Michi Matsukura, assistant professor of psychology, has received the National Research Foundation: Major Research Instrumentation (NSF: MRI) award—the first MRI award that Drake University has received in its history. The award allows Michi and her College of Business and Public Administration (CBPA) faculty collaborators to conduct a series of studies, using the eye-tracking system with capabilities of gaze-contingency programming (the paradigm that allows a computer display to change as a function of where an observer is looking) and pupillometry (the technique that measures changes in the diameter of the pupil as a function of cognitive processing). The CPBA research team is composed of Andrew Bryant (Marketing), Brian Vander Naald (Economics), Heath Henderson (Economics), Lori Solsma (Accounting), Alanah Mitchell (Information Systems), and Terri Vaughan (Actuarial Sciences).

Michi says, “I am extremely grateful to NSF for recognizing (1) this unique collaboration between visual cognition research and decision sciences as well as (2) our efforts to include and support a diverse range of students and faculty in the projects. Besides my own line of visual information-processing work, the system allows us to conduct a series of experiments to identify possible cognitive mechanisms that guide individuals’ ultimate behaviors, in the respective fields of the CBPA research collaborators. I am really excited to have this opportunity.”

Brandi Miller from the Office of Student Financial Planning has been honored by the Iowa Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (IASFAA) with the Meritorious Service Award!

This award recognizes a significant contribution to IASFAA and/or the financial aid profession. Selection is based upon leadership, work on an important project, or significant service to students, the association or the profession.

Please join me in recognizing Brandi’s achievements and thanking her for the service she provides to the Drake community and the financial aid profession!

— Ryan Zantingh, Director of Financial Aid

Teri Koch, collection development coordinator & professor of librarianship at Cowles Library, has been selected as a fellow in the SPARC Open Education Leadership Program, a two-semester intensive professional development program to build a comprehensive understanding of the open education space coupled with practical know-how to lead successful open education initiatives that benefit students, especially Open Educational Resources (OER). Teri is one of 27 fellows selected from a competitive application pool for the program’s 2019-2020 cohort.

To help her understand the current status of OER at Drake, Teri is asking faculty who are using or are considering using OER in their courses to fill out a short form.

Read more about Teri’s participation in the SPARC Open Education Leadership Program.

After careful consideration by the APA Fellow Committee, and upon the recommendation of the APA Board of Directors, the APA Council of Representatives has elected Maria Valdovinos, professor of psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences, to fellow status in the American Psychological Association, effective January 2020.

Fellow status is awarded, in part, on the basis of evaluated evidence of outstanding contribution in the field of psychology. A colleague who submitted a recommendation on Maria’s behalf stated in the application: “Maria’s leadership at Drake, in Iowa, and in professional organizations, coupled with her scholarly publications is very impressive. Even more impressive though is what she’s done in terms of building educational programs and mentoring students.”

Congratulations to Maria on this newly elected fellowship!

On Aug. 22, the work of Drake University students was recognized during the 2019 Hashie Awards at Jasper Winery.

The Student Activities Board (SAB) received First Place in Excellence in Social Media by a Student for its overall social media presence. The Student Alumni Association (SAA) took Second Place and Drake Broadcasting Systems was a finalist.

The student-run Instagram account @OnPaintedStreet received First Place in Best Influencer Campaign.

The Hashie Awards is an annual event organized by Social Media Club Des Moines. Its purpose is to recognize and honor the work of social media professionals in the area.

—Giada Moressi, AS’20

On Friday, July 19, in Washington D.C., Drake University was one of only 64 #highered institutions to be recognized for our commitment to accelerate changemaking. The recognition comes from Ashoka University as part of its global #MillionsofChangemakers campaign.

Ashoka University is the higher education initiative of
Ashoka, the world’s largest community of changemakers.
As part of the campaign Drake was recognized for making a commitment to form a Changemaking & Innovation Taskforce.

During the next academic year, we will develop a campus-wide definition of changemaking, evaluate campus interest and resources for changemaker education, explore changemaking curriculum and infrastructure at other campuses, and provide recommendations for integrating a changemaking focus across the Drake experience.

This commitment is one of 73 commitments announced by leading academic institutions, ecosystem building organizations, and individuals in 14 countries, who are working together to spark and accelerate more than 200,000 changemakers. Drake’s commitment represents one of the many ways the institution is contributing to building a world where everyone is a changemaker.

“In an Everyone [is] a Changemaker world, all people have the confidence, skills, and freedom to create change for the good of all,” says Jessica Lax, Ashoka U’s Growth & Partnerships Director. “With this commitment Drake University is joining Ashoka U’s global community of higher education innovators who are collectively activating and equipping the changemakers the world needs. We’re thrilled to celebrate Drake’s commitment and look forward to sharing it with others through this campaign.”

To learn more about changemaking at Drake University contact Renee Sedlacek, Director of Community Engaged Learning.

To see all of the #MillionsofChangemakers commitments sorted by country or focus area, visit this their website.

–Renee Sedlacek, Academic Excellence and Student Success