Category Archives: Archive

Strategic Updates Archive

Drake to host President of Kosovo for moderated conversation Oct. 25, registration required

Drake is honored to welcome the President of the Republic of Kosovo, H.E. Dr. Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu, to campus on Wednesday, Oct. 25. President Osmani will participate in a moderated discussion in Sheslow Auditorium from 10–11 a.m. Students, faculty, and staff are invited to attend this special event. Professor Deb DeLaet will lead the discussion, followed by an audience Q&A. Registration is required.

Register to attend

If you would like to ask a question of President Osmani, please submit your question in advance by Oct. 23 to global@drake.edu. Questions will be pre-selected for the Q&A portion of the discussion.

This event is part of the Iowa-Kosovo relationship that first started when the Iowa National Guard and the Kosovo Security Force partnered in 2011. Soon after, in 2013, the State of Iowa and the Republic of Kosovo became sister states. Kosovo opened a consulate in Des Moines in 2016, located on Court Avenue. This consulate remains Iowa’s only foreign diplomatic office.​

Drake has a strong history of engagement with Kosovo since 2017, starting with an official partnership agreement with the Ministry of Education. Since then, Drake has partnered with the Ministry and other entities in Kosovo in several ways, including:

  • Faculty from the School of Education have led several teaching workshops at multiple universities in Kosovo and have partnered with Kosovar professors on joint research.
  • Students and faculty participated in a J-Term travel seminar in 2019: Kosovo: Repairing and Rebuilding.
  • Recent Drake graduates have worked at non-profit organizations and corporations in Kosovo as part of Drake’s Working Worldwide program.
  • Three students attended the University of Prishtina’s international summer program in 2023.
  • Current education students can complete an international student teaching placement at the International Learning Group (ILG) school in Prishtina.
  • In addition, the Law School is currently hosting Zahir Çerkini, Professor at the University of Mitrovica Faculty of Law in Kosovo, as a Fulbright Visiting Scholar for the fall semester. Drake previously hosted two Kosovar Fulbright Scholars in Fall 2019.

President Osmani’s visit to campus is one of many ways Drake is weaving global thinking and intercultural learning into the Drake experience.

About Dr. Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu – President of the Republic of Kosovo
Dr. Vjosa Osmani Sadriu is the sixth President of the Republic of Kosovo. President Osmani was elected on April 4, 2021, having previously served as the Speaker of Parliament and after being elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) of the Republic of Kosovo in five consecutive mandates. She graduated from the Faculty of Law of the University of Prishtina and received her master’s and doctorate degrees in international law from the University of Pittsburgh.

The President of the Republic of Kosovo is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Kosovo Security Force and leads the country’s foreign policy, as per Kosovo’s constitution. As a staunch advocate for an impartial and professional justice system, President Osmani has strongly supported extensive rule of law reforms in Kosovo.

As President, Vjosa Osmani has relentlessly championed women’s rights, with regards to participation of women in processes of peace and security as well as their economic and political empowerment. The President is devoted to raising awareness for and supporting children with special needs. She is also committed to the empowerment of disadvantaged and marginalized groups in Kosovo. The President’s work has also focused on ensuring that action on climate change starts from the individual and gains further support at the highest political levels. In addition, empowerment of youth in different areas, from information technology to political decision making, has been an important part of the work of the President.

Read more about President Osmani

Strategic Updates Archive

Drake to expand Martin Bucksbaum Lectureship Series 

Drake University is excited to announce the expansion of the Martin Bucksbaum Lectureship Series. Under the expansion, the University will now have two lectureship tracks—the original Bucksbaum Distinguished Lectureship and a newly launched Bucksbaum Lectureship in Business, which is made possible by an additional gift from Melva Bucksbaum and Mary Bucksbaum Scanlan. 

Managed through Drake’s Zimpleman College of Business, the new lecture track addresses topics at the intersection of business and society. Students and community members are invited to take part in an intellectual conversation with some of the nation’s foremost thought leaders to discuss how business and entrepreneurialism can make both an economic and societal impact.  

Inaugural Speaker: Heather McGhee 

Heather McGhee, the New York Times best-selling author and a champion of equality in America, will be giving the Inaugural Bucksbaum Lectureship in Business on Nov. 1 in Sheslow Auditorium on Drake’s campus. McGhee’s lecture will begin at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, but attendees will need to register ahead of time at Drake.edu/Bucksbaum. The lecture will also be livestreamed at Live.Drake.edu. 

Throughout her career in public policy, McGhee has crafted legislation, testified before Congress, and helped shape presidential campaign platforms. Her book The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Us and How We Can Prosper Together, spent 10 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and was longlisted for the National Book Award and Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction. She has most recently adapted her book for young readers with companion materials for classrooms. Her 2020 TED talk, “Racism Has a Cost for Everyone,” has been viewed more than 2.5 million times.    

“We couldn’t think of a better speaker to kickstart our inaugural lecture. This is an incredible opportunity to offer students, our campus community and anyone with a vested interest in the business field an important perspective to better enable business as a force for good,”​​ said Alejandro Hernandez, Dean of the Zimpleman College of Business. “I want to recognize and thank the late Melva and her daughter Mary for their continued generous support of Drake as we work to honor Martin’s memory with this second track of the lectureship series.” 

Carrying on the Legacy 

Nearly 30 years ago, Martin and Melva Bucksbaum launched their vision for sparking community discussion about the most poignant issues of our time through a generous gift to the University that helped establish the Martin Bucksbaum Lectureship Series. The late Martin Bucksbaum was a local business leader who served as chairman and CEO of General Growth Properties. He was also a member of the University’s governing board. Over the years, the Lectureship has included world-renowned speakers including Maya Angelou, Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson, Bob Woodward, and many others—historically attracting more than 1,000 guests to the Knapp Center. 

Campus Announcements Archive

Des Moines Marathon and road closures Oct. 15

Once again, Drake University is proud to be highlighted as part of the IMT Des Moines Marathon, on Sunday, Oct. 15. The famed ‘Blue Oval’ and the Drake campus will be part of the race around the mile 11 marker.  Runners will approach Drake from 25th to Carpenter, left into the campus and south through campus to 27th to run the oval. Both DPS as well as DMPD staff will be here to insure a safe race course.

The IMT Marathon will place runners in and around Drake from 8:30 – 11:30 am.  Please expect traffic disruptions both near campus and throughout the race course.

For more information on the IMT Des Moines Marathon and course, please click this link – DMM-Athlete-Guide-2023-2.pdf (desmoinesmarathon.com).

Scott Law, Public Safety & Operational Services

News & Achievements Archive

W&L Law Journal ranks Drake Law Review in top 30

Drake Law Review is tied for 30th place in a field of more than 1,500 journals in the Washington & Lee (W&L) Law Journal Rankings. The ranking reflects the number of court decisions that have cited the Law Review during the five-year period from 2018-2022. Drake Law Review has ranked in the top 50 most-cited law reviews every year but two since 2003.

Maintained by the W&L Law Library, the rankings are a world-recognized resource for identifying and comparing law journals by subject, country of publication, or rank across several categories relevant to scholars and publishers. The ranking for case citations includes more than 660 student-edited journals.

Drake Law Review’s exemplary articles, notes, and lectures are academically and practically relevant to professors, judges, practitioners, and law students. The Law Review is consistently recognized as one of the top student-published law journals in the nation. This case citation ranking is one indication of how helpful the articles are to the judiciary in writing opinions.

Professor Keith Miller, faculty advisor to the Law Review, attributes the ranking to the tradition of excellence that is passed from one year’s staff to the next. “All current and former staff members should be proud of this recognition of their commitment to making the Law Review an outstanding resource for the courts, and the professional and academic communities,” Miller said. “Congratulations to all the current members and to the alumni of the Law Review.”

To learn more, visit the Drake Law Review website here: www.drakelawreview.org/.

Taylor Johnson, Law School

News & Achievements Archive

Drake named a top law school in the nation for child and family law

Drake University Law School earned an A ranking for child and family law in preLaw magazine, placing Drake among the top 28 law schools in the nation for this field. This is the sixth year in a row that Drake Law received recognition for excellence in child and family law.

The publication based the rankings on the law schools’ offerings in family law, including clinical programs, certificates, externships, and courses. The results are reported in preLaw’s Back to School 2023 issue.

For two decades, the Joan & Lyle Middleton Center for Children’s Rights has stood as the foundation of Drake University’s esteemed children’s rights program. It has consistently taken the lead at local, statewide, and national levels in enhancing child welfare and juvenile justice systems through its commitment to training, advocacy, and litigation. Within the Middleton Center for Children’s Rights, the Children’s Rights Clinic plays a pivotal role, equipping law students with the skills and knowledge necessary for fulfilling and prosperous careers in child advocacy.

The issue highlighted Drake Law School’s newest student organization, the Youth Law Society. This organization was formed to serve and engage with children in the community. The Youth Law Society helps high school students complete forms for federal student aid. Members also volunteer to read with local elementary school students. Plans for the fall include professional networking events and a guest speaker who will talk about the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision involving the Indian Child Welfare Act.

“Drake Law is great place for students interested in juvenile or family law practice to get the mentorship and practical training they need to hit the ground running upon graduation,” Professor Nickole Miller said. “I am proud of the work student attorneys in the Children’s Rights Clinic are doing to protect and expand the rights of children and youth through direct legal representation in court and administrative proceedings, systemic advocacy work, and community education projects.”

Read the full issue online (for the Youth Law Society highlight, visit pages 10/11 and for family law rankings, see page 44).

Taylor Johnson, Law School

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Provost’s Social Oct. 23 at 4 p.m. in Shiver’s Courtside Club

Drake faculty and staff who exemplify the Core Value of Joyful Accountability will be recognized at the next Provost’s Social, Monday, Oct. 23, in the Shiver’s Courtside Club beginning at 4 p.m.

To nominate a colleague, please use the Qualtrics form. Feel free to fill out multiple forms. All those nominated will be recognized on a rolling display at the event.

How do we define Joyful Accountability at Drake? We look for colleagues who are curious, creative, bold, and brave, and who strive each day to be their best!

When you nominate colleagues, be prepared to describe how each colleague meets these descriptions. From among those nominated, several will be chosen at random for prizes.

Refreshments will include an assortment of beverages and light snacks. This is a family friendly event. Feel free to bring your children or partner!

Madison Bemus, Office of the Provost

News & Achievements Archive

Drake named a top school in the nation for human rights law

Drake University Law School earned an A+ ranking for human rights law in preLaw magazine, placing Drake among the top ten law schools in the nation for this field.

The publication based the rankings on law schools’ offerings in human rights law, including clinical programs, certificates, externships, partnerships, and courses. The results are reported in preLaw’s Back to School 2023 issue.

The issue highlights the collaboration between Drake Law School and attorneys from Dentons Davis Brown to organize an LGBTQ+ legal clinic. The clinic offered guidance to members of the LGBTQ+ community, addressing concerns such as legal name changes, sex designation changes, and health care provisions such as powers of attorney.

Breanna Young, attorney at Dentons Davis Brown and former adjunct professor at Drake Law School said, “We saw a real need to step up and help empower and protect people by helping them get their legal documents in place.”

Read the full issue online. (page 39)

Taylor Johnson, Law School

Campus Announcements Archive

Campus Safety Walk

The Fall 2023 safety walk is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 25 starting at 7 p.m.  Any students, faculty, or staff interested in participating along with representatives of the Drake Student Senate, Public Safety, Facilities Planning and Management, Residence Life, Student Affairs, and the Residence Hall Association please meet at the Olmsted Center Breezeway at 6:50 p.m.

To register, please click here.

Scott Law, Public Safety & Operational Services