Third-year pharmacy student Isabelle Tharp is one of 19 pharmacy students nationwide to receive a 2021–2022 American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Foundation Scholarship. The recipients were selected based on their academic accomplishments and for their leadership skills as demonstrated by their active involvement in the APhA Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP). Tharp received the Gloria Francke Scholarship. 

Tharp joined the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences chapter of APhA-ASP as a sophomore pre-pharmacy student, serving on the Generation Rx Committee. She went on to serve as the social media chair, president-elect, and now she currently serves as president of the organization. Tharp attended two APhA-ASP Midyear Regional Meetings as well as the 2019 Summer Leadership Institute. She previously served as a legislative intern in the Iowa House of Representatives and executive intern for the Iowa Pharmacy Association (IPA), and currently works as a pharmacy intern at Methodist West Hospital in West Des Moines.

“Being awarded this scholarship shows me how much APhA wants to recognize and support student’s involvement outside of the classroom,” said Tharp. “I feel grateful for the opportunities I have been able to take part in because of my support system within CPHS.” 

— Kaylyn Maher, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Chris Norton, an Iowa native, stars in this uplifting documentary which chronicles his spinal cord injury, subsequent rehabilitation, and how he defied medical odds when he successfully walked across the stage at his 2015 graduation. The Chris Norton Foundation has worked tirelessly to support rehabilitation programs and education in Iowa, including at Drake University.

Drake’s Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program received a grant from the Chris Norton Foundation last year, which allowed the program to purchase a functional electrical stimulation (FES) cycle.

“It’s an honor for the Chris Norton Foundation to support such a respectable institution such as Drake University,” said Chris Norton, speaker, author, and founder of the foundation. “Their commitment to improve the lives of individuals with neurological challenges fits right with our mission.”

Nicole Kuhl, assistant professor of occupational therapy at Drake, who assisted with the filming of the documentary and even has a short appearance in the film, said the Chris Norton Foundation has been a significant and critical resource to rehabilitation programs in Iowa in terms of getting the equipment they need.

Check out the official website 7 Yards: The Chris Norton Story and watch the film available on Apple TV and Prime Video.

— Nicole Kuhl, assistant professor, Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program

Drake Law School and the Iowa State Public Defender are excited to announce a new collaboration creating a Wrongful Convictions Clinic.

The Wrongful Convictions Clinic at Drake Law School will begin in January 2021. The Clinic will be led by the State Public Defender’s Wrongful Convictions Division. Student attorneys in the clinic will represent individuals convicted of serious felony crimes in Iowa in post-conviction proceedings to establish their actual innocence. The Wrongful Convictions Division of the State Public Defender’s office was created by Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg, LW ’09, during his tenure as State Public Defender in 2015.

State Public Defender Jeff Wright, LW ’06, explained that the Wrongful Convictions Division works closely with the Midwest Innocence Project, in Kansas City, MO, to identify, investigate, and litigate cases of individuals who are claiming factual innocence of the crimes for which they were convicted. “We are excited about this new alliance and all the possibilities which come with it. Not only will this collaboration greatly increase our capacity to review and investigate meritorious claims from Iowa inmates, but it will also help identify policies that contribute to wrongful convictions,” said State Public Defender Wright.

Students in the Clinic will assist in all aspects of assigned cases including reviewing trial transcripts and case files, visiting incarcerated clients, interviewing witnesses, collecting records, consulting subject matter experts, conducting legal research, drafting pleadings, and attending court hearings.

Erica Nichols Cook, LW ’09, Director of the Wrongful Convictions Division, will supervise the Clinic. Nichols Cook previously served as an adjunct professor of law at Southern Illinois University, teaching about wrongful convictions and supervising an externship program with the Illinois Innocence Project. Prior to that, she was an assistant appellate defender, Cook County public defender, and a staff attorney with the Illinois Innocence Project.

“I am excited to return to the Clinic where I learned how to be a lawyer and an advocate,” said Nichols Cook. “Through this new collaboration, we will more effectively represent the wrongfully convicted in Iowa and teach new generations of lawyers in the criminal justice system how to identify and remedy wrongful convictions.”

As part of the new partnership, the state Wrongful Convictions Division will relocate to the Neal and Bea Smith Law Center at Drake. “Being on campus and a part of the dynamic learning environment at the clinic will empower students and clients alike,” Nichols Cook said.

“We are honored to be able to contribute to this important work through our new Clinic,” said Drake Law Dean Jerry Anderson. “Student efforts may lead to real reform in the criminal justice system and a path to justice for the wrongfully convicted. Along the way they will develop legal skills that they will carry with them wherever their future legal careers take them.”

— Theresa Howard, Law School

Drake Law School earned a place on PreLaw Magazine’s list of top law schools for Criminal Law with an A- rating. Law schools were graded based on the breadth of their curricular offerings including concentrations, clinical programs, centers, externships, journals, student groups, certificates, and other offerings.

Drake Law offers students substantial opportunities to learn about and develop skills in the field of criminal law. With coursework ranging from prosecution and defense to scientific and expert evidence to global issues in criminal law, students can explore a range of subject areas. The Drake Criminal Defense and Juvenile Delinquency Clinics provide students hands-on experience representing indigent clients in court appearances, depositions, and negotiations. Since the ranking was completed, Drake has expanded its criminal law program even further with the introduction of a new Wrongful Convictions Clinic.

Students also gain practical experience through internships with offices such as the Polk County Prosecutor’s Office, Federal and State Public Defender, and U.S Attorney’s Office. The Law School offers a certificate in Prosecution and Defense which is specifically designed to prepare students for careers in criminal law.

Students interested in criminal justice reform can take advantage of unique opportunities through Drake’s Institute for Justice Reform and Innovation (IJRI). Advanced seminars cover a wide range of legal subjects like restorative justice, trial and jury innovations, and innocence projects. Students may also get involved as research assistant on some of the IRJI’s ongoing projects.

“Drake Law’s rich curriculum and extensive opportunities to gain real-world experience through clinical programs and internships prepare students to hit the ground running when they graduate,” said Jerry Anderson, dean of Drake Law School. “It is not uncommon for students in our criminal law program to conduct a jury trial before graduation. These experiences make them strong candidates for many different employment opportunities. As a result, we have recent graduates working as prosecutors or defense attorneys across the country, from Los Angeles to Cook County (Chicago) to the Bronx.”

— Theresa Howard, Law School