This past weekend, Drake Mock Trial competed at the next highest level after regional competition, the Opening Round Championship Series. Although Drake Mock Trial did not advance to nationals this year, it was still able to earn four wins at the tournament and leave with three individual awards for Maggie Rufe, Kevin Smaller, and Beth Macnab.
—John Wingert
Environmental science and policy students present at association meeting
On March 5, the Raccoon River Watershed Association held its annual meeting in Perry, Iowa. Drake environmental science and policy students Andrew Rupiper, Gabrielle Brodek, and Leah Robison as well as Thomas Rosburg, professor of biology and chair of the department, presented.
More information can be found at http://theperrynews.com/large-turnout-for-annual-raccoon-river-watershed-association-conference/
Ann Cravero joins prestigious summer program in Europe
Ann Cravero, associate professor of voice and director of opera theater, was accepted as assistant director to Sherrill Milnes on Mozart’s opera, Don Giovanni with the Prague Summer Nights: Young Artist Music Festival this summer. Ann will participate in performances, master classes, workshops, concerts, and recitals in venues and halls in the Czech Republic, including fully staged performances of Don Giovanni in the Estates Theatre and Suor Angelica/Gianni Schicchi at Simon & Jude Church (semi-staged) in Prague as well as orchestra concerts in Tabor, Dvorak Hall in Prague.
The opportunity to direct alongside whom many consider the greatest singer to portray the role of Don Giovanni (Sherrill Milnes) at the theater that Mozart premiered Le Nozze di Figaro and Don Giovanni is a great honor. It should be noted that Sherrill Milnes received his bachelor of music at Drake University. This festival will provide Ann the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest singers and conductors in the field of professional opera, including conductors James Nardolillo and James Burton, clarinetist Walter Seyfarth, violinist Rodney Friend, and coach Scott Rednour. A complete list of faculty can be found online.
Tamales and foreign language
On Thursday, Feb. 25, professors Eduardo Garcia and Lourdes Gutiérrez-Nájera gave a tamales-making demonstration for Alpha Mu Gamma, the Drake chapter (Xi Kappa) of the international honor society for foreign languages.
The goal of the event was to build community, specifically in relation to foreign languages. Social events such as this that are open to all Drake students give the opportunity to educate others about aspects of other cultures and thereby grow the world languages department.
The award-winning Drake School of Journalism and Mass Communication is partnering with St. Louis-based Media Now to host its first summer camp for high school students. The four-day “boot camp,” which will be held July 6-9 on Drake’s campus, will introduce students to the professional digital media and communications skills they need to be successful not only in high school but beyond. Workshop topics include editorial leadership, design, narrative storytelling, web and social media, and photo/multimedia. Teachers include high school and college instructors and media professionals from around the country.
The camp is available both as a sleep-over camp and as a day camp. Scholarships are available for students in need of financial assistance. Advisers get a discounted registration fee if five students from their school sign up.
For details on curriculum and fees, and to register, visit https://medianowdrake.com/. Early bird registration deadline is April 1. Regular registration runs through June 1, with a late fee after that.
—Submitted by Kathleen Richardson, Dean, School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Please join alumni and development staff, campus colleagues, and friends as we celebrate Blake’s seven years of service to Drake University as director of alumni relations on Thursday, March 10, from 10:30 a.m. to noon. We will gather at the Alumni House, 2700 University Ave., to wish him well as he takes on new professional opportunities.
—Heather Hendrix, Administrative Assistant 1
LEAD 100 students will conduct a Bike Drive the week of March 21–25 in the Olmsted Breezeway each day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., where students, faculty, and staff can drop off their bikes. The bikes are being collected to create a bike library on Drake’s campus, available to students, faculty, and staff for their biking needs throughout the year and throughout the city. This initiative is part of the Drake Bike Friendly program with assistance from a grant from Wellmark.
—Submitted by Art Sanders, Associate Provost
What do you do?
I’m an assistant professor of international business, and the main course I teach is the globalization seminar, which is required of all undergrad business majors. So by the numbers, I get to work with almost a third of all Drake undergraduates at some point in their time here.
How did you end up at Drake and in teaching?
I spent 10 years in corporate America, and one day I was in a personal development seminar in which they told us to make a Venn diagram of passions, talents, and the least amount of money we were willing to make. Upon completion of my diagram, I decided I was not in the right position. The very next week, there was an article in the Wall Street Journal about the shortage of Ph.D. professors in business. I talked with some advisers and decided to take the plunge.
You’ve studied (and experienced) a lot abroad …
I spent a year of undergrad in Europe, part was in France and part was in Russia. In Russia, I lived Krasnodar, not too far from Chechnya, so we were very close to the conflict [the outbreak of The First Chechen War happened at the time]. Most Thursdays we didn’t have class because there would be bomb threats at the university. I also spent a year teaching English in Brazil and have gone back there several times, including in 2014 for the World Cup. I speak Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Russian.
How do all these experiences affect how you teach?
My students hear a lot of stories; my experiences allow me to talk students about study abroad in a firsthand sort of way. It also helps me relate to the international students who enroll at Drake, because I understand the dynamics of what it’s like to be the only student who’s not from a certain place.
Drake welcomed five new employees in February:
—Human Resources
We are happy to announce the second book of the University Book Club! Cowles Library has 11 copies (hint: ask for the book on reserve at the checkout desk) available of Thirteen Ways of Looking.
The purpose of this book club is simple: Encourage reading for the sake of reading, and increase conversation among faculty, staff, and students across campus through the medium of books.
Details are available here: 13 Ways of Looking—University Book Club
The book is also available in audio format from Audible.com, at various DM-area public libraries, and Amazon (in addition to the Cowles Library copies: http://bit.ly/aubc-spr2016).
So, read the book and let Sara Heijerman (sara.heijerman@drake.edu) know if you have any questions or interest in discussing; the face-to-face discussion session will be March 22 at 4:45 p.m. Happy reading!
—Sara Heijerman, Manager, Campus Card Office
Don’t wait to reserve your place to run the Grand Blue Mile for FREE with Griff using DUGRIFF16! If a longer distance is your preference, run the Drake Relays presented by Hy-Vee Road Races Half Marathon or 5K using discount code ROADRACEDRAKE for $10 off. Get ready now to run in April!
Nominations for outstanding student leaders and organizations are being solicited. The awards will be given at the Adams Leadership Convocation on Friday, April 22.
The awards are:
Top First-Year Students
Top Sophomores
Top Juniors (P1)
Top Seniors (P2)
Outstanding President/Chairperson
Outstanding Residence Hall Leader
Wanda Everage Peer Mentor Award
Drake Service Awards – individuals and student organizations
Outstanding Student Organization
Outstanding Educational Program
Outstanding Social Program
Outstanding Weekend Alcohol Alternative Program
Outstanding Diversity Program
New this year:
Outstanding Student Organization Officer
Outstanding Student Organization Adviser
Outstanding Collaboration
Criteria and nomination forms for the various awards may be found here.
—Meghan Blancas, Director of Student Leadership Programs
