The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP) has extended its accreditation of two specializations within Drake’s counseling program. Learn more in the Drake Newsroom.
Category Archives: News & Achievements Archive
Bulldogs named to 2017 Forty Under 40 class
Ten members of the Drake community were named to the Des Moines Business Record’s Forty Under 40 class for 2017. You can see the list of Drake honorees in the Drake Newsroom.
Drake goes green
A student-led initiative through a 2016 Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) Capstone project resulted in adoption of a pilot program aimed at reducing waste and improving efficiency by eliminating paper towel dispensers in Crawford Hall. Instead, energy-efficient Dyson V-Blade hand dryers were installed. In order to measure the success of this pilot program, the student group will be conducting a student survey at the end of the spring semester to determine if the waste reduction effort is sustainable.
The LEAD program at Drake seeks to bring positive social change to Drake’s campus and community by aligning students’ values with the University’s. This past semester, student groups set out to make Drake a more environmentally sustainable campus and to foster habitual environmental living within our Drake community. They chose to bring this initiative to life because they believe it is vital to the future success and excellence of Drake’s students and faculty, as well as the environment as a whole. The initiative aligns directly with the University’s mission statement and commitment to acting as engaged global citizens and champions of environmental sustainability. Their capstone outlined four main ways to address these facets of the University’s mission statement:
- Replace paper towels with hand dryers in campus building restrooms
- Start a yearly “Blue Goes Green” education and awareness week on campus
- Establish a monetary incentive for using reusable cups in campus coffee shops
- Implement a mug wall into campus coffee shops with reusable mugs that can be checked out by students
A survey was completed with responses from 170-plus students and faculty members in strong support for the implementation of hand dryers and other sustainable initiatives. Focus group sessions were then held in October with Drake students to dive deeper and gauge their feelings about the hand dryer initiative. The same ideology stood out: They all wanted to see Drake become a greener campus.
During the week of Nov. 7, 2016, students hosted a week of education to coincide with their current projects. The three activities included:
- Educating their peers on the importance of environment sustainability
- Informing them on how they can make sustainable choices while living on campus
- Communicating current green initiatives
Through a variety of activities both in-person and via social media, the week was a success. The multimedia campaign on social media included videos, shared photos, and an engagement contest. Students were interested and engaged with messages, and we received positive feedback throughout the week.
They also collaborated with President Marty Martin to produce promotional and educational videos that can be seen below:
Moments with Marty #1: https://youtu.be/GMsdsc-3ehY
Moments with Marty #2: https://youtu.be/ZK1ZeV9eniE
The student group is passionate about the hand dryer initiative at Drake and eliminating paper towel waste. This will be a huge step forward for Drake in cutting operating costs and making our University more sustainable.
—Manny Toribio, Facilities Planning and Management
Drake named a “College That Pays You Back”
Drake is among the nation’s best colleges for students seeking great academics, outstanding career preparation, and generous financial aid according to The Princeton Review. The University is one of 200 schools the education services company profiles in its new book, Colleges That Pay You Back. Learn more in the Drake Newsroom.
Locksmith Steve Blaylock receives award
Steve Blaylock, locksmith in Facilities Planning and Management, received the Custodial/Maintenance of the Month award from the National Association of College and University Residence Halls, Inc. (NACURH) for the month of November. He was honored for his outstanding work on campus. Steve was nominated for his never-ending care for the welfare of the students residing in Ross Hall. His dedication to going above and beyond to resolve an issue extends to his approach with all members of the Drake campus. We extend our congratulations to Steve and are proud of his accomplishments.
Hard work and dedication are a standard in Facilities Planning and Management. In September of this year, the Facilities Grounds Department was nominated for the award, and although they did not win, we wish to express our gratitude for their efforts. In 2015 the custodial team for Crawford Hall was also nominated for their outstanding work.
—Venetta Hammond, Facilities Planning and Management
Five students semi-finalists for Fulbright scholarship
Last week, five Drake students received notification that they have been recommended as semi-finalists in the 2017–2018 Fulbright U.S. Student Program award competition. The semi-finalists are seeking awards to teach English (ETA) or conduct research (S/R); Drake’s semi-finalists are: Lara Cox (ETA Nepal), Ankita Dhussa (S/R India), Elena Dietz (ETA Indonesia), Nathan Jacobson (ETA Bulgaria), and Kelly Leatherman (ETA Malaysia).
The semi-finalists have been recommended by Fulbright’s U.S.-based National Screening Committees. The National Screening Committees typically recommend up to two times the number of candidates as there are grants available for a particular award. The semi-finalists’ applications will now go to the host country commissions for their consideration. The students will learn whether they receive an award between March and June of this year.
—Karen Leroux, Department of History
Drake sophomore selected for Principal Community Scholars Program
Sophomore Lauren Oreto is among 20 college students from Iowa and California who were selected for the first class of the Principal Community Scholars Program. The recipients were selected by Principal, Iowa Campus Compact, and California Campus Compact after being nominated by faculty or staff and going through a rigorous review process. The scholars proposed a project designed to engage their peers and their institutions in meeting community needs.
Lauren has proposed developing a program that enhances literacy in science and math for youth around the community. Oreto will receive a $1,000 scholarship from Principal upon completion of the service project. Learn more about Lauren and her project in the Drake Newsroom.
—Amanda Martin, Community Engaged Learning
New Faculty Athletics Representative announced
At the January Board of Trustees meeting, President Martin announced that Steve Scullen, professor of management and international business, will serve as Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) beginning in the Spring 2017 term.
Steve has been a member of the College of Business faculty since 2004. He is a three-year letterman in football and track & field. He served as a coach on the track-and-field team in the late 1980’s to early 1990’s.
The role of the FAR is to serve as the liaison between the institution and the athletic department, maintaining the appropriate balance between academics and intercollegiate athletics. As FAR, Steve will serve on the Intercollegiate Athletic Council, represent Drake on the Missouri Valley Conference Joint Committee, and represent the institution on NCAA matters.
As we welcome Steve to this new role, we want to acknowledge how grateful we are to Dean Renae Chesnut for her 17 years of service as Faculty Athletic Representative.
—Megan Franklin, Drake Athletics
Acting director for global centers named
Executive Director of Global Engagement and International Programs Annique Kiel has appointed Jeffrey Kappen, assistant professor of international business, to serve as acting director of both the Principal Center for Global Citizenship (PCGC) and the Nelson Institute for Diplomacy and International Affairs for the 2017–2018 academic year. He will also serve as assistant director of both programs during the Spring 2017 semester. During 2017–2018, Kappen will replace Professor David Skidmore, Director of PCGC and the Nelson Institute, during Skidmore’s two-semester sabbatical.
In his capacity as acting director of PCGC, Kappen will oversee the center’s international events series, the global and comparative public health concentration, the Global Ambassador program, the Global Practitioner program, and faculty development funding. He will also assist Executive Director Kiel on other projects related to campus internationalization.
Kappen’s responsibilities for the Nelson Institute encompass funding for Model United Nations, Model European Union, and Model Arab League simulation teams; the Global Pressing Issues Grant program; a student conference travel fund; and an annual conference on global affairs.
Kappen holds a bachelor’s degree from Beloit College in international relations and modern languages, an MBA in international business and marketing from the University of Wisconsin, and a PhD in organization studies from the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts. His current research projects look at integration efforts among emerging markets such as Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS); transnational institutions and networks; and the role of language in multinational firms. Before returning to academia, Kappen spent ten years working with companies from start-ups to the Fortune 100, which included over three years working and studying in Europe and South America. Kappen teaches a course on globalization that is required of all students in CBPA and has been actively involved in various international programs and projects since his arrival at Drake in 2012.
—Denise Ganpat, Drake International
Faculty accomplishments: Jan. 23
Phillip Chen included in Art Center exhibit
The artwork of Phillip Chen, the Elle and Nelle Levitt Distinguished Professor of Art and Design, has been included in the Des Moines Art Center’s current exhibition, “Wild Life,” curated by Art Center Director Jeff Fleming. Prints, drawings, and sculpture chosen from the museum’s permanent collection investigate nature and animals, as well as images of humans and human behavior, hybrids, and views of the city or mechanical structures. “Wild Life” will be on view in the John Brady Print Gallery of the Des Moines Art Center from Jan. 13 to April 16.
ASTE meeting in Des Moines
Five hundred teacher educators attended the Association of Science Teacher Education’s annual international meeting in Des Moines Jan. 12-14. The successful event was co-chaired by SOE’s Jerrid Kruse, associate professor of education and chair, teaching and learning department. Learn more here.
Megan Brown authors new book
A new book by Associate Professor of English Megan Brown explores the myriad developments in American autobiography since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Brown, a native New Yorker, draws on years of reading, teaching, and academic research for American Autobiography after 9/11. Read more about Megan and her book in the Drake Newsroom.