Student work published on the senior capstone website Urban Plains swept the “small team” category at this year’s Broadcast Education Association Festival of Media Arts. The winners were:
1st Place: Matthew Gogerty, Adam Rogan, and Autumn Meyer; “500 Miles on 500 Dollars”
2nd Place: Autumn Meyer and Daniela Buvat; “Save the Bees, Seriously”
3rd Place: Anne Marie Matte, Nate Sohn, and Autumn Meyer; “Abandoned Midwest”
—Kathleen Richardson, School of Journalism and Mass Communication
A J-Term class co-taught by Tobi Parks, adjunct, and Tom Swartwood, entrepreneurship professor, was featured on a local TV newscast. The class focuses on the recorded music industry: Students learn about the business, and then produce a show. Parks is a former Sony Music executive from New York City who is the founder of Station One Records, which is opening a Drake neighborhood studio for recording, promoting and providing performance space for local bands. If you are interested in connecting with Parks and Station One, contact Carlyn Crowe, SJMC internship coordinator, at carlyn.crowe@drake.edu.
—Kathleen Richardson, School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Professor Sandy Henry, who has conducted research into Super Bowl advertising, was a featured expert in a recent story in the Los Angeles Times about the state of advertising for the iconic sports event. Henry also is scheduled to give a lecture on Super Bowl advertising for Drake alumni on Wednesday, Feb. 7, at 6:30 p.m. in Levitt Hall of Old Main.
Drake students brought home 13 awards at the recent Iowa College Media Association awards.
—Kathleen Richardson, School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Katrina Sletten, a public relations, astronomy, and physics triple major, has received a summer internship designed to mentor undergraduate women in aerospace.
The 36 Brooke Owens Fellows are selected for “their talent, their experience, their commitment to service and their creativity.”
Fellows are matched by industry leaders to intern positions based on their area of interest and expertise. Katrina will intern next summer at the National Museum of Flight in Seattle, working with the museum’s executive director.
—Kathleen Richardson, School of Journalism and Mass Communication
This month, the State of Iowa formally recognized Drake as a member of its Home Base Iowa Certified Higher Academic Military Partner (CHAMPs) program, which helps promote Iowa as an attractive place for veterans and their family members who choose to pursue their higher education. To become a member, Drake demonstrated that it met stringent requirements in three major areas that help U.S. military veterans: (i) transition to an institution of higher education, (ii) access on-campus support resources, and (iii) obtain scholarships and veterans benefits.
As part of the CHAMPS certification, Drake University recently expanded financial aid opportunities and educational resources for military veterans and their families. A new scholarship, dedicated study space, and access to academic and career advisors are among Drake’s resources for student-veterans.
Beginning in fall 2018, service members and their dependents who are pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Drake may apply for a renewable scholarship of $3,000 per academic year. The University also partners with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on the Yellow Ribbon Program; the partnership covers 100 percent of tuition and mandatory fees for qualifying veterans.
Student-veterans have access to dedicated study space in a University-owned facility that is used for Drake ROTC programming and other veterans’ activities.
In addition to the CHAMPS recognition, U.S. News and World Report’s 2018 ranking of Best Colleges for Veterans placed Drake No. 2 among private universities in the Midwest.
Provost Mattison announced yesterday that Gesine Gerhard, PhD, has been named dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, effective July 1, 2018. Gerhard has demonstrated strong leadership skills, clear vision, and passionate advocacy for liberal arts education during a career as an administrator, scholar, and teacher. She has served since 2012 as associate dean of the College of the Pacific, the largest and oldest academic unit of the University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif., where she also served as the University’s director of general education.
Dorothy Pisarski, associate professor of advertising, was selected to work with the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee and serve as a Skyway Host as part of Crew 52 during the upcoming Super Bowl. Dorothy will provide information and suggestions to Minneapolis visitors who need assistance navigating the Skyway system or requiring general tourism information. Super Bowl festival events run for ten days preceding the Super Bowl, starting Friday, Jan. 26.
Dorothy was inspired to apply for the role with the hosting committee after accompanying Drake Advertising students to the Student Advertising Summit at the University of Minnesota a year ago. By participating in the Super Bowl, Dorothy will be able to share with her students real-life examples of how event management and marketing operate at a Super Bowl-level scope and scale.
President Martin is the subject of this in-depth profile in the January/February print edition of DSM Magazine.
Two Drake University seniors received honors during the PR News PR People Awards Luncheon at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., last month.
PR News’ PR People Awards is an international competition that recognizes the top talent whose work is making an impact in the communications field. Award recipients represent the professionals who are responsible for outstanding PR achievements made in the past year.
Maddy Gildersleeve, a marketing and public relations double-major from Vandnais Heights, Minn., was named PR News Student of the Year.
Sarah Mondello, a public relations and writing major with a minor in graphic design from Crystal Lake, Ill., received honorable mention for PR Intern of the Year.
The PR News Student of the Year award recognizes “an outstanding student who has demonstrated leadership, talent and passion” for public relations and communications.
Gildersleeve is a straight-A student and the founder of Panhellenic Philantropy, a twice-yearly fundraiser that has raised more than $5,000 for educating and empowering girls in the developing world.
“When I heard the news that I had won, I couldn’t stop smiling,” Gildersleeve said. “Knowing that all my hard work in the classroom and during my internships over the past few years had earned me this recognition was such a great feeling.”
Gildersleeve has complemented her exceptional academic achievement and philanthropy with marketing and communications-related internships at Bankers Trust, Power Life Yoga, FCB Chicago, Meredith Corporation, Hays Companies, and Johnson Consulting Services.
“The professors in Drake’s journalism school always say, ‘We aren’t preparing you for your fist job, but for your third,'” Gildersleeve said. “They really set students up for long-term success by teaching us critical thinking skills, real-world problem solving abilities, and how to work on challenging teams. I would recommend Drake for any student wanting to prepare him or herself to be an impactful professional, not just be someone with a ‘job.'”
Kelly Bruhn, associate dean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, said, “We are blessed with engaged students in our public relations major at Drake, and Maddy has been a leader among them. From her first class freshman year, she has pushed herself—and those around her—to ask smart questions of clients and develop creative solutions to their communications challenges. She has developed an amazing portfolio in her time on campus, and I look forward to watching her lead our industry into the future.”
PR Intern of the Year award nominees must establish themselves quickly as self-starting members and idea generators for a communications team; exhibit strong writing skills, professional demeanor, and smart use of digital tactics; demonstrate an interest in pursuing a PR career; and provide an example of a strong campaign, initiative, or volunteer activity that shows their passion for the field and potential talent as a professional.
Mondello was selected for her work at Drake Community Press (DCP), a two-year curriculum-based publishing laboratory, nonprofit, and community engagement experience.
“I’m very thankful for [the Drake University School of Journalism and Mass Communication’s] thoughtful nomination and the opportunity to represent Drake and the Drake Community Press while learning from seasoned PR professionals at the award ceremony,” Mondello said.
Distinct from the typical university press model, DCP prides itself in the community aspect of book publishing. DCP partners with the community to produce nonfiction publications.
Over the past two years, Mondello has been responsible for editing and promoting its latest book release, A Spectrum of Faith: Religions of the World in America’s Heartland. During this time, she has discovered the value of crafting promotional materials for use at public events.
“As my first steps toward becoming a literary PR professional, I have cherished my time with DCP,” Mondello said.
Mondello’s supervisor, Professor of English Carol Spaulding-Kruse, said Mondello has been instrumental in her work at the Press.
“Sarah designed two strong pieces of collateral at a last-minute point in our book production; she kept apace with an intense round of editing lasting several weeks as we finalized the chapters for publication—all while juggling a very full load of coursework and extra-curricular activities. And she did all of this with professional polish in her materials, presentation, and attitude. I began to rely on Sarah’s astuteness, flexibility, and know-how. Her desire for achievement is unfailingly ethical and sane,” Spaulding-Kruse said.
“I’m thankful for Carol’s mentorship and guidance,” Mondello said.
Matthew Thornton, assistant professor of public relations, nominated Mondello for the award.
“She is certainly deserving of this recognition. Her academic performance and work on behalf of the Drake Community Press is very impressive and speaks to her commitment as a student and intern,” Thornton said.
Bruhn said Mondello was their first choice during the PR faculty retreat over the summer.
“We were so happy to nominate her. I’m so grateful that they recognize her hard work internationally,” Bruhn said.
Jennifer Glover Konfrst, assistant professor of public relations, said, “This is a wonderful testament to her hard work, dedication, and talent.”
Upon graduation in May, Mondello plans to supplement being a novelist (a profession she had already begun with a debut book release at age 18) with a career as a book publishing professional.
“In Sarah, you have not only a highly ambitious and capable young person but someone who will emerge as a leader,” Spaulding-Kruse said.
