We are proud to share that Drake University is a finalist for the 2023 Healthiest State Annual Award, in the large workplace division.  These awards recognize workplaces, communities, and individuals for their efforts to improve the physical, social, and emotional wellbeing of Iowans.

Drake offers a variety of programs and classes that cover multiple dimensions of wellbeing.  Here are some offerings in March:

Do It for a Day Challenge.  March 27 through April 23.  If you want to make healthy changes but get easily distracted, this challenge is for you!  Over four weeks simply complete a series of one-day challenges.  You will have two challenges to choose from each day, that cover all dimensions of wellbeing.

Introduction to Juggling.  March 23 from 2-3 p.m. in the Olmsted Center Parents Hall North. Take a break from work and have some fun trying your hand – or hands at juggling.  Nate Reagen, chief of staff, will be our guide.

Get Real: Telling My Story.  March 24 from 12-1 p.m. in the lower level of the OT building (3003 Forest Ave.).  Learn how to create a personalized journal, a great tool to reduce stress and enhance your health.  Facilitated by students in the occupational therapy department.

Money at Work: Foundations of Investing.  March 30 from 2-3 p.m. in the Olmsted Center conference room 310/311. This class will provide the information you need to invest in your future, no matter where you are in life.  Paige Philips, senior financial consultant at TIAA will present.

For more information or to register for these classes or program, please send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu.

—  Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Professor Lee Jolliffe has been named vice president of the Society of Nineteenth-Century Historians and will serve on the board of directors. The Society represents the evolution of a long-held symposium on the 19^th Century Press, the Civil War, and Free Expression, held every autumn since 1993.

Professor Jolliffe’s research appears in several books that have arisen from the Symposium, including Adventure Journalists in the Gilded Age: From the Arctic to the Orient (McFarland, July 2021), which she co-wrote and co-edited with Katrina Quinn and Mary Cronin. Adventure Journalists won the 2022 Browne Award for Best Edited Collection in American Culture. Her chapters on “A Press Ablaze: Violent Suppression of Abolitionist Speech, Press, Petition, and Assembly” and “Freedom of Expression for Women: The Fight for Suffrage and Personal Liberty” (the latter co-authored with Sandra Davidson and Paulette Kilmer) were published in An Indispensable Liberty: The Fight for Free Speech in Nineteenth-Century America edited by Mary M. Cronin, and her article on “‘BLACK FIENDS’ AND ‘ATROCIOUS MURDERS’: Redefining ‘Sensationalism’ ,” appears in The Press in the Gilded Age, edited by David Sachsman. Professor Jolliffe also guest-edited an issue of Journalism History with articles from a Symposium panel she created.

Science on Screen, a collaboration between Varsity Cinema, STEM Librarian Dan Chibnall, and STEM@DRAKE, launches on Feb. 28 with a screening of the highly acclaimed After Yang, introduced by Chris Porter, associate professor of computer science and director of Drake’s Artificial Intelligence Program.

Porter’s introduction will explore the role of artificial intelligence in our lives, a theme which also resonates in the film. New developments in AI, especially in natural language processing and generative art, have recently captured the attention of the general public. While determining the true impact of these high-profile advancements remains an open question, it is undeniable that AI has become an integral part of our daily lives in various forms. Porter will discuss the mundane influence of AI by highlighting the subtle, often imperceptible ways in which we have grown dependent on AI for seemingly routine tasks.

After Yang is the second feature from acclaimed Director Kogonada. Set in the near future, it follows the struggle of a father, Jake (Colin Farrell), when his young daughter’s beloved companion—an android named Yang—malfunctions. Jake searches for a way to repair him. In the process, Jake discovers the life that has been passing in front of him, reconnecting with his wife and daughter across a distance he didn’t know was there.

This is the first of three films in the series coming to Varsity Cinema this spring. The next film in the series will be WALL-E, March 28, with an introduction by Baker Professor of Education Jerrid Kruse about being more creative and critical about technology.

Science on Screen is a national initiative of the COOLIDGE CORNER THEATRE, with major support from the ALFRED P. SLOAN FOUNDATION.

— Dan Chibnall, Cowles Library

Drake University Law School has been named a “Best Law School for 2023” by The Princeton Review. The education services company recently released their annual unranked list of outstanding law school’s across the country.

The list features detailed profiles of each school including The Princeton Review’s ratings in each category and quotes provided by students surveyed by The Princeton Review for this project.

Drake Law earned a score of 89 for overall academic experience, 94 for interesting professors, 95 for accessible professors, and 90 for career services (based on a scale of 60 to 99.)

Highlights from the student comment section include:

• Professors are patient and kind but also demand a lot out of students.
• Drake’s location in the capital city and the Law School’s strong alumni network and relationships with the bench and bar in Iowa create an advantage for Drake Law students.
• The small class size allows students to engage effectively, and adds to a family atmosphere and many opportunities for students to bond and network outside of the classroom.

“The best source regarding the quality of education are the students themselves.  I’m gratified that our students report they are getting exactly what we promise: outstanding professors, supportive staff, and unparalleled opportunities for professional growth,” said Dean of Drake Law School, Jerry Anderson.

“What students tell us about their experiences at their law schools contributes substantially to our school selections, profiles, and ratings,” said Rob Franek, The Princeton Review’s editor-in-chief.

“All of the schools that made our list for 2023 deliver exceptional legal education programs,” Franek noted. “We recommend each one as an academically excellent choice for a student considering earning a J.D.”

— Taylor Johnson, Law School

Keith Summerville’s grant proposal to the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) titled “Woodland Restoration and Oak Regeneration” was awarded. The award was in the amount of $39,888.  Congratulations, Keith.

— Mary Pat Wohlford, Director, Sponsored Programs Administration and Research Compliance 

Drake University Law School’s National Moot Court Team finished second in the 73^rd Annual National Moot Court Competition held Feb. 2, 2023. The National Moot Court Competition, sponsored by the American College of Trial Lawyers and the New York City Bar Association, is the oldest and one of the most prestigious moot court competitions in the country.

Third-year students Elizabeth Boyer and Benjamin Wolf, and second-year student Catherine Dukelow were undefeated leading up to the final round. Boyer and Wolf delivered the oral argument as the petitioners. They faced off against a tough team from Mercer School of Law. The finalists earned high praise from the panel for their advocacy skills, ability to think on their feet, and thorough understanding of the issues and related laws.

Judge Dennis Jacobs of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2^nd Circuit acted as chief justice for the panel. Before announcing the winner, Judge Jacobs addressed the teams, stating, “You are all splendidly professional, smooth, and masters of the podium. You have outlasted and bested the best oralists in law schools around the country. My warm congratulations to all of you.”

The Drake Law team also won an award for submitting the second-best brief in the competition. Earlier this year, the team won the regional competition to qualify for nationals; Drake’s other moot court team finished second in that regional competition. Drake Law has a long history of strength in advocacy, having qualified for nationals 23 out of the last 30 years.

“We are extremely proud of the National Team’s accomplishments,” said Drake Law Dean Jerry Anderson. “Elizabeth, Ben, and Catherine presented the perfect combination of hard work, outstanding skills, and extraordinary talent. Special thanks to Coach Louie Sloven, and the many volunteers who helped prepare the team for competition success. This is another reminder that Drake Law School produces some of the best advocates in the country.”

— Theresa Howard, Law School

Drake University Law School earned an A- ranking for criminal law in preLaw Magazine, placing Drake among the top law schools in the nation for this field.

The publication based the rankings on law schools’ offerings in criminal law, including clinical programs, certificates, externships, partnerships, and courses. The results are reported in preLaw’s Back to School 2022 issue.

Drake Law offers students substantial opportunities to learn about and develop skills in the field of criminal law. With coursework ranging from prosecution and defense to scientific and expert evidence to global issues in criminal law, students can explore a range of subject areas. The Drake Criminal Defense and Juvenile Delinquency Clinics provide students hands-on experience representing indigent clients in court appearances, depositions, and negotiations. Since the ranking was completed, Drake has expanded its criminal law program even further with the introduction of a new Wrongful Convictions Clinic.

Students also gain practical experience through internships with offices such as the Polk County Prosecutor’s Office, Federal and State Public Defender, and U.S Attorney’s Office. The Law School offers a certificate in Prosecution and Defense which is specifically designed to prepare students for careers in criminal law.

Professor Bob Rigg, director of the Criminal Law Clinic, said “This honor reaffirms what we as faculty at Drake Law have known and worked hard to achieve.”

The issue also highlights a collaborative effort between Drake’s Criminal Defense and the Refugee Clinics to serve clients with issues involved in “crimmigation,” the merging of these two areas of law. Students from the Refugee Clinic provide research regarding subjects such as detention and deportation that may be triggered by a criminal conviction. Through this effort, the Drake Legal Clinic has been able to provide high-quality legal representation to noncitizen defendants and gives students the opportunity to develop essential skills and learn from real experiences.

— Taylor Johnson, Law School

Drake has been honored with the 2022 Tree Campus Higher Education (formerly Tree Campus USA) recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation. The hard work of Drake’s Grounds Department has ensured this designation for the 11th year in a row. Facilities Planning and Management is committed to promoting healthy urban forest management and engaging the campus community in environmental stewardship.  The dedicated team cares for over 1,500 trees on campus and recently updated and published a new Tree Care Plan. 

Trees on campus and in urban spaces can lower energy costs by providing shade, cleaner air and water, and green spaces for students and faculty. In addition, trees improve students’ mental and cognitive health, provide an appealing aesthetic for campuses, and create shaded areas for studying and gathering making their care a high priority. 

If you are interested in being involved, stay on the lookout for information on how you or your groups can participate in our annual Arbor Day observance tree planting in May, or reach out to Hannah Remke, Sustainability Coordinator at hannah.remke@drake.edu. You can also visit the Tree Campus Higher Education page on Drake’s Sustainability website. 

 — Hannah Remke, Sustainability Coordinator