Professors of librarianship present at the Iowa Library Association 2016 Conference
Claudia Frazer, professor of librarianship and coordinator of digital initiatives library, presented “21st Century Archives @ Drake: Linking Collections with the Curriculum & Strategic Plan” on Oct. 13 at the Iowa Library Association 2016 Conference in Dubuque, Iowa. Librarians and archivists from three Iowa institutions discussed initiatives they are executing to innovatively connect with their constituents. Claudia focused on how Archives and Special Collections at Cowles Library is strategically striving to connect its unique content with the curriculum.

On Oct. 14, Bruce Gilbert, professor of librarianship and director of library operations and technology, was one of three presenters of a session titled, “Open Educational Resources (OER) and Libraries: Promotion and Support” at the same conference. He concentrated on the theoretical and historical background of OER, and how OER can be an effective tactic in encouraging faculty to explore alternatives to traditional (and expensive) textbooks. His slides are available: http://bit.ly/bg-ila-2016

Adjunct instructor begins second stint with Mannheim Streamroller
Anna Lackaff, adjunct instructor of music at Drake, will tour the country this holiday season as a keyboardist for Mannheim Steamroller. This will be Anna’s second year with the group, which has sold millions of albums worldwide. Mannheim Steamroller is best known for its Christmas albums that blend classical music with new age and rock stylings. Learn more about Anna in the Drake Newsroom.

Drake student work was honored with 10 Pinnacle awards, including six first-place honors, at the recent College Media Association contest in Atlanta.

Two of the top three student magazines in the country were produced by Drake students: Drake Magazine won first place for magazine of the year, and The Annual won third place. Drake students also won the top two awards for general news story and first-place awards for podcast, photo portrait, and profile story. Drake Magazine and The Annual are extracurricular activities published by the University’s Board of Student Communications; Urban Plains is a multimedia website produced by the SJMC news, magazine, and electronic media majors as their senior capstone.

The awards:

• Best four-year magazine, first place—Drake Magazine
• Best four-year magazine, third place—The Annual
• Best magazine cover, first place—Drake Magazine
• Best podcast, first place—Urban Plains
• Best photo portrait, first place—Drake Magazine
• Best profile, first place—Urban Plains
• Best general news story, first place—Drake Magazine
• Best general news story, second place—Urban Plains
• Best, multimedia news story, second place—Urban Plains
• Best online main page, third place—Urban Plains

—Kathleen Richardson, Dean, SJMC

Tuesday, Nov. 2, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.: Lunch at Hubbell Dining, Reinventing the Meal/ World Vegan Day
Join us for a twist on the traditional meal and celebrate World Vegan Day by trying some delicious vegan dishes. (Regular meal rate applies)

Wednesday, Nov. 9, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.: Lunch at Hubbell Dining, Faculty/Staff $5 lunch featuring German cuisine
Drake faculty and staff can dine at Hubbell Dining for only $5. We will be featuring German cuisine.

Wednesday, Nov. 16, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.: Lunch in Parents Hall Thanksgiving meal! Students, faculty, and staff are welcome to attend! Join us for a Thanksgiving feast with carved turkey and all of your holiday favorites. (Regular meal rate applies)

—Jennifer Bowersox, Sodexo

Drake Wellness is again making massage therapy available to Drake faculty, staff, and students in the Bell Center. Special Drake rates are offered at $30/30 minutes, $50/60 minutes, $75/90 minutes. Contact massage therapist Anne Boal directly at 515-988-8760 or anneboalwellness.com to schedule an appointment. Extended morning and afternoon appointment times are available.

—Anne Boal

Drake, Mercy College of Health Sciences, Grand View University, and Simpson College will collectively receive a $510,000 grant for a consortium project title, “Central Iowa Colleges’ Coordinated Response” submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Violence Against Women (OVW) Grants to Reduce Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking on Campus Program.

As a recipient of this competitive award, the four colleges will work together, and with community partners including Polk County Crisis and Advocacy Services, to strengthen and formalize education, policies, procedures, and messaging to prevent and respond to sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. Learn more in the Drake Newsroom.

Drake student publications won three Pacemaker awards at the recent Associated Collegiate Press conference in Washington, D.C.

Drake Magazine won a magazine Pacemaker;  DrakeMag.com  and Urban Plains won online Pacemakers. Only two other schools, University of Miami and University of Oregon, won three Pacemakers. The Pacemakers are the top collegiate journalism awards in the country. Drake Magazine is a student extracurricular activity, while Urban Plains is the multimedia senior capstone project for the magazine, news and electronic media majors.

In addition, Susanna Hayward, JO’16, won third place for design of the year for her cover for Drake Magazine. Senior Molly Longman won fifth place for diversity story.

Hayward was also a finalist in two other design categories, and Cole Norum, JO’16, was a finalist for feature writing.

Drake shines at PRSA local and international conferences

Drake students, alumni, and faculty were stars of the recent Central Iowa Public Relations Society of America PRIME Awards. Drake students and faculty also were on stage a few days later during presentations at the PRSA International Conference in Indianapolis.

The PRIME Awards won by Drake faculty, students and alums:
Professor Kelly Bruhn—Outstanding Public Relations Professional

Madison McConnell—Outstanding Student Member

Morgan Dezenski, Rachel Dupree, Meghan Jones, Katie Ramsey,

Emily Sadecki, Shelby Van Slooten (2016 graduates)—Community Champion Merit Award for PR capstone campaign “Putting Manning on the Map”

Ali Felsenthal, Adam Graves, Hope Waggoner, Jenna Sheldon, Courtney Fishman, Rebecca Brown, Kelsey Rooney (2016 graduates)—Student Excellence Award for PR capstone campaign “SNAP PR: A Community that Cares”

Cassie Driskell, Cara Regan, Alyssa Zipperer, Megan Auren, Emma Frederick, Ashley Beall, Brennan Haymond (2016 graduates)—Student Merit Award for PR capstone campaign “Compass PR: Manning Navigation Guide”

Taylor Rookaird, JO’15, who works at Strategic America, was named Outstanding New Member. SJMC alumni Emily Reis Abbas, chief marketing officer for Bankers Trust, and Kevin Waetke, vice president of communications at the National Pork Board, also received awards for their work.

Professors Bruhn and Jennifer Glover Konfrst presented at the PRSA International Conference, as did students Anna VanWaardhuisen, Madison McConnell, James Jolly, Megan Johns, and Savana Morrison.

—Kathleen Richardson, SJMC

The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University has received a $20,000 grant from Variety – the Children’s Charity to fund CHARACTER COUNTS! programming for early childhood centers. The grant will be used to provide materials and lesson plans to assist teaching staff as they work with children on social-emotional skills. Read more in the Drake Newsroom.

Thomas Rosburg to receive honor from the Iowa National Heritage Foundation
Professor of Biology Thomas R. Rosburg will receive a statewide award in recognition of his extensive conservation efforts, including giving 1,350 hours of his time to a project aimed at restoring prairies on private land throughout the state.

The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF) announced today that Rosburg will receive the organization’s 2016 Lawrence and Eula Hagie Heritage Award. The INHF is a statewide conservation organization that protects and restores Iowa’s land, water, and wildlife, with current projects in central Iowa including the High Trestle Trail, additions to Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt, and several others. Read more about Thomas’ work in the Drake Newsroom.

Mark Vitha publishes book on chromatography
Mark Vitha, professor of chemistry and a Windsor Professor of Science, published a new textbook, Chromatography: Principles and Instrumentation.

Chromatography is a physical method of separation that involves passing a mixture through a medium in which the components of the mixture move at different rates. The process separates the mixture into its individual components, allowing those components to be analyzed. Learn more about Mark’s book and work in the Drake Newsroom.