Category Archives: Archive

News & Achievements Archive

Physics researcher, professor receive National Science Foundation grant

Principal Investigator: Oleg Zatsarinny
Co-PI: Klaus Bartschat
Project Title: Development of a general ad effective program B-spline R-matrix program for charged-particle and photon collisions with atoms, ions, and molecules
Project Summary: This research will consist of the further development of a highly successful suite of computer programs to calculate accurate atomic data for a wide variety of electron- and photon-driven processes. This work will support many experimental projects, ranging from industrial plasma modeling to fundamental research performed at next-generation light sources. The results will be published in high-impact peer-reviewed professional journals. They will be presented at international scientific meetings, and the next version of the computer code will be written up and made available to the public. A post-doctoral researcher as well as undergraduate students will be trained through developing and testing individual modules of the package, thus giving them a first glimpse of supercomputing.
Funding Agency: National Science Foundation
Award Amount: $182,172 (Year 1: $72,465)

Submitted by Sponsored Programs

News & Achievements Archive

Athletics: Drake faculty/staff days

All Drake University faculty and staff are eligible to receive four complimentary tickets to Drake volleyball’s home opener match against Western Illinois, tomorrow (Sept. 15) at 6 p.m. in The Knapp Center. Tickets may be picked up p at the Drake Athletics Ticket Office Monday–Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. or at the ticket window on game day. Must show valid Drake Card (ID) at time of pick up.

Faculty and staff can also get free tickets to the following fall athletic events:

Women’s Soccer
Drake vs. Iowa State
Sept. 20, 1 p.m.
Cownie Soccer Complex

Men’s Soccer
Drake vs. Missouri State
Oct. 3, 7 p.m.
Cownie Soccer Complex

More information is available at www.DrakeTix.com/promotions
Questions? Call 515-271-3647 or email tickets@drake.edu.

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

News & Achievements Archive

In memoriam

Retired Drake public relations professor Ronda Menke Haas died on Tuesday, Aug. 4, after a sudden and brief illness. She was 64 years old.

Ronda retired in 2013 after teaching in the Drake School of Journalism and Mass Communication for 23 years. She was a mentor, a friend, and an inspiration for generations of public relations students and for her fellow SJMC faculty members. Ronda had the warmest heart and the highest standards. Her focus on ethics especially has had a profound impact on her students and on the public relations community nationwide. Ronda led a full, interesting life.

We offer our sympathies to Ronda’s husband, Marty Haas; her son, Jason Menke; daughter-in-law Tamara; and grandchildren Andrew, Kennedy, and Carter.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Sept. 5, at 5 p.m. at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in West Des Moines, with a reception to follow.

Donations in her memory can be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund or to the Drake PR Professional Preparation Fund in honor of Ronda Menke Haas. The fund was set up to help pay for public relations graduates’ PR certification exam.

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

News & Achievements Archive

Christa Olson named to community board

Christa Olson, vice provost for international programs, recently accepted a seat on the Board of Directors of the Iowa International Center (IIC).

“I am delighted to serve on the board of the IIC and to explore how the IIC and Drake University can deepen their collaboration and together foster more global and intercultural connectivity in the Greater Des Moines community.”

Together with the Greater Des Moines Partnership and the Des Moines Public Library, Drake University partners with the Iowa International Center to present the Iowa International Center Dialogue Series. The series offers the public free monthly forums led by experts on relevant international issues.

The mission of the IIC is to build cultural respect at home and around the world, one person at a time. For more than 75 years, the IIC has afforded international resources to Iowans, new Iowans, and international visitors to Iowa. The IIC works with the U.S. Department of State to facilitate visits from leaders of emerging nations through the Sehgal Foundation International Visitors Center and is creating new educational opportunities via the Ray Resource Initiative, thanks to the support of former Iowa Governor and Mrs. Robert Ray.

Submitted by Drake International

News & Achievements Archive

School of Journalism and Mass Communication news

Associate Professor of Journalism and Associate Dean David Wright, a former professional sports videographer, was featured in a Des Moines Register article about the wonderful hands-on opportunities for students created by Drake’s expanded relationship with ESPN.

Four SJMC alums—Rachel Vogel Quinn, JO’10; Jess Hoffert, JO’11; Mario Rossi, JO’15; and Annelise Tarnowski, JO’15—launched an Iowa-focused storytelling podcast, Middle of Somewhere. The inaugural podcast is now posted.

Add “hot music scene” to Des Moines’ list of attractions for both college students and young professionals. Tobi Parks, a musician and copyright expert with Sony Music in New York, is moving to Des Moines this fall to partner with The Des Moines Social Club and Drake University to create Station 1 Records, a nonprofit label to promote local bands. Several Drake students are already interning with Station 1, and Parks is working with journalism, music, and business faculty on a J-Term 2016 class that will take students behind the scenes of the music industry.

Submitted by Kathleen Richardson, Dean, School of Journalism and Mass Communication

News & Achievements Archive

Drake welcomes 14 new employees

The following employees joined the Bulldog family in July:

Earl “Marty” Martin, President

Jacqueline Kalin, Drake Athletics

Rachael Pruett, Drake Athletics

Kathleen Griner, CPHS

Lynn Kassel, CPHS

Nihal Mulla, CPHS

Cassity Gutierrez, CPHS

Jayna Fischbach, CPHS

Ann Burkhardt, CPHS

Michelle Rogers, Institutional Research

Natalie Larson, Office of Admission

Shonna Floyd, Office of Admission

Areli Estrada-Godinez, Facility Services

Lanny Carlson, Head Start

Submitted by Human Resources

Featured Events Archive

Drake Day at the Fair is Aug. 13

Drake Day at the Iowa State Fair, long associated with its signature blue-and-white tent along Rock Island Ave., has been revamped in 2015 with a new date, location, and format. Drake Day at the Fair will be held on the opening day of the fair—Thursday, Aug. 13—with “Discover Drake” events held throughout the day at our tent along Grand Avenue. This new, high-traffic space will be Drake’s home base for organizations and events including:

  • Meet-and-greet with President Earl F. “Marty” Martin, 11 a.m. to noon
  • Student-athletes
  • The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center, which conducts research, provides programming and training, and publishes scholarly works focusing on leadership, ethics, and civility
  • The Harkin Institute for Public Policy and Citizen Engagement, which will hold a free drawing for an Apple TV
  • The RaySociety, Drake’s lifelong learning organization open to all individuals across Central Iowa

Drake will also have a booth in the Varied Industries Building every day of the fair. Volunteers are still needed to the VI Building (includes air-conditioning and complimentary food and drink)—sign up today!

For Faculty Archive

Call for nominations for Nelson Institute Advisory Group

The Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and the Vice Provost for International Programs are accepting self-nominations or expressions of interest from full-time, tenured faculty interested in serving a three-year term on the Rolland and Mary Nelson Institute on Diplomacy and International Affairs Advisory Group.

The mission of the Nelson Institute is to provide in-depth international knowledge and experiences for students who wish to pursue careers in international affairs. The four-member advisory group establishes and maintains policies and procedures for promoting the Undergraduate Conference on Global Affairs, awards Global Affairs Scholarship to students for internships and simulations, and initiates additional activities consistent with the mission of the institute. Additionally, the advisory group works with the director of the institute and University administration to advance the institute’s mission.

Please forward a letter of interest and C.V. highlighting your expertise in international affairs to Denise Ganpat (denise.ganpat@drake.edu) by Aug. 24.

Submitted by Drake International

For Faculty Archive

Information for faculty regarding 2015 Fall Convocation

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The 2015 Fall Convocation will be held on Friday, Aug. 28, at 1:30 p.m. in The Knapp Center. Faculty—please inform your Dean’s office if you plan to attend by Monday, Aug. 17. The Knapp Center North Lower Level Lobby will be utilized as a staging/dressing area for faculty beginning at 1 p.m. with lineup at 1:25 p.m. You may enter via the Bell Center. The attire for all faculty is academic regalia.

All staff and faculty are encouraged to attend this important event welcoming new first-year and transfer students to Drake. Hear students speak and witness the awarding of the inaugural Principal Financial Group Global Citizen Award.