Drake University Head Start is proud to share that three individuals have received annual award recognition from the Iowa Head Start Association:

Dean Ryan Wise, Dean of the Drake School of Education and Executive Director of the Drake University Head Start program, is being honored as Administrator of the Year.

Heather Stemsrud, Ankeny Toddler Teacher and 23-year Drake University Head Start employee, is being honored as Teacher of the Year.

Tanya Heringer, with the Every Step Program and a valued community partner supporting dental health, education, and family connections for Drake University Head Start students and families, is being honored with the Excellence in Community Service Award.

Congratulations to all three honorees, and thank you for your fierce service and steadfast commitment to the students, families, and staff of Drake University Head Start.

— Lisa Proctor, Head Start Director

Drake University Law School is pleased to announce that Dean Roscoe Jones, Jr. has been appointed to two prominent national leadership positions, underscoring his leadership and Drake Law’s expanding presence in national conversations shaping the legal profession.

Dean Jones has been selected to serve as Co-Chair of the national board of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, a nonpartisan nonprofit civil rights organization, formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy to mobilize the nation’s leading lawyers as agents for change during the Civil Rights Movement. The Lawyers’ Committee implements its mission by marshaling the pro bono resources of the private bar to pursue civil rights.

Dean Jones has also been appointed to the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Deans Steering Committee, a national leadership group composed of law school deans from across the country. The Committee plans events and facilitates opportunities for deans to discuss emerging challenges to the legal profession, share insights, and recommend policy changes to the AALS Executive Committee. This appointment provides Drake Law with a platform to help shape national conversations about critical issues impacting the legal academy and the future of the legal profession.

These national appointments highlight Drake Law School’s growing reputation and influence within major organizations committed to justice, legal education, and professional development. Dean Jones’ service in these capacities will help further Drake Law’s mission to prepare students for leadership, advocacy, and public service at the highest levels.

— Taylor Johnson, Law School

Drake University Law School has received a $300,000 gift from the Sease & Wadding Law Firm to support the Children’s Rights Clinic, in memory of Sabrina Ray, a 16-year-old whose death in 2017 reinforced the need for continued evaluation and improvement of Iowa’s child welfare system.

The donation is part of a $4.175 million settlement between the State of Iowa and a sibling of Sabrina Ray. This gift has established the new Sabrina Ray Endowed Fund for the Children’s Rights Clinic at Drake Law School. The fund will support two key initiatives that honor Sabrina’s life and strengthen legal advocacy for vulnerable youth:

• The Ray of Hope Award, presented annually at the Drake Supreme Court Celebration Banquet, will recognize a student in the Children’s Rights Clinic whose advocacy on behalf of children in the juvenile court system inspires hope for a better future.
• The Sabrina Ray Justice for Children Summer Fellowship will support rising second and third year law students who secure internships with non-profit or government agencies specializing in juvenile law. The fellowship includes a stipend for summer living expenses and funding to attend a national child welfare training or conference. It aims to remove financial barriers for students entering the field and expand the pipeline of future child advocates.

“Finances are often a barrier for law students interested in public interest legal work on behalf of children,” said Professor Nickole Miller, Director of the Joan and Lyle Middleton Center for Children’s Rights. “I am particularly excited about the creation of the Sabrina Ray Justice for Children Summer Fellowship which will provide generous summer funding for Drake Law students to intern at children’s rights organizations and attend child welfare-focused law conferences. The fellowship, together with the new Ray of Hope Award recognizing student excellence in the Children’s Rights Clinic, build strong children’s attorneys and envision a future where all children are safe, supported, and empowered.”

The Children’s Rights Clinic provides direct representation to children in child welfare and juvenile justice proceedings. The endowed fund strengthens Drake Law’s mission to train practice-ready attorneys while advancing justice for society’s most vulnerable.

“Sabrina Ray deserved a strong legal advocate and safe and loving home. These funds will be used to honor the life and legacy of Sabrina Ray by supporting and celebrating the next generation of children’s rights attorneys and giving them the tools and experiences needed to be zealous, child-centered advocates,” said Professor Miller.

— Taylor Johnson, Law School

Maria Valdovinos, Ellis and Nelle Levitt Distinguished Professor of Psychology, was selected as a recipient of the 2025 Association for Behavior Analysis International Outstanding Mentor Award. The student committee shared the following regarding her selection:

“Dr. Maria Valdovinos exemplifies transformative mentorship through her resolute dedication to nurturing both academic excellence and personal growth in her students. Her mentorship extends far beyond traditional academic roles, creating enduring professional relationships that continue to flourish long after students graduate. Former mentees consistently highlight her remarkable accessibility and genuine investment in their success, noting how she remains a trusted advisor throughout their careers. What distinguishes Dr. Valdovinos is her exceptional ability to inspire passion for behavior analysis while providing practical opportunities for growth. This approach has created a powerful ripple effect, with an impressive 95% of her undergraduate researchers advancing to graduate-level education. Dr. Valdovinos’s impact extends beyond individual mentorship to systematic change. Particularly, she demonstrates a rare combination of academic excellence and compassionate mentorship that has transformed behavior analysis education and practice throughout Iowa and beyond.”

Professor Valdovinos and fellow recipients were recognized in May during the Presidential Address at the 51st Annual Convention of the Association in Washington, D.C.

— Maria Valdovinos, College of Arts & Sciences

The Zimpleman College of Business is proud to announce that Associate Professor Mary Edrington has been appointed as a Thomas F. Sheehan Distinguished Professor. In her 39 years of service to Drake, Professor Edrington has amassed a documented record of exceptional performance in the three criteria for appointment as a Sheehan Professor: exceptional teaching effectiveness, notable contributions to her field, and outstanding contributions to the college and university.

— Alejandro Hernandez, Dean, Zimpleman College of Business

Professor Sally Frank was honored by Princeton University with a café named after her, recognizing her perseverance and excellence. As a student in 1979, she challenged the exclusion of women from three all-male eating clubs. After a prolonged legal battle, the clubs began admitting women by 1991, and she officially won her lawsuit in 1992. Congratulations, Professor Frank – we’re proud of your impactful work!

Drake University Law School is proud to announce that Professor Christoph Henkel has been appointed as the Richard M. and Anita Calkins Distinguished Professor of Law, recognizing his outstanding scholarship and expertise in international law, commercial arbitration, and financial regulation.

A scholar and respected voice in international legal circles, Professor Henkel has published more than 30 peer-reviewed and student-edited law review articles, book chapters, and scholarly works. His publications have been cited in over 150 scholarly articles, referenced in the Restatement (Third) of U.S. Law of International Commercial Arbitration, and are recognized as leading contributions in their respective fields. His work is accessed and engaged with by scholars and practitioners in more than 115 countries.

Professor Henkel is also the 2024 recipient of the Stevens Faculty Scholar of the Year Award, further affirming his academic distinction. In addition to his scholarship, he serves as an international arbitrator for the European Union and a public arbitrator for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in the United States, extending the reach of his legal expertise far beyond the classroom.

“Professor Henkel embodies the excellence the Richard M. and Anita Calkins Distinguished Professorship was created to honor,” said Dean Roscoe Jones, Jr. “His scholarly impact, global reputation, and ongoing contributions to the legal field make him a truly deserving recipient of this prestigious appointment.”

Drake University Law School is proud to announce its new Artificial Intelligence (AI) Law Certificate Program.

From day one at Drake, Dean Jones has made AI a top priority, starting with his AI Task Force. “Thanks to Dean Jones’ leadership, we are able to offer this unique opportunity to Drake Law students,” according to AI Law Certificate Program Director, Associate Professor and Sease Faculty Research Scholar Sayoko Blodgett-Ford.

“The AI Law Certificate empowers students to lead at the intersection of law and technology–whether in private practice, government, nonprofit, policymaking or academia,” said Dean Roscoe Jones, Jr.  “Artificial Intelligence is not just changing industries; it’s reshaping governance, ethics, and the very framework of legal systems.  At Drake Law, we prepare our students with the insight, rigor, and forward-thinking vision needed to meet this moment–and shape what comes next.”

The AI Law Certificate Program is uniquely interdisciplinary, drawing on expertise from across the Drake campus and beyond, including the Institute for Justice Reform & Innovation founded by Judge Mark W. Bennett (ret.), Drake University’s pioneering Artificial Intelligence undergraduate degree, led by Dr. Christopher Porter, Associate Professor of Computer Science, Director of Artificial Intelligence and Co-Chair of the Math & Computer Science Departments, and research at the intersection of the arts, sciences and law.

Designed to be completed by J.D. students during their second and third year at Drake Law, the AI Law Certificate Program is deeply collaborative. “From exploring color and object theory, under the guidance of Assistant Professor of Studio Art Jamey Hart, in the context of machine vision and trademark law, to considering quantum computing data exfiltration detection in cybersecurity, we train law students to go beyond the headlines and critically examine AI’s promises and risks,” said Professor Blodgett-Ford.

Nicholas Romano, a second-year law student in Drake Law’s AI Policy and Governance class, shared, “The new AI Law Certificate at Drake is an amazing opportunity. By working on real-world scenarios that create directly transferable skills, I feel much more prepared to address and advocate for AI-related legal issues and concerns. I’m so happy that Drake is leading the charge.”

Learn more about the new AI Law Certificate program here.

Drake University Law School was ranked among the top law schools in the nation in the newly released U.S. News & World Report 2025 Best Law School rankings. The latest ranking at #84 marks the third year in a row of ranking within the top 100 schools in the country.

The annual rankings evaluate institutions on their graduate job placement, faculty resources, academic profiles of entering students, and peer evaluations regarding perceived program quality. These rankings place a special emphasis on bar passage rate and graduate job placement.

“I am proud to share that our ranking of 84 marks only the third time in our history that we have been recognized among the top 100,” said Roscoe Jones, Jr., dean of the Drake University Law School. “This achievement is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our faculty and staff, who prepare our students to be practice-ready upon graduation, our driven students, and our accomplished alumni.”

In addition to the overall ranking, Drake Law’s legal writing program ranked #17 in the country and was ranked #60 for Clinical Training.

This year’s ranking comes on the heels of several other acknowledgments of Drake Law School’s excellence in preparing students for future career success. This year, Drake Law has been recognized by preLaw magazine as a top school in four practice areas including family law, human rights, trial advocacy, and practical training. Drake was also recognized as a top school for Women Leadership in preLaw magazine’s Back to School 2024 issue.

“We have long been one of the best kept secrets in legal education, and our steadfast focus on delivering practice-ready education is now drawing well-deserved attention,” said Dean Jones. “Our community benefits from a robust education in legal theory, enriched by hands-on experiences that equip our graduates with the skills they need to thrive from day one in their legal careers.”

See the full list of U.S. News rankings for Drake Law School here.

— Taylor Johnson, Law School