Students in Drake’s Applications of GIS course, which is taught in the environmental science and policy program, collaborated with Facilities Planning and Management (FPM) on two projects this semester.

First, the students developed an online, interactive map of campus. This map will help new and prospective students learn more about campus landmarks and sustainability projects.

Second, students mapped several hundred trees on campus, and linked tree locations to FPM’s tree maintenance records. This map and database will help FPM track tree maintenance needs across campus. In the future, certain trees of special interest may be added to the interactive online map.

Through this collaboration, the students gained hands-on experience in planning, implementing, and presenting a GIS project to solve a real-world problem.

Click here to view.

—Kevin Moran, Executive Director Facilities Planning and Management

Advertising students are award winners from the American Advertising Federation. At the recent American Advertising Awards Show, Des Moines chapter, Drake junior Bailey Zander won a Gold American Ad Award as well as Student Best of Show. Additionally, these other Drake advertising students won awards:

• Kelsea Graham—1 gold and 1 silver
• Brooke Vaske—1 gold
• Jeffrey Hersheway—1 silver

All gold award winners’ entries are automatically entered at the regional-level competition, which includes student work from Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri. This is the second time in three years that a Drake student won the Student Best of Show award.

Junior Sam Fathallah also won a silver award for work he did while interning at a local ad agency.

—Dorothy Pisarski, School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Kimberly Huey, associate professor of physiology in the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, was recently named as a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). This elite membership status recognizes members who have provided significant service to ACSM. These members have demonstrated high standards of professional development and commitment to the goals and long-range activities of the college through presentation of papers and peer and public education. At Drake, Kimberly teaches a number of physiology courses in CPHS and maintains an active research program that investigates muscle function on both the basic science and applied levels.

—Craige Wrenn, College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences

Zimpleman, retired president, chairman and CEO of Principal, received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters; and Ullem, past dean of the Law School, received an Honorary Doctor of Laws. Read more in the Drake Newsroom.

Lee Jolliffe, professor of journalism, has a chapter in David Sachsman’s new book After the War: The Press in a Changing America, 1865-1900 (Transaction, 2017).

The chapter is “ ‘Black Fiends’ and ‘Atrocious Murders’: Redefining ‘Sensationalism’ through Coverage of Interracial Crime in the Nineteenth Century”. Jolliffe looked at reporting of interracial murders featuring European-, African-, Asian-, and Native Americans and learned that the elements traditionally ascribed to “sensationalism”—the large headlines and incendiary graphics of the New York yellow press—are not the only indicators of that style. Smaller inland newspapers with tiny circulations and lacking the budgets for giant headline fonts and complex engravings, also practiced sensationalism. Their use of it appears in headlines, language use, overplaying of stories for impact, highlighting any presence of race, blaming, fear-mongering, inclusion of gory details, and calling readers to action—often lynching or cheering for summary justice. The overarching purpose of the interracial murder coverage appeared to be a strong enforcement of a social norm that races must be kept separate or mayhem would ensue.

—Lee Joliffe, School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Four Drake students have been selected as finalists for prestigious 2017–2018 Fulbright Scholarships. Seniors Nathan Jacobson, Elena Dietz, and Kelly Leatherman will teach English in Bulgaria, Indonesia, and Malaysia, respectively. In addition, one recent Drake graduate has been selected for a year of research in India. Read more in the Drake Newsroom.

Heidi Sleister, professor of biology, recently received the 2017 Iowa Distinguished Science Teaching Award from the Iowa Academy of Science. The award is given to educators for their innovative teaching practices at the university level.

Sleister was nominated for the award by current and former Drake students, as well as on-campus faculty. Excerpts from Sleister’s nomination letters were read aloud at the awards ceremony during the Iowa Academy of Science’s Annual Meeting in Cedar Falls on April 21. Sleister was praised for her innovative and creative teaching strategies, and dedicated mentoring of students in classroom and advising contexts. She has mentored over 50 students in research contexts; student nominators credited her with preparing them for graduate school by helping them understand the content behind the science, developing independent and critical thinking skills, and fostering confidence.

The Iowa Academy of Science’s mission is to foster interest in the sciences, scientific research, and science education, and to recognize high achievement in fulfilling this mission in the state of Iowa.

—David Senchina, Department of Biology