Tag Archives: administration

Strategic Updates Archive

Renae Chesnut named dean of CPHS

I am excited to announce that Interim Dean Renae Chesnut has been appointed Dean of the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, effective immediately.  I want to extend my deep gratitude to search committee chair Professor Craige Wrenn and the committee of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and other stakeholders who conducted a national search that resulted in Dean Chesnut’s selection.

Renae Chesnut earned all of her degrees—Pharmacy B.S, M.B.A., and Ed.D.—from Drake University.  Prior to joining the College of Pharmacy in 1993, she worked at Eli Lilly.  She holds the rank of Professor of Pharmacy and has held a variety of administrative positions in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences:  director of student services, assistant dean of student affairs, and, from 2004 to 2015, associate dean. She was named interim dean last May, following Dean Wendy Duncan’s departure to become vice president and provost at California Health Sciences University.   She has been recognized as the CPHS Mentor of the Year twice, received the Don V. Adams Spirit of Drake Award in 2009, and in 2014 was the recipient of the national Vanguard Leadership Award from Lambda Kappa Sigma.  She has served three times as an at-large faculty senator, and has been the NCAA faculty athletics representative to the Missouri Valley Conference since 2000, serving as president of the Missouri Valley Conference twice. She is also past president of he Iowa Pharmacy Association.  

Thus, she brings to the position of dean rich knowledge of her college and the University, an extensive range of experience, a broad network of contacts with alumni and health professionals, and a near inexhaustible energy for and commitment to innovate and collaborate in order to accelerate and celebrate the success of the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and Drake University.

—Provost Joe Lenz

Strategic Updates Archive

From the President

As you are aware, we began the search for a new provost earlier this fall. Led by Darcie Vandegrift, associate professor of sociology and department chair, the search committee began by soliciting input across campus about the community’s aspirations for our new provost. The committee has screened more than 60 applicants and will continue to accept applications until the position is filled.

The committee has identified a list of candidates to invite to a neutral site interview. These candidates were chosen for their talent and experience regarding:

• Record of professorial accomplishment
• Collaborative ability with campus stakeholders and appreciation of faculty governance
• Capacity to implement a mission-driven strategic vision
• Proven leadership and management skills
• Demonstrated ability to ensure the success of a diverse student body, staff, and faculty

Neutral site interviews will be completed before Thanksgiving, and the committee plans to invite three finalists to campus the week of Nov. 30. Open forums for each candidate will be held during that week—further details to be shared as the candidates are selected and schedules are finalized.

I would like to thank the committee for all their hard work and effort. Their diligence has enabled us to forego the typical practice of hiring a consultant, saving the University tens of thousands of dollars.

Please take the opportunity to provide feedback to the committee members as the process goes forward. The members of the search team are listed at www.drake.edu/provostsearch

Best regards,

Marty

Campus Announcements Archive

Sentwali Bakari says bon voyage—for now

Dean of Students Sentwali Bakari has been granted a leave of absence for the 2015 fall semester to serve as the Dean of Student Life for Semester at Sea—one of the world’s unique and leading study abroad programs. Sentwali will return to Drake as dean of students for the 2016 spring semester.

In Sentwali’s absence, Jerry Parker, associate dean of student life, will serve as the acting dean. Jerry will assume leadership and management for the Division of Student Life and direct supervisory responsibilities for the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership, Counseling and Health centers, Residence Life, Office for Sexual Violence Prevention and Healthy Relationship Promotion, as well as oversight of student conduct.

Sentwali will lead the Semester at Sea student life team and work collaboratively with faculty, lifelong learners, world leaders, and students from around the world to promote an exceptional comparative global learning experience. This is a tremendous honor for Sentwali and for Drake. We wish Sentwali the very best and look forward to his return to help advance Drake’s mission of preparing our students for responsible global citizenship.

—Submitted by Provost Joe Lenz