Category Archives: News & Achievements Archive

News & Achievements Archive

A&S news: Week of Feb. 22

Students head to National Food Recovery Dialog Conference
On Jan. 4, Laura Leben, senior environmental science major, was awarded $4,280 through the Slay Fund to bring eight members of Next Course – Food Recovery Network to the National Food Recovery Dialog Conference on April 2–4. The conference brings together student leaders and experts in the area of food recovery, food justice, and environmental law and policy to celebrate achievements, engage in workshops and discussions, and listen to speakers.

On April 4, these Drake students will also be attending a national lobby day for food recovery on Capitol Hill and have the opportunity to meet with legislators and discuss the issues of fighting waste and feeding people.

News & Achievements Archive

CPHS news: Week of Feb. 22

Alumni Achievement awards
Drake University’s College of Pharmacy and Health Science’s Alumni Achievement awards were presented during the annual Pharmacy & Health Sciences Day on Feb. 18. Recipients of the annual Alumni Achievement awards are honored for their exceptional contributions to the college, distinction in their careers, and/or civic and community contributions. In addition, the college issues its Young Alumni Award to one alumna or alumnus within 10 years of graduation.

“It is an honor to recognize these distinguished alumni for their achievements,” said Renae Chesnut, dean of the college. “Their professional accomplishments, commitment to our students, and dedication to their communities is inspiring.” For a full list of the recipients, visit the Drake Newsroom.

FDA-funded study supports generic substitution of epilepsy drugs
Researchers are now more comfortable than ever that generic drugs may be used without risk or loss of effectiveness, according to new results from a federally funded study conducted by researchers at Drake University, the University of Cincinnati, and eight other major research institutions.

These findings were published online Feb. 12 in The Lancet Neurology. Tim Welty, professor and chair of clinical sciences in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, was second author on the paper, alongside lead author Michael Privitera at the University of Cincinatti Medical Center. For more information on the project, click here.

News & Achievements Archive

CBPA news: Week of Feb. 22

Junior marketing and accounting double major receives AMA Scholarship
Eunice Chang, a junior marketing and accounting major, has been awarded the 2015 Iowa American Marketing Association Scholarship. The $1,500 scholarship is awarded annually in partnership with Casey’s General Store to an undergraduate member of AMA Iowa in recognition of outstanding leadership, high academic achievement, and active participation in the marketing profession. Learn more about Eunice in the Drake Newsroom.

M.P.A. cohort to be offered in Ames
Drake will hold information sessions this summer for students who are interested in taking courses in Ames toward a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) degree. Classes for the two-year Ames M.P.A. cohort program are held on weekends, and courses are taken one at a time to allow in-depth exploration of each topic.
Applications for the Fall 2016 cohort, which has an emphasis in executive leadership development, will be accepted through Aug. 1. Information sessions will take place at the Ames Chamber of Commerce and Mary Greeley Medical Center. Classes are held in Mary Greeley Medical Center. Click here for more information.

News & Achievements Archive

Spanish language conversation hours

Would you like to begin learning a few words in Spanish for an upcoming study abroad semester or travel seminar? Do you want or need to keep up your foreign language fluency? Drake University’s Department of World Languages and Cultures wants to help.

Spanish Conversation Hours are scheduled for Mondays, 1–2 p.m., and Fridays, 2–3 p.m., in Meredith 204. The group supports all levels of Spanish speakers with an opportunity to practice Spanish, and no long-term commitment is required to attend. A native speaker facilitates the conversation in Spanish in an informal setting.

For further information, contact Associate Professor Eduardo Garcia Villada at eduardo.garcia@drake.edu.

—Submitted by Drake International

News & Achievements Archive

Sign up for the Grand Blue Mile today!

The first 1,000 Drake faculty, staff, students, alumni, and family members who sign up for the Grand Blue Mile (GBM) are eligible for a free entry using the discount code DUGRIFF16. Recognized as one of the top road miles in the country, the GBM is a local favorite for walkers, joggers, and competitive runners alike. The 2016 GBM is Tuesday, April 26, at 6 p.m. Sign up NOW at www.grandbluemile.com

—Carolyn Hill, Assistant Director, Drake Relays Operations

News & Achievements Archive

Drake news: Week of Feb. 15

Bill! Bill! Bill!

Bill Nye, renowned scientist, inventor, and host of Bill Nye the Science Guy, will deliver the 36th installment of the Martin Bucksbaum Distinguished Lecture Series at Drake University. “An Evening with Bill Nye the Science Guy” is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, April 14, in Drake’s Knapp Center. The lecture is free and open to the public. All seating is general admission and no tickets are required. For more information, click here.


Drake to host Mandela Washington Fellowship Institute for Young African Leaders

Drake University will host 25 of Africa’s brightest emerging leaders this summer for a six-week academic and leadership institute sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. Beginning in June, Drake will host young professionals between the ages 25 to 35 who were selected to participate in the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, the flagship program of President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative. Learn more about this exciting opportunity in the Drake Newsroom.


National Alumni Association announces 2016 Alumni Award winners

The Drake University National Alumni Association Board of Directors will recognize seven alumni with an award reception Thursday, April 28. The 2016 Alumni Award recipients represent six graduating classes and four colleges. The reception begins at 4:30 p.m., and program begins at 5:30 p.m., in the Cowles Library Reading Room.

“We are proud to honor these alumni for their loyalty, service and achievement” said Blake Campbell, director of alumni relations. “Their dedicated commitment of their time, talents and resources to Drake University and its students ensures the continued success of this great institution. See the full list of recipients here.


Forty Under 40
Thirteen Drake University degree-holders were named to the Des Moines Business Record’s “Forty Under 40” class for 2016.

The Business Record issues its annual list to honor Greater Des Moines area professionals under the age of 40 who have “demonstrated impressive career achievements and unparalleled community involvement,” according to the publication.

“We are tremendously proud of the accomplishments of these young professionals,” said John Smith, vice president of alumni and development. “Drake alumni have a meaningful impact across the globe, but perhaps nowhere more so than in our hometown. The accomplishments of this year’s Forty Under 40 class speaks volumes about Drake’s contribution to Des Moines.”

To see the full list of alumni, visit the Drake Newsroom.

News & Achievements Archive

Youth Sports Clinic—Feb. 28

Join us for a youth sports clinic prior to the women’s basketball game on Sunday, Feb. 28, 12–1:30 p.m. All clinic participants will receive complimentary admission to the women’s basketball game vs. Bradley at 2 p.m. Additional tickets can be purchased at $10 for adults and $5 for youth (age 3–18). Information on how to purchase additional tickets will be provided via email within 24 hours of registration.

To register, visit www.draketix.com/clinic

Questions? Please contact Jackson Dahlquist, assistant director of athletics marketing, at 515-271-1946 or jackson.dahlquist@drake.edu.

—Tom Florian, Assistant Director of Ticket Operations

News & Achievements Archive

National Eating Disorder Awareness Week campus events

Drake University Counseling Center is thrilled to bring Tom and Doris Smeltzer, authors of Andrea’s Voice: Silenced by Bulimia, to Drake for NEDAW 2016. Tom and Doris lost their daughter, Andrea, to bulimia at the age of 19, and have since dedicated their lives to eating disorder prevention. The Smeltzers will speak on Thursday, Feb. 25, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Sheslow Auditorium. Faculty and coaches can consider swapping a class, assignment, or practice to encourage students to attend the event, and the event is free and open to the public.

In addition to hosting the speakers, the Counseling Center will lead other events the week of Feb. 22–26. These events include a resource table in Olmsted, online eating disorder screenings, a mindful eating experience, and a yoga exercise. Eating Disorder Coalition of Iowa is also hosting community events in Des Moines on Feb. 26–27 as well.

In the United States, 20 million women and 10 million men suffer from a clinically significant eating disorder at some time in their life. Out of all mental health struggles, including schizophrenia, eating disorders continue to have the highest mortality rate. The goal of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (NEDAW) is to put the spotlight on the seriousness of eating disorders and to improve public understanding of their causes, triggers, and treatments. By increasing awareness and access to resources, we can encourage early detection and intervention, which can improve the likelihood of full recovery for millions. Help is available and recovery is possible.

Please let me know if you have any questions about these events.

—Melissa Nord, Counseling Center

News & Achievements Archive

SJMC students win college media awards

School of Journalism and Mass Communication students won 25 awards Feb. 4 from the Iowa College Media Association. Highlights included first and second place in online edition for Urban Plains and Drake Magazine, respectively; a sweep in interactive design; a first place in investigative reporting; and awards representing photography, writing, design, social, and multimedia. The awards represented material published in The Times-Delphic; the senior capstone website Urban Plains, and Drake Magazine. Details are on the SJMC website.

—Kathleen Richardson, Dean, School of Journalism and Mass Communication