The Drake University Advancement (UA) office received the 2020 National CASE Educational Fundraising Award.

The CASE award is based on the University’s fundraising numbers for the Volunteer Support for Education (VSE) survey, which measures annual cash flow from philanthropy. Drake’s VSE total was more than $21.5 million in FY20 and $29.2 million in FY19.

In FY20, UA also celebrated:

• Raising more than $32.3 million in new gifts, pledges, and documented estate gifts, surpassing the year’s goal of $25 million.
• Exceeding the year’s goal for The Drake Fund with a final total of $3.71 million.
• Quickly executing a successful campaign for the Student Emergency Fund, raising nearly $47,000 to help students with immediate needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

UA is grateful to its campus partners for their role in the University’s fundraising success and to all those who made a gift in support of the University in FY20.

— Elizabeth Kozor, University Advancement

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) announced the winners of the 2020 Educational Fundraising Awards. Drake University was one of more than 100 U.S. educational institutions recognized. Drake received an award for Overall Performance in the category Private Research/Doctoral Institutions with Endowments Under $740 Million.

The award honors colleges and universities that show solid program growth, breadth in the base of support, and other indications of a mature, well-maintained program. 

The Educational Fundraising Awards annually recognize exemplary development programs based on a blind review of data submitted to the CASE Voluntary Support of Education (VSE) survey.

Read the full news release for more information.

Danette Kenne, assistant dean for graduate and professional programs within the College of Business & Public Administration, was honored through the Iowa Women’s Foundation annual publication Ovation: A Tribute to Iowa Women and Girls.

A leader in higher education for over twenty years, Danette Kenne brings a vast amount of knowledge and wisdom to her role at Drake University. Having completed the Drake Executive Leadership Program this spring, Danette advocates for continuous personal and professional development for her staff and peers. She is a wonderful mentor and role model to all women.

In addition to her role at Drake, Danette has served as a board member for the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute and the Iowa Women’s Foundation.

— Madeline Mongar-Brodie, CBPA

Maria Valdovinos, professor of psychology, has been appointed to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Child Psychopathology and Developmental Disabilities Study Section, Center for Scientific Review, for the term beginning July 1, 2020, and ending June 30, 2026.

Members are selected on the basis of their demonstrated competence and achievement in their scientific discipline as evidenced by the quality of research accomplishments, publications in scientific journals, and other significant scientific activities, achievements, and honors. Service
on a study section also requires mature judgment and objectivity as well as the ability to work effectively in a group—all qualities Professor Valdovinos will bring to this important task.

Study sections review grant applications submitted to the NIH, make recommendations on these applications to the appropriate NIH national advisory council or board, and survey the status of research in their fields of science. These functions are of great value to medical and allied research in this country.

Congratulations to Professor Valdovinos on this unique opportunity.

The College of Business and Public Administration held their annual awards and recognition ceremony Friday, May 8.  There were three faculty members recognized for promotion.

• Andrew Bryant from the Department of Marketing—promotion from assistant professor to associate professor with tenure
• Royce Fichtner from the School of Accountancy—promotion from associate professor to full professor
• Ina Purvanova from the Department of Management and Organizational Leadership—promotion from associate professor to full professor

Retirement:
Rick Long, finance professor, is retiring this year. Rick has been a standout both in and out of the classroom as a teacher, mentor, and friend.  He has a gifted knack for relating to students and bringing content to life in ways that make complex concepts seem intuitive. 

Outstanding Graduate Admissions Ambassadors:
A number of faculty members were honored for their graduate recruiting efforts by participating in information lunches, scheduling coffee chats, and connecting with prospective students.  These individuals include Kelley Ellis and Steve Gara for the Master of Accounting program; Heidi Mannetter, Alanah Mitchell, Matthew Mitchell, and Carl Vieregger for the MBA; and Anna Clark, Lance Noe, and Allen Zagoren for the MPA.

Teaching Awards
Adam Drake, Management Professor is the recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award for Adjunct or Part-Time Instructor.  In nominating Adam, students spoke of his caring and compassionate nature, the ability to present information clearly, and a willingness to provide constructive feedback that would challenge students to become their best selves.  He instills confidence in students and helps the overcome one of people’s most dreaded fears, speaking in public. 

David B. Lawrence Outstanding Undergraduate Teacher of the Year:
Marketing Professor Heidi Mannetter was presented with the David B. Lawrence Outstanding Undergraduate Teacher of the Year award. Our undergraduate students nominate faculty for this award and the student sentiment was clearly evident in comments such as:  “Great class! Super motivated professor – definitely feel like the professor cared about us and our learning! The professor’s enthusiasm helped to always make class engaging.”

Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award:
This year’s Graduate Teaching award, chosen by our graduate students was presented to Carl Vieregger, Management Professor.  One individual summed it up best:  “This instructor was great.  I can honestly say that I looked forward to this class almost every day I had it.  Class was engaging and intellectually stimulating.  I’m so glad I had this instructor.” 

Harry Wolk Research Award:
Economics Professor Heath Henderson received The Harry Wolk Research Award which recognizes a CBPA faculty member who has published exemplary research in top journals and made significant contributions to the bodies of knowledge in an academic business discipline.  Heath was selected because of the quantity, breadth, and quality of his research.  

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Team Innovation Award:
The Team Innovation Award was presented to the Office of Graduate Programs team of Dianna Gray, director, graduate admission and engagement; Jenny Jones, director, graduate student programs; and Madeline Mongar-Brodie, administrative assistant. This team is collectively recognized for its deep knowledge of programs and systems to support the student experience. The members of this team support each other; they lift each other up, and through their generosity of spirit, they inspire each other to do their best. 

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Unsung Hero Award:
Anna Clark, public administration professor, was a recipient of the Unsung Hero Award. She has identified creative collaborations and works tirelessly to integrate experiential learning into courses to provide outstanding learning opportunities while increasing Drake’s connectivity with our community. Her close attention to student needs and their ability to think in a broad perspective has been a true asset to all with whom she works.

Kelley Ellis, director and chair of the Accounting Department, was also a recipient of the Unsung Hero Award. She addresses each challenge as an opportunity with a can-do spirit, an attitude of resolve, and the ability to figure it out. Through it all, she maintains a ready smile for others, a positive perspective, and a willingness to collaborate and find solutions. 

Extra Blue Mile Service Award:
The Extra Blue Mile Service Award was presented to Success Coach Sophie Tibbals of the Undergraduate Office. Sophie is truly exceptional and has stepped up when asked and stepped in when there were holes needing filling. Her dedication and loyalty to the CBPA is unmatched. Sophie has a positive attitude and serves as a warm, friendly representative for the College.

Blue Star Award for Teamwork:
Lendie Follett, business analytics professor, is the recipient of the Blue Star Award for Teamwork. Despite a very full plate and juggling multiple balls, she is quick to say yes when asked for help with research, especially when it comes to statistical modelling, leading to successful collaborations and co-authored publications with her colleagues.

Outreach Award:
Matthew Mitchell, international business professor, is this year’s Outreach Award recipient. In a community like Des Moines, it is important to create connections and be visible.    This person connects with the community in person, through social media, and via the media.  He made a promise to willingly respond when asked to be an “expert” voice – being connected with the media, engaging in panels, and answering questions.

Blue Star Award for Leadership:
The Blue Star Award for Leadership recognizes Professor Alanah Mitchell whose leadership has been instrumental in moving an initiative forward. She is an innovator in the classroom and has been the catalyst behind several important initiatives.  She was the primary architect in creating the online Master of Data Analytics Leadership degree and led the recent effort to rename the degree to the Master of Science in Business Analytics.  She is a part of the Faculty Senate’s Information Technology Committee, Program Co-Chair for Data Analytics, and Chair of the Department of Information Management and Business Analytics. 

Brooks Excellence Award:
The Brooks Excellence Award goes to Academic Support Manager Karen Pomeroy who has gone above and beyond the call of duty and has made key contributions to advance the College’s mission.  Always ready to serve, Karen often plays a parental role for our students.  Karen has been a rock of stability in the Office of Undergraduate Programs, played key roles in transforming the office and assuming additional duties during times of transition and maternity leaves.

Legacy Award:
John Rozycki, finance professor, is the recipient of the Legacy Award. John is passionate about his work and about Drake. Over his illustrious career, John has served Drake and the College in many ways, including as a faculty senator, a member of the Faculty Senate Budget Committee, and as associate dean of the College. Within the College, besides being known as an outstanding teacher, fabulous colleague, and friend, John is probably most known for being a man of integrity, for reminding us why we are here at Drake (to serve our students), We salute John and say congratulations on a job well done. Good luck to John in your new adventures.

— Kathy Hickman, CBPA Dean’s Office

We are pleased to announce that the 2020-2021 Ron Troyer Research Fellowship has been awarded to Professor Sandra Patton-Imani, Associate Professor of American Studies in the Department for the Study of Culture and Society.

Professor Patton-Imani has a long and distinguished research record.  Her second book, Queering Family Trees: Race Reproductive Justice and Lesbian Motherhood, New York University Press, is forthcoming. Her first, Birthmarks: Transnational Adoption in Contemporary America, was published by New York University Press in 2000.

Her current research builds on her forthcoming book. It is a digital storytelling project, exploring questions of family history and national belonging in the United States, focusing in particular on questions of race, gender, reproduction, and power. Drawing on oral history, participant observation, and archival research, it approaches family genealogy as an aspect of resistant history-making for multiracial and mixed-race families whose existence in United States history has often been misinterpreted or erased. It focuses on intersecting family trees that cross multiple racial-ethnic categories. The research will be analyzed and interpreted by students in her courses, resulting in a public online digital story-mapping project highlighting aspects of mixed-race family histories that have previously been erased. The stipend that goes with the Fellowship will help advance that research.

Professor Patton-Imani has been a member of the Drake faculty since 2001. Prior to that she was a member of the faculty at Macalester College and the University of Minnesota. She received her Ph.D and M.A. in American Studies from the  University of Maryland, College Park, and her  B.A. in American Studies and Communications (Radio-TV-Film)) from  the California State University, Fullerton.

— Arthur Sanders, Ellis and Nelle Levitt Professor of Politics/Associate Provost

Congratulations to the winners of the 2020 Adams Leadership Awards! This year’s award recognition ceremony (the Adams Leadership Convocation) was canceled, but the recognition of student leadership has continued online with over 100 nominations submitted from faculty, staff, and students. Please see below and congratulate the following recipients:

• Outstanding First Years: Kiley Kahler, Gabrielle Prill, Annie Peterson
• Outstanding Sophomores: Rebecca Clair, Cora Holt, Madyson Sklar
• Outstanding Juniors: Ian Klein, Kasey Springsteen, Raeann VanDrongelen
• Outstanding Seniors: Nick Johnston, Josie Martin, Jack Richards
• David Maxwell Outstanding Student Organization President/Chairperson: Meghan Kier (RHA)
• Outstanding Student Organization Officer: Nate Wright
• Outstanding Student Organization: Drake R;Se Up
• Outstanding Organization Advisor: Keesha Ward (Coalition of Black Students)
• Outstanding Service Award for Individual: Sydnei Washington
• Outstanding Service Award for Student Group: Violence Intervention Partners
• Ron & Jane Olson Outstanding Global Service Learning Award: Lizette Cruz, Keli Zemke, Brooke Krogman, Dana Stanek, Paige Wooldridge, Janna Johnson (OT2 students)
• Outstanding Residence Hall Leader: Sophie Christensen
• Wanda E. Everage Peer Mentor Award: Sophia Revord
• Outstanding Social Program: 2019 Kissing Rock (Student Alumni Association)
• Outstanding Educational Program: When a Good Case Falls Apart (Violence Intervention Partners)
• Outstanding Equity and Inclusion Program: Coming Out with Guy Benson (College Republicans)
• Outstanding Alcohol Alternative Program: Free Movie Friday (Student Activities Board)
• Outstanding Collaboration Award: Free Speech Forum (Student Senate, Drake Democrats, College Republicans, Young Americans for Freedom)
• Oreon E. Scott Outstanding Senior of the Year Award: Lauren Kennon

— Kristin Economos, Office of Student Involvement and Leadership