Category Archives: Archive

For Students Archive

Study in Sub-Saharan Africa

Study sustainable development in Uganda from May 22 to June 12. This six-credit course is open to all undergraduate students. It fulfills the Engaged Citizen or Global and Cultural Understanding AOI; course numbers BUS 067, HIST 067, or HONR 067. Register here by Jan. 30; spaces are first come, first served. For questions, contact Professor Heath Henderson at heath.henderson@drake.edu, Professor Jimmy Senteza at jimmy.senteza@drake.edu, or Professor Deb Bishop at deb.bishop@drake.edu.

—Stephanie Cardwell, Entrepreneurship Centers

For Students Archive

Drake Undergraduate Social Science Journal call for papers

The web-based Drake Undergraduate Social Science Journal (DUSSJ) welcomes paper submissions for the upcoming publication of its 18th edition in spring 2018. Any Drake undergraduate student is welcome to submit a piece that offers an engaging, critical, and original analysis pertaining to the departments of the social sciences: culture and society; economics; history; international relations; law, politics, and society; and political science. Students may submit papers that display strong writing skills in a shorter analytic essay of seven pages or less, or they may submit a longer research paper consisting of anything greater in length. Submitted papers should include full citations to all sources used.

Submissions will be reviewed by six members of the editorial board using the method of blind peer review, meaning the author’s identity will be withheld during the review process. The board reserves the right to edit papers for style or length, and they may request revisions by the author as a condition of acceptance––authors will be given plenty of time to make these revisions.

The deadline for submission is Feb. 19. No more than one submission per person will be considered. Please send your submissions to dussjadvisor@gmail.com. All questions should be directed to this address as well. When submitting a paper, please indicate whether the essay is a research paper or short analytic essay. Also, please indicate the primary discipline and any secondary discipline(s). We look forward to your submissions!

—Natalie Bayer, History Department

News & Achievements Archive

Mori recipient of Immigrant Entrepreneur Leadership Award

Associate Professor of Music and Director of Orchestral Studies Akira Mori received the Immigrant Entrepreneur Leadership Award during the 10th annual Immigrant Entrepreneurs Summit (IES) in Des Moines on Nov. 18.

The Immigrant Leadership Award is awarded to a first-generation immigrant who has demonstrated leadership and an entrepreneurial spirit in his/her professional and family life and on behalf of the immigrant and larger community.

Summit organizers honored Mori “for his commitment to infuse high expectations of rigor, respect, and care in his relationships with musicians as a teacher, mentor, and conductor, along with his distinctive ability to both challenge and support their aspirations and performances.”

Born and raised in Japan and educated in the United States, Mori has professionally conducted in countries such as Japan, the United States, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Argentina, and has taught at multiple universities across the United States and Asia including Indiana University, University of Minnesota, Louisiana State University, and Tokyo College of Music. He has taught on the faculty at Drake since 2008.

Read the news release

News & Achievements Archive

Drake celebrated its 143rd commencement Saturday

Drake held its 143rd commencement ceremony Saturday in The Knapp Center to celebrate the accomplishments of 325 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students who completed their degree requirements as of the conclusion of the fall semester.

More than 65 degree recipients were Des Moines public school teachers. They were the first group of teachers to earn Drake’s new Master of Science in Education degree in Culturally Responsive Leadership and Instruction, which is specially designed in partnership with Des Moines Public Schools to meet the needs of educators in urban school environments. The innovative program has helped the school district to attract highly-qualified new teachers, boosted teacher retention, and improved cultural competency among program participants.

The commencement included remarks by:

  • Two-time Drake alumnus Jim Verlengia, director of leadership supports at Heartland Area Education Agency in Johnston. He holds an education specialist and doctoral degrees from the School of Education (SOE) and is a recipient of the SOE’s Outstanding Alumni Award. He has served the University in numerous roles, including as chair of the Parents Advisory Board, chair of the SOE’s National Advisory Board, and adjunct faculty member for the SOE.
  • Abigail (Dierks) Grassmeyer, who graduated with a Master of Public Administration degree. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Drake in August 2010. A granddaughter of the late Paul F. Morrison, Grassmeyer is one of 15 members of the Morrison family to have received Drake degrees.

The fall 2017 graduates join a network of more than 75,000 Drake alumni around the world.

HR Information Archive

Faculty and staff wellness interest survey

At Drake, we recognize how important it is for our employees to keep healthy. We also realize the importance of offering opportunities to make a difference in your well-being.

Therefore, we are conducting a faculty and staff interest survey to determine your interest in participating in worksite wellness programs. We want to hear your thoughts and ideas on how to provide programs, presentations, and activities that meet your needs.

Please help us improve our offerings by taking a few minutes to complete this brief survey. Thank you in advance for your participation.

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Doors to lock Friday for winter break

Today through Thursday, Dec. 21, most campus buildings are open during administrative hours: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Beginning Friday, Dec. 22, doors will lock for the winter break. Faculty and staff will still be able to utilize their authorized access plans and enter their office buildings 24/7. Student plans will shut off during this time. Regular building hours will resume on Jan. 3.

Cowles Library open hours/after-hours are listed on its website.

Contact Public Safety at 515-271-2222 if you have a door access emergency during this time, or contact Student Services Center at 515-271-2000 or studentservices@drake.edu if you have a general card access question.

—Sara Heijerman, Student Services Center

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

How to get started using Blackboard

Faculty are invited to attend the ITS workshop “Getting Started with Blackboard” on Monday, Jan. 22, from 10 to 11 a.m. in Olmsted Center, TMR 132. Learn basic tips and tricks for working with Blackboard with a focus on course menus, navigation, grade center setup, and more. Please bring your own laptop or another internet capable device. Laptops can be checked out from the kiosk located in the lobby of Meredith Hall. The course will be taught by Karly Good.

Register for the course, and view other upcoming workshops.

—Carla Herling, ITS

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Pilot project: Drake faculty writing group

En Li, professor of history, and Nate Holdren, professor of law, politics, and society, are convening a faculty writing productivity group in the spring semester, with a monthly meeting and weekly check-in. Faculty members interested in participating are welcome to contact Li at en.li@drake.edu or Holdren at nate.holdren@drake.edu for more information.

—Nate Holdren, Law, Politics & Society