Drake Wellness is again making massage therapy available to Drake faculty, staff, and students in the Wellness 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.

Professor, students represent Drake at international pharmacy workshop
Erin Ulrich, assistant professor of social and administrative sciences, and pharmacy students Kelsey Japs and Ellyn Ross represented Drake at the 19th International Social Pharmacy Workshop in Aberdeen, Scotland, in July. The attendees were able to network with other scholars, develop leads for future research collaborations surrounding scholarly initiatives, learn what other nations are doing in pharmacy policy administration, as well as gain insights on practice change in pharmacy among countries across the globe. The delegates gained rich international perspective and represented Drake in an area not normally undertaken in the pharmacy profession.

In a competitive process, Erin and Kelsey were selected to share their peer-reviewed research, “Development of a theory-based framework on the relationship between the social environment and health care utilization of older adults.”

In addition, Ellyn attended the conference as part of an independent creative-writing project to merge her developing background in professional preparation and liberal arts education. She plans to start an online-based blog featuring innovative initiatives in healing arts and medicine practices from across the United States and the world.

Professor Geoff Wall named Pharmacist of the Year
Geoff Wall, professor of pharmacy practice, has been named the Next-Generation Pharmacist Health-System Pharmacist of the Year.
Pharmacy Times and Parata Systems, founding partners of the Next-Generation Pharmacist Awards, announced the award recipients during an gala on Aug. 6 in Boston.

Next-Generation Pharmacist is one of the profession’s leading national award programs, recognizing outstanding pharmacists, technicians, student pharmacists and industry advocates. More than 500 nominations were received across 11 award categories. Winners exemplify the highest standards of the pharmacy profession and stand as a testament to the role of awardees in helping patients lead healthier lives, according to Pharmacy Times editor-in-chief Troy Trygstad, PH’02, BN’02, chair of an independent panel of judges who evaluated the nominees.

To learn more about Geoff, visit the Drake Newsroom.

Drake, Bravo announce formation of cultural planning initiative for central Iowa
Drake University President Marty Martin and Bravo Greater Des Moines announced today the formation of a cultural planning initiative for central Iowa.

The Regional Cultural Assessment will build from existing community-wide planning projects such as Capital Crossroads and The Tomorrow Plan to identify and prioritize opportunities to enhance and leverage the arts as an essential driver of quality of life and economic development in central Iowa. Learn more about the initiative in the Drake Newsroom.

Mandela Fellows receive grants to support social enterprises
Four young African professionals who studied business and entrepreneurship at Drake this summer have received federal grants of up to $25,000 to support social enterprises in their home countries.

The grant recipients are participants in the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, a program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. Of the 1,000 Fellows nationwide—distributed among 46 host institutes, including Drake University—nearly 300 applied for grant funding through a business plan competition hosted by the US African Development Foundation (USADF).

The USADF issued grants to 50 Fellows, four of whom were studying at Drake: Tidiane Ball of Mali, Khady Nakoulima of Senegal, Peter Nyamai of Kenya, and Tafangy Sitraka of Madagascar. Read more about the Mandela Fellows in the Drake Newsroom.

Faculty honor
Matt Bruinekool has been elected by the National Council on Rehabilitation Education (NCRE) members to serve a four-year term, starting in the first year as 2nd vice president and transitioning through vice president, president, and past-president over the course of the following three years. His term officially begins at the conclusion of the NCRE Fall 2016 Conference in Washington, D.C.

Alumni honors
Alumna Mary Brooks has brought to life a program called “TaleTrail,” sponsored by the West Des Moines Public Library, where people can read a children’s book, page by page, while walking in Ashawa Park. The unveiling ceremony is Tuesday, August 23 at 5 p.m. and all are invited to attend. Mary earned three degrees from Drake: a BFA in1974 (speech communications), an MSE in 1979 (secondary school administration), and another MSE in 1985 (curriculum and instruction).

On July 16, Drake alumna Arlene DeVries, GR’85, was honored with a Champion Award at the Supporting Emotional Needs of Gifted Students conference.

Wanda Everage Academic Success Symposium
Fifty Des Moines-area teenagers will participate in a week-long symposium to discuss the unique challenges that students of color face when preparing for college. They’ll hear from experts uniquely qualified to speak on the topic—including their classmates.
The Wanda Everage Academic Success Symposium, sponsored by Nationwide Insurance Company and the School of Education, includes daily activities on Drake’s campus from Sunday, Aug. 7, to Friday, Aug. 12. Read more about the Symposium in the Drake Newsroom.

Drake University took a powerful step this summer in renewing its commitment to the growth and development of the Drake Neighborhood when the University hired Drake alumnus Nick Valdez to the position of neighborhood and community relations manager.

In this new University role, which reports to the chief of staff in the Office of the President, Valdez will develop and enhance partnerships between the University and Drake Neighborhood stakeholders to strengthen the overall economic development and vitality of the area. He will serve as the central point of contact for Drake Neighborhood businesses, institutions, and residents to support mutual campus and community engagement, to address community concerns, and to advance new partnership opportunities. Learn more about Nick and his new role in the Drake Newsroom.

On July 18, Manny Toribio joined Drake as assistant director, facilities planning and management. Manny will assist in key changes to facility operations in light of Drake’s decision to terminate its third-party facility management contract effective July 1. Manny was previously employed by the City of Prairie City, where he was the city administrator for three years. Prior to Prairie City he spent six years with the City of Des Moines as a planning technician. A few highlights of activities and events he participated in while at Prairie City include:

• Revision of codes and ordinances to improve government service delivery
• Successful annexation of 10 acres of land for future economic development opportunities
• Oversaw private construction projects, which have resulted in significant growth
• Secured over $2.1 million through various grants
• Conducted several major capital improvement projects including: Wastewater Treatment Facility, North Entryway Sign, and the North Side Sewer Rehabilitation
• Major event planning, such as: Prairie Days, City Wide Clean-up, and recreational fundraisers
• Supervised a goal-setting session with elected officials, followed by a community survey
• Coordinated the development of balanced budgets
• Worked to remove derelict buildings through a demolition program
• Construction of the Healthy Way Fitness Zone Playground and other significant improvements to the Community Park

Manny received his B.S. in community and regional planning from Iowa State University, and his MPA from Drake in 2010.

Please join us in welcoming Manny to the Drake community.

—Kevin Moran, Executive Director, Facilities Planning and Management

Welcome the following Bulldogs to Drake:

Sue Mattison, Provost
Megan Brady, CPHS
Steve Bowen, CPHS
Daniel Chibnall, Cowles Library
Brenda McNear, Facilities Planning & Management
Venetta Hammond, Facilities Planning & Management
Mitchell Wieczorek, Facilities Planning & Management
Manny Toribio, Facilities Planning & Management
Mary Wohlford-Wessels, Sponsored Programs
Nicole Hays, Athletics
Andrew Dunlay, Athletics
Michelle Curtis, Head Start
Laura Schurz, Head Start
Thomas Rogers, ITS
Danielle Peters, University Events Management

—Human Resources