Category Archives: News & Achievements Archive

News & Achievements Archive

SJMC news: Week of April 4

Lee Jolliffe authors chapters on free speech
SJMC’s Lee Jolliffe authored one chapter and is first author on another, in the newly issued book An Indispensable Liberty: The Fight for Free Speech in Nineteenth-Century America, edited by Mary M. Cronin, of New Mexico State University.

In the lead chapter of the book, “A Press Ablaze: Violent Suppression of Abolitionist Speech, Press, Petition, and Assembly,” Lee details the wide range of violence used against abolitionist speakers, publishers, preachers, and audiences. Using newly indexed 19th-century newspapers, she has discovered that far more violence was aimed at anti-slavery advocates than previous histories have led us to believe. A number of abolitionist speakers and preachers were murdered in the South, for instance.

In a co-authored chapter on the suffrage movement, “Incremental but Insufficient: Gains Offset by Suppression for Women’s Rights Speakers,” the authors found that jeering and harassment were the primary tools of anti-woman suffrage mobs, but sadly, previously unknown violence was again discovered. Lee’s colleagues in writing this chapter are Sandra Davidson, University of Missouri, and Paulette Kilmer, University of Toledo.

The book is available from Amazon or from www.siupress.com.


SJMC senior chosen to anchor coverage of national broadcasters convention
Broadcast news senior Brenna Paukert has been selected as an anchor for the production team providing live broadcast coverage of the 2016 National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show’s StudioXperience in Las Vegas on April 16–22. The NAB Show is the largest gathering of media and entertainment professionals in the world, drawing more than 100,000 attendees.


Learn to shoot better smartphone video
Professor Chris Snider will teach a smartphone video workshop on April 13 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. in Meredith Hall, Room 124B. Come learn the basics of shooting great video and test out some accessories to make your smartphone a more powerful video tool. See all the details here.


SJMC hosts high school journalism conference
The SJMC will host a high school journalism conference on campus April 6 that is expected to draw as many as 100 students and their advisers. The daylong conference, which will focus on leadership and innovation, is co-sponsored by the Iowa Newspaper Foundation, Simpson College, and Iowa State University.


Road trip!
SJMC magazine students and faculty will take their annual tour of New York City magazines and meet with industry professionals and Drake alumni on April 6-10. And SJMC students and faculty will take a bus trip to Minneapolis April 3–4 to visit alumni and professionals at Twin Cities-area businesses and agencies.

—Kathleen Richardson, Dean, SJMC

News & Achievements Archive

Free document shred event

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Protect your information—and your identity—with a free shred event sponsored by Information Technology Services (ITS)
When: Monday, April 18, 12–3 p.m.
Where: North end of Olmsted lot

Bring your documents for on-site secure shredding by Iron Mountain—free for all Drake faculty, staff, and students. Shred any documents you’d like to have securely destroyed, including personal documents, homework assignments, and old files in the office. As a bonus, the first 25 people to bring a bag or box of documents to shred will receive a free encrypted flash drive.

—Submitted by Peter Lundstedt, Information Security Manager, ITS

News & Achievements Archive

Bulldogs of DU: Bryan Thomas

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What do you do?
“I am the student success coordinator and Crew Scholars staff director. Along with an amazing staff, I work with students on study skills, time management; pretty much anything they need to learn how to do, we can teach them how to do it. The Crew Scholars program is the bulk of everything I do, and I also work with the STEM Explorers program.”

What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
“I always joke with my students, my two favorite times are when you come here on your first day and when you leave. When they graduate, it means we did our job. Graduation is my absolute favorite time of year.”

What do you hope your students take away from you?
“I hope they’re doing everything they’re doing for the right reasons, that it’s genuine. I don’t believe in ‘fake-it-till-you-make-it’ mentality, and so I tell students, anything you do, make sure it aligns with your passions. Be the author of your own life, don’t let anybody else write your chapters.”

What do you do in your free time?
“I like being around people and I host a monthly breakfast club at my house. Growing up in New Orleans, I learned to cook at a young age. I was cutting up seafood when I was four. So I like to cook for people. My signature dish is shrimp or crawfish étouffée.”

News & Achievements Archive

Findley Elementary first grade to visit Drake

This past year Drake University teamed up with “I Have a Dream” Foundation to adopt the first grade class at Findley Elementary’s Dreamer Academy. “It’s never too early to start thinking about college” is the name of the game, and we hope you can join us in supporting this partnership!

Our adopted first grade classes will make their visit to campus this coming Tuesday, March 29. The 55 kiddos will arrive at Olmsted around 9:45 a.m., have lunch at the Field House at noon, and depart campus around 1 p.m. We have a host of events planned for them thanks to the organizing committee (Catherine Gillespie, Shelley Hurst, Amanda Martin, Laurel Haxton, and Jasmine Barr).

Volunteers are still needed for the day, please visit our website to see what’s available and share this with other students, faculty, and staff!

—Renee Sedlacek, Interim Director of Community Engagement & Service-Learning

News & Achievements Archive

Drake Relays single-session tickets on sale now

Purchase tickets for the 2016 Drake Relays presented by Hy-Vee and take advantage of discounted pricing. All Drake faculty and staff can purchase tickets at the following discounts:

Thursday Session:                               $5 each
Friday (Day) Session:                        $33 each (Regular $35)
Friday (Night) Session:                     $33 each (Regular $35)
Saturday Session:                               $38 each (Regular $40)

Don’t miss out on any of the action on the blue oval, get your tickets today by calling 515-271-3647 or visiting the Drake Athletics Ticket Office Monday–Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Questions? Please contact the Drake Athletics Ticket Office at 515-271-3647 or tickets@drake.edu.

—Tom Florian, Assistant Director, Ticket Operations and Donor Management

News & Achievements Archive

Scholarship for non-traditional students available

Executive Women International (EWI) Des Moines Chapter announces that the Adult Students in Scholastic Transition (ASIST) Scholarship Program is now taking applications.

The ASIST Scholarship is a non-discriminatory, educational scholarship program for the benefit of non-traditional students pursuing an associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degree. These include persons who are:

  • Past high school age and who are entering a college, university, trade school, and/or the workforce for the first time
  • Non-traditional students already enrolled in a college, university, or trade school program
  • Re-training due to changes in the workplace
  • Otherwise are not the traditional college, university, or trade school student (i.e., has not recently finished high school)

In addition to the Chapter ASIST, there are corporate awards given annually. Corporate candidates are selected from first-place Chapter winners.

Awards are provided for the recipients’ education and related expenses to aid them in obtaining the necessary educational skills to help achieve career goals and objectives. Related expenses include tuition, books, mandatory fees from schools, and child care. Not included are such expenses as rent, utility payments, travel expense, repayment of student loans or remaining balances payable to recipient. Checks for Chapter and Corporate scholarship awards are paid directly to the respective college or university.

Scholarship awards are valid for two years from date granted. Unclaimed awards will be returned to the Chapter or Corporate B/C/DP accounts for redistribution.

Selection criteria may include the following:

  • Financial need
  • Socially, physically, and economically challenged adults
  • Preference is given to those individuals with children residing in the home

Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • Clearly define career goals and objectives
  • Specify the educational requirements to attain the above goals and objectives
  • Utilize re-entry programs available through colleges/universities/technology centers, community agencies, and service groups or career professionals
  • 18 years of age or older
  • Applicant must reside within boundaries of a participating EWI Chapter—refer to list on ewiconnect.com. EWI of Des Moines boundaries are: Polk, Dallas, Story, & Warren counties.

More information and the application can be found at: http://ewidsm.org/announcements.php?id=45

—Stephanie Cardwell, Administrative Assistant 2

News & Achievements Archive

Donate children’s books March 28–30

LEAD 060 students (Tyler Voss, Layne Davis & Courtney Carr) are holding a book drive for Blank Children’s Hospital. Please donate any new/old children’s books appropriate for ages 2 to 16 for kids to enjoy when they visit the hospital. Bring your books to the Olmsted Center between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. March 28–30. More information can be found here. Thanks in advance!

—Courtney Carr

News & Achievements Archive

Walk 34 miles in their shoes

Walk for the Horn is an extreme, long-distance charity walk. The event raises funds and awareness for unaccompanied Eritrean refugee minors in Ethiopia.

The walk starts on Sunday morning, April 17, and goes from Drake University to Iowa State University (34 miles), so it’s no walk in the park. Participants can walk any distance they wish.

Sign up today by signing up on our fundraising page: www.razoo.com/team/Walk-For-The-Horn

A $20 donation is required to participate, but that includes an awesome T-shirt, water along the walk, and shuttle rides to and from Drake’s campus. Want to help the cause more? Raise a total of $50 and get all of the above plus a sweet Walk for the Horn bandana.

—Adam Poole

News & Achievements Archive

Bulldogs of DU: Kelly Bruhn

What do you do?
I’m the associate dean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication and associate professor of public relations, so I teach undergraduate courses and in the Master of Communication Leadership program. As associate dean, I handle recruitment and student success.

You have three children under the age of four, a demanding job, and other commitments; do you think women can have it all?
Someone told me a long time ago that you can have it all, you just can’t have it all at the same time. Sometimes the job takes over a little bit, like orientation or finals week, but then there are times when I need to focus at home. I’m lucky that I have leaders at Drake who support that life balance and a husband who supports me, as well.

What’s a story you share with prospective students and their families?
In PR writing, I have students write a few pieces for their dream employer—if they could pick any place, no holds barred, where would it be? They craft some communication samples for the employer and put together a packet. I write a cover letter and send the packet to the head of communication for that company, and on several occasions we have those communication folks reach back. This exercise has turned into opportunities with organizations like the Los Angeles Angels and National Geographic. It’s a great example to show how class work can lead them to their dream and that anything is possible.

What do you hope students remember about you after they’ve graduated?
I hope they remember that I cared. My door is always open. I always have chocolate and Kleenex. I think that academics certainly matter and every assignment is very intentional, but at the end of the day I hope they remember me for listening, caring, and helping them to achieve their dreams.

News & Achievements Archive

Run for a cause

Drake Law School’s Public Interest Law Association (PILA) is hosting the 9th Annual Court2Court 5K to raise money for the Poverty Law Internship that provides free and reduced legal assistance to those needing it but unable to afford it. Every $1 raised is matched at $3 by Drake Law School’s federal work study program.

Race day is April 16. Registration at 8 a.m.; Race starts at 9 a.m.

Register at http://secure.GetMeRegistered.com/court2court5K 

Pre-registration is now until March 26: $20
Registration is March 27–April 15: $25
Same-day registration is April 16: $30

—Matt Knipe