sciences

William Jensen
Information Technology Services

Thomas Mills
Facility Services

Maura Strassberg
Law School

Julie Thomas
Law Library, Law School

Craig Zika
Facility Services

30-Year Anniversaries
Colin Cairns
Chemistry, College of Arts
and Sciences

Mary Edrington
Marketing, College of Business
and Public Administration

Patsy Johnson
Information Technology Services

Jeffrey Nichols
Information Technology Services

35-Year Anniversaries
James Albert
Law School

Retirees
Martin Begleiter
Law School

Charles Beveridge
Facility Services

Michael Cigelman
Athletics

Karen Hermann
Law Library

Roger Hewett
College of Business and
Public Administration

Grace Higdon
Head Start

Liga Lacis
Cowles Library

Carla McCrea
School of Journalism and Mass
Communication

Jolene Ostbloom
Athletics

Katherine Olsen
The Robert D. and Billie
Ray Center

David Robbins
Facility Services

Linda Ryan
President’s Office

Deborah Sulzbach
Law Library

Sherry VonBehren
Law Library

David Walker
Law School

Donna Woodard
Information Technology Services 

Spring is a great time to start new projects. Are you on that list?

Weight Watchers at Work is holding an informational session on Monday, April 25, at 11 a.m. in the Olmsted Center, Room 310. All interested faculty and staff are encouraged to attend.
During this meeting a Weight Watchers instructor will go over the program and answer questions. If 15 or more employees join, Weight Watchers will complete everyone’s registration and collect payments and meetings will begin the following Monday.

The cost is $156 for a 12-week renewable series with a minimum of 15 participants and $186 for a 17-week series if 20 or more join. You may pay the full amount up front or split into three payments. Since series fees are paid at the informational session, you will need to bring either cash, credit card, or a personal check to the meeting.

Weekly meetings include a confidential weigh-in prior to the meeting, followed by a 30-minute meeting. Weight Watchers’ unique mix of face-to-face interaction with a trained leader, group support, accountability, digital tools, and the convenience of meetings in the workplace have helped participants lose as much as eight times as much weight as those who try to lose weight on their own.

If you are interested in attending the Weight Watchers informational session, please contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu.

—Linda Feiden, Assistant Director, Wellness & Engagement

Join us Tuesday, April 12, at 9 a.m. in the Olmsted Center, Room 310, for an informative and interactive session: “Managing Change: I Did That Already!” which is part of the Excellence in Learning & Development Program. This session was originally scheduled for March 24.

Change is constant. However, findings show that people don’t mind changes so much; they mind “being” changed. Take charge of the changes you find yourself in and learn tools to navigate through the Four Step Change process. Join Jul Bruns, Employee and Family Resources’ Workplace services consultant, to learn how to respond positively to resistance and apply resilience to grow and adapt.

Participants will receive two credits towards the Excellence in Learning & Development Certificate.

—Debra Wiley, Assistant Director, Human Resources

Join us Thursday, April 21, at 1 p.m. in the Olmsted Center, Room 310/311, for the fun, informative session, “Finding the Right Running (or Walking) Shoe,” which has been added to the Excellence in Learning & Development Program.

Whether you run marathons or are just starting a running or walking program, finding the right pair of shoes can be your most important investment. But walking into your local running store and seeing the giant wall of shoes can be intimidating. And hearing terms like over-pronation or motion control can make your head spin.

Come to this interactive session with Andy Roat, owner of Fleet Feet Sports, to gain a better understanding of what you need to know before buying your next pair of shoes. Not only will you walk away informed, but you could win a SMART ID tag! These small shoe tags are a great way to store important contact and medical information when you go for a walk or run.

Participants will receive one credit toward their Excellence in Learning & Development Certificate.

To attend this event, please RSVP to Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu.

—Linda Feiden, Assistant Director, Wellness & Engagement

The following staff members are celebrating work anniversaries this month:

Kathy Jefferson, Payroll Office
Susan Ladd, Student Financial Planning
Ginney Camden, College of Business and Public Administration
John Baker, Facility Services
Michael Downey, Facility Services
Nancy Crittenden, Finance & Administration
Mirsada Jakupovic, Facility Services
Ronald Smith, Facility Services
Thomas Heger, Facility Services
Umihana Omerhodzic, Facility Services
Christopher Mielke, Information Technology Services
Michelle Laughlin, Student Disability Services
Matthew Russell, Law School
Heather Storms, Law Library
Ronald Cliff, Facility Services
Timothy Tedesco, Facility Services
Darin Bridgeman, Facility Services
Merrie Frentress, Student Financial Planning
Matthew Richardson, Public Safety
Michelle Biondi, Accounting
Jack Bush, Facility Services
Skylar Scott, Public Safety
Jennie Baranczyk, Athletics
Riley Myers, Facility Services
Cheryle Anania, President’s Office
Darrin McBroom, Athletics
Kelly Read, School of Education
Jenifer Baugher, Accounting
Leonard Seyler, Facility Services
Jeffrey Rutter, Athletics
Steven Townsend, Athletics
Helen Tuttle, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Chi Man Lei-Butters, Human Resources
David Buchanan, Athletics
John Stites, The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center
Aaron Cloud, Office of Admission
Mary Acuoth, Facility Services
Candice Shimmin, Head Start
Joshua Haines, Environmental Health and Safety

Join us Thursday, April 7, at 1 p.m. in the Olmsted Center, Room 310, for an informative session: “Watch Out! Keeping Your Identify Safe”, which is part of the Excellence in Learning & Development Program.

Daily headlines warn of identity theft, fraud, and the latest data breach. In fact, in 2013 fraudsters stole a staggering $18 billion from consumers. What the bad guys looking for? Come to this interactive session to gain a better understanding of the information and privacy threats targeted to you and your family, and receive pointers from Drake’s Information Security Manager, Peter Lundstedt, on how to reduce chances of becoming a target.

Participants will receive two credits towards the Excellence in Learning & Development Certificate.

—Debra Wiley, Assistant Director, Human Resources

Drake welcomed seven new employees in March:

• Kevin Brennan, Athletics
• Breanne Davies, Drake International
• Austin King, Public Safety
• Debra Taylor, The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center
• Anna Wernimont, Alumni & Development
• Amber Millard, Head Start
• Leslie Noble, Cowles Library

—Laura Schwarz, Human Resources