Tag Archives: staff

News & Achievements Archive

Drake welcomes 53 new employees

Welcome the following new employees at Drake!

Beth Diehl, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (started in July)
Valerie Thacker, School of Education (SOE)
Lindsay Woodward, SOE
Douglas Stilwell, SOE
Shannon Saunders, Athletics
Christopher McMahon, Athletics
Dalton Moberly, Athletics
Nathan Bollhorst, Athletics
Katelyn Sobotka, Athletics
Markisha Wright, Athletics
Zachary Elsbecker, Athletics
Sean Giza, Arts & Sciences
Carter Roberts, Arts & Sciences
Lauren Beal, Arts & Sciences
Tiffany Roby, Arts & Sciences
Lauren Breman, Arts & Sciences
Emily Kruse, Arts & Sciences
Kayla Jenkins, Arts & Sciences
Inbal Mazar, Arts & Sciences
Patricia Storlie, Arts & Sciences
Jill Allen, Arts & Sciences
Nate Holdren, Arts & Sciences
Paul Brizzi, Arts & Sciences
Bryan Hall, Arts & Sciences
Emily Newman, Arts & Sciences
Anne Peterson, Arts & Sciences
Deirdre Caputo-Levine, Arts & Sciences
Ann Skallerup, Public Safety
Matthew Main, Public Safety
Rick Welch, Public Safety
Kayla Choate, Law School
Christopher Gill, DTS
Cassie Paterson, College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences (CPHS)
Katie Shields, CPHS
James Kolnik, Residence Life
Luis Cordoba, Residence Life
Victoria Smith, Head Start
Lori Archer, Head Start
Stephanie Charron, Head Start
Stephanie Young, Head Start
Brenna DeGan, Alumni & Development
Grace Provenzano, School of Journalism & Mass Communication (SJMC)
Catherine Staub, SJMC
Matthew Thornton, SJMC
Petros Tesfazion, College of Business and Public Administration (CBPA)
Carl Vieregger, CBPA
Alanah Mitchell, CBPA
Heath Henderson, CBPA
Jamie Grandstaff, CBPA
Cameron Tuai, Cowles Library
Christopher Nickell, Environmental and Health Safety
William Kirby, I Have a Dream Foundation
Roberto Macedo-Davila, Facility Services
Saul Leon-Ortiz, Facility Services

—Submitted by Human Resources

Campus Announcements Archive

Protect your devices for free

Drake Public Safety, Student Life, and Technology Services are happy to offer all Drake faculty and staff electronic device security software free of charge. This patented program—FrontDoorSoftware Loss, Recovery, and Personal Safety—is designed to help you to prevent theft, protect information, and recover lost or stolen devices.

We strongly encourage you to register your devices as soon as possible—you can register your professional and personal laptops, cell phones, and/or tablets. Once registered, you are covered for four years. To register, visit http://frontdoorsoftware.com/drake. You will need to use your Drake email to register a computer or tablet and the code “drake” to register a cell phone. The software is completely free and installs in seconds.

Once you register your device(s), the program does the following:

  • Collects ownership information and the unique MAC address of the machine
  • Turns the monitor into a information screen, so when someone starts your computer or connects to the Internet, the first screen seen displays the owner/contact information you provide
  • Installs a tracking feature so you can see where your computer or device is at any time via your web account with FrontDoorSoftware

For a full overview of how the software works and the different features available, visit www.frontdoorsoftware.com/products/product.html

While this software is a great tool to help protect your property, no software can guarantee the safety of your electronics. Do not leave your devices unattended in public spaces, and be sure to lock your office door, car, home, or wherever your devices may be when you are not there.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact Scott Law, director of Drake Public Safety, at scott.law@drake.edu or 515-271-3860.

—Submitted by:
Scott Law, Director of Drake Public Safety
Jerry Parker, Acting Dean of Students
Jeff Sabin, Head of Infrastructure and Security, Drake Technology Services

Campus Announcements Archive

Staffing changes in Drake Wellness

Earlier this year, several open positions in Drake Athletics and Recreational Services, including the assistant director, wellness, prompted an evaluation of interrelated functions and duties, including wellness programming and support. The result was a realignment of staffing to reflect both duties of the position and constituencies served with one position focused on student wellness and one on employee wellness and engagement.

This summer, Ellen Lowe was hired as assistant director of recreational services, wellness. Ellen is responsible for supporting student wellness programming and services, managing group exercise, and supporting Recreational Services in related programming. Ellen reports to Lisa Murphy, director of recreational services.

The other wellness position vacated by Jana Peterson will be part of the Human Resources team. This alignment reflects the close working relationship between wellness staff and human resources since the inception of the wellness program and also provides the opportunity for cross-collaboration on issues of work/life balance and employee engagement.

Both positions will continue to work collaboratively on programs that can be offered to both students and employees. A variety of wellness related programming is available to faculty and staff this fall, including:

  • Group Exercise Classes—A list and schedule can be found at www.drake.edu/recservices/groupexercise/
  • Workshops and Learning—Various programs will be offered throughout the year. The first session, “Unplugged,” is scheduled for Sept. 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Olmsted Room 312-313.
  • Flu Shots and Blood Pressure Checks—Watch for information about upcoming flu shots and blood pressure checks for faculty and staff.
  • Life Coaching—Drake contracts with EFR to offer confidential life coaching to help you set goals in wellness, communication, time management, job performance, work-life balance, and other areas in which you wish to make progress. For more information, contact EFR at 800-327-4692.

If you have an employee wellness related question, please reach out to Cindy Adams, associate director, Human Resources, at 271-3676.

—Submitted by Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer

News & Achievements Archive

Reception for Mandi McReynolds

Please join me in congratulating Mandi McReynolds, director of community engagement and service-learning, as she begins her new role on Sept. 8 leading global community relations for The Principal Financial Group, a strategic community partner with Drake University. A reception will be held for Mandi in Levitt Hall on Sept. 3 from 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Over the last four years, Mandi has led Drake to integrate service-learning institutionally across all schools and colleges; achieve the coveted Carnegie Foundation Classification for Community Engagement and Presidential Honor Roll for Community Service; and develop countless community relationships with nonprofits, government agencies, and schools, creating a solid foundation for Drake’s future service-learning and community engagement efforts.

As we take the next 60 days to thoughtfully reflect on moving forward, Renee Sedlacek will serve as interim director of community engagement and service-learning.

—Submitted by Shannon Cofield, Senior Advisor for External Affairs

Campus Announcements Archive

Register today for global service-learning webinar

What: Service Through Learning: Ethics, Partnerships, and Best Practices webinar
When: Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2–3:30 p.m.
Where: Meredith 207

What is an ethical partnership? How can we create ethical partnerships that support communities and the students who serve or train in them? How can students and institutions, through their work and learning paradigms, empower these communities?

Share in discussion about the answers to these questions and learn best practices during this webinar, which will feature the editor of Developing Global Health Programming: A Guidebook for Medical and Professional Schools.

Throughout the conversation, presenters and participants will:

  • Explore questions about ethics related to service-learning and how to develop ethical partnerships
  • Examine how service-learning programs can provide global learning experiences and empower communities
  • Share experiences and best practices with global service-learning in the fields of health care and applicable disciplines

Please RSVP to Maria Rohach, global learning program coordinator, at maria.rohach@drake.edu

—Submitted by Maria Rohach

Campus Announcements Archive

Applications open for faculty and staff travel seminar

The Office of Community Engagement and Service Learning is pleased to offer a new professional development opportunity for the first time in 2015–2016, “Best Practices in Global Service-Learning: A learning community and travel seminar for faculty and staff.” The cohort will consist of faculty and staff from a variety of disciplines and departments.

Who should apply:

  • Faculty or staff who have developed a global service-learning course (on campus, as a travel seminar, or at a partner institution)
  • Faculty or staff interested in developing a global service-learning course
  • Faculty or staff involved with experiential learning at Drake

Find more information on learning goals, program components, what’s included, and the application here. 

Questions? Contact Maria Rohach, global learning program coordinator at maria.rohach@drake.edu

—Submitted by Maria Rohach, Global Learning Program Coordinator

Campus Announcements Archive

Faculty and staff invited to discuss spring 2016 Engaged Citizen Experience

The Office of the Associate Provost, Art Sanders, will host a meeting to discuss the spring 2016 Engaged Citizen Experience on on Wednesday, Aug. 19, from 9 to 11 a.m. in Medbury 115. Faculty and staff are invited to join this discussion on finalizing the title of the theme and potential cocurricular events.

The tentative theme for the Engaged Citizen Experience is “Making Democracy Work,” a broad topic provided by students. Consider how this theme may take advantage of the 2016 presidential election.

Coffee, decaf, tea, water, and a snack will be available at the meeting. While no RSVP is required, please register through this Eventbrite invitation so we can order the right amount of food and drink.

Submitted by Office of the Associate Provost

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