Drake’s inaugural Bucksbaum Business Lecturer Heather McGhee left us much to ponder when we hosted her on campus last fall. One of her insights that resonated deeply with me was that everything we believe comes from a story we have been told. The idea that our narrative has such tremendous power rings true when I think about my life. My family manifested a dream of coming to the United States, set an expectation that I would be the first to go to college, and believed that I could succeed in whatever endeavor I chose to pursue. Their narrative is what I believed and what continues to guide me.
In that same way, we all own the narrative of the Zimpleman College of Business. Each student, faculty member, staff member, alum, and supporter is part of our story. Our story is that of a promise: that business can be a force for good. Making this story come true is how we intend to deliver on that promise…and it is a work in progress. This inaugural edition of the Zimpleman Edge seeks to capture our narrative through stories about supporters who have invested in our vision, students who are living it on campus and around the world, faculty who are engaged in timely and relevant research, and our entrepreneurship programs which nurture the Drake community.
We have named this magazine the Zimpleman Edge because it reflects the advantage that our students gain as we prepare them to lead and innovate in a more complex, global, and challenging business environment. To succeed at business in today’s market, our students need to be able to build strategies that not only guide profit, but that lead to a more just, more humane, and more equitable world. It is for that reason that our narrative has a focus on giving our students the edge by equipping them to do well by doing good.
Alejandro Hernandez Dean Zimpleman College of Business
Celebrating One Year of the Larry and Kathleen Zimpleman College of Business at Drake
Looking back on a milestone
Zimpleman College of Business: 2020–2024.
Small Business, Big Impact: The Drake Business Accelerator Advantage
How the Accelerator is transforming ideas into business.
The Pursuit of Harnessing the Power of Business for Positive Change
Promoting altruistic behavior through hands-on opportunities.
Introducing Actuarial Science to a New Generation Young business
are inspiring local high school students. Ongoing Educational Opportunities Open Doors for Drake Alum
An
Edge Magazine is published annually for the alumni and friends of Drake University Zimpleman College of Business.
DEAN
Alejandro Hernandez
EDITOR
Jessica Swaim
DESIGN
James Hoover
WRITERS
Lizzie Murphy
Erin Opar
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Kylie Greer
James Hoover
Dylan Huey
Erin Opar
Paige Peterson
COPY EDITOR
Keesia Wirt
Opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily shared by the University, the publishers, or the editors.
CELEBRATING ONE YEAR of The Larry and Kathleen Zimpleman College of Business at Drake University
Last spring, members of the Drake community gathered in Aliber Hall for a special announcement that marked a new beginning for the University’s business school. On February 7, 2023, the Larry and Kathleen Zimpleman College of Business (Zimpleman College of Business) was unveiled along with a renewed commitment to positively impacting the global economy and society through ethical business practices.
Larry and Kathi Zimpleman are dedicated philanthropists and Drake alumni. The couple’s support is propelling the Zimpleman College of Business to become a hub of innovation and purpose-driven education focused on corporate social responsibility. The college is enhancing its hands-on learning experiences, providing additional scholarship support for students, and increasing developmental opportunities for faculty to continue serving as thought leaders in their
disciplines. All of this equips students with a profound understanding of responsible business concepts they can bring into their careers.
Larry Zimpleman believes deeply in the college’s mission to empower business students to be a force for good in the world. “The world needs more Drake graduates,” he said, emphasizing the importance of growing a workforce that is not only professionally accomplished but also dedicated to responsible global citizenship.
MAKING A TANGIBLE DIFFERENCE: Insights from the Positive Impact Rating Survey
A recent survey of Zimpleman students shows the college is already making huge strides in fostering social change through business. The survey, known as the Positive Impact Rating (PIR), revealed that Drake students have rated the Zimpleman College of Business at a Level 4 Transforming Schools category, placing it among the top tiers of PIR-rated schools worldwide.
The survey findings also catalyzed the college’s adoption of three societal impact focus areas:
• Propelling first-generation business student success
• Supporting mission-driven businesses
• Accelerating access to financial inclusion
Hernandez brings a unique perspective to his role as a first-generation American from Chile and the first Latino to serve as a dean in Drake’s 140-year history. His commitment to social responsibility and inclusivity is evident not just in his words but also in his actions.
Hernandez’s business acumen, robust higher education experience, and passion for social responsibility will guide his leadership as the college enters its second year.
“As we celebrate the first anniversary of the Zimpleman College of Business, it’s
“it’s clear we are making progress towards shaping the future’s brightest business leaders”
ALEJANDRO HERNANDEZ DEAN, ZIMPLEMAN COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
Over the next five years, the Zimpleman College of Business will develop innovative curriculum, research, and outreach initiatives rooted in the focus areas.
FACES OF CHANGE: Get to Know
Dean Alejandro Hernandez
At the helm of the Zimpleman College of Business is Dean Alejandro Hernandez, whose passion for social impact is deeply tied to his background.
Hernandez is the advisor to the university’s Latino student organization, La Fuerza Latina, and supports its work to provide a space for students in solidarity with the Latino community in Des Moines and at Drake. He has also been involved in the work of the Iowa Latinx Project, an initiative led by a cross-section of Latino leaders seeking to advance understanding of the issues surrounding Iowa’s largest ethnic group through data and stories to improve the conditions of the community.
clear we are making progress toward shaping the future’s brightest business leaders who are compassionate global citizens that will make a difference in our world,” Hernandez said. “We will continue to focus on community needs and student values as we do our part to build a more vibrant and inclusive future—one where businesses are celebrated not just as profit-driven entities but also as agents of positive societal impact.”
2021 SEPTEMBER
Announced rollout of the Social Impact Awards & Dean’s Honor Roll of Social Impact.
2020 AUGUST
Dean Alejandro Hernandez arrived.
2022 JANUARY
Dean’s Honor Roll first cohort recognized.
2022
FEBRUARY
First Social Impact Award winners recognized.
2022 AUGUST
The Society of Actuaries (SOA) approved the University-Earned Credit (UEC) program.
2022
APRIL
Drake’s Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation reaffirmed.
2022 AUGUST
Graduate programs transitioned to be fully online.
2023
2023
2023
JULY/AUGUST
Drake hosted the 58th annual Actuarial Research Conference (last held at Drake in 1999).
2023
JULY
The University announced its Executive Education program will live in the Zimpleman College of Business.
JUNE
Zimpleman College of Business received a Level 4 rating on the Positive Impact Rating (PIR) survey.
MARCH
Drake hosted the Sustainable & Responsible Investing Conference.
2023
2023
JUNE
Zimpleman College of Business named a signatory of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME).
2023 AUGUST
Drake reappointed Alejandro Hernandez as dean of the Zimpleman College of Business.
2023
NOVEMBER
Drake established a new business track of the historic Martin Bucksbaum Lectureship Series with featured speaker Heather McGhee.
2023
DECEMBER
Zimpleman College of Business defined three societal impact focus areas—first-generation student success, mission-driven business development, and access to financial inclusion.
FEBRUARY
Drake announced the Larry and Kathleen Zimpleman College of Business.
2024
APRIL
Drake hosted the inaugural Business for Good Summit.
Our Purpose
Purpose
Big Impact for Small Business: THE DRAKE BUSINESS ACCELERATOR ADVANTAGE
The Drake Business Clinic’s Business Accelerator initiative supports entrepreneurs and small business owners in advancing their ventures. Over 12 weeks, selected participants gain exclusive access to networking and collaboration opportunities with local business leaders, providing crucial coaching and support. Aligned with the Zimpleman College of Business’s mission of promoting business as a force for good, the program empowers small companies that contribute to the strength of their communities, with a particular emphasis on uplifting individuals from underrepresented groups.
Bill Adamowski, the leader of the Business Clinic, underscores its strategic location within Drake and the Dogtown neighborhood, in proximity to diverse businesses and large corporations. This unique setting allows participants to interact with other companies, gaining insights into real-world operations that inform their endeavors. The Business
Clinic extends its impact by partnering with Zimpleman students, providing them with valuable hands-on experience. As of fall 2023, more than 200 businesses have benefitted from this program, turning ideas into actionable ventures. “Our mentors are really what distinguish our program. They’re experienced entrepreneurs or senior executives of corporations from a wide variety of backgrounds,” Adamowski said.
Adamowski also emphasized the common challenge of having ideas without knowing how to transform them into viable businesses. The Business Accelerator program addresses this gap, facilitating the transformation of concepts into successful enterprises by utilizing Zimpleman student interns. Chase Spencer joined the Business Clinic as an intern during his sophomore year at Drake. Spencer had the chance to work directly with a local business to develop marketing strategies. Spencer noted, “[Interning with
the Business Accelerator program] has given us the opportunity to take what we learn in classes and running businesses and taking it to another level of actually taking part in it.” This work inspired him to launch his own business called Chasing Cars.
Upon completing the Business Accelerator program, participants can enroll in the Venture Mentoring Service, which connects them with business mentors and facilitates supplier diversity development for entrepreneurs and small business owners. The program includes essential team meetings with trained mentors, addressing specific needs such as analyzing business costs and preparing investment pitches. The Venture Mentoring Service was initially developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). It has trained over 120 organizations worldwide to establish their programs based on MIT’s original Venture Mentoring Service Model.
POSITIVE CHANGE BUSINESS FOR Harnessing the Power of
In the pursuit of harnessing the power of business for positive change, students in the Zimpleman College of Business are not just mastering classwork but also leveraging their knowledge to create a tangible impact in the Des Moines community. Classes like Professor Alanah Mitchell’s project management course encourage altruistic behavior by tasking students with developing and executing fundraising strategies for local non-profits.
In the fall of 2022, Mitchell, an Aliber distinguished professor of information systems, asked her class to choose a local charity to raise money for. Many students had already been exposed to this type of work through their internships and were eager to apply their skills to a worthy cause.
One of the chosen non-profits was Pi515 — a Des Moines-based nonprofit that empowers underrepresented students with an enduring interest in STEM through technology education. Their programs teach computer science, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy skills and are 100% free to participants.
Joel Aguirre, an intern with the organization, approached founder and CEO Nancy Mwirotsi about the class
project. “I’m supportive of youth, especially when they’re thinking outside the box, so I wanted to try,” Mwirotsi said. “There are some people who have never learned how to execute, but this class helps them achieve that.”
Aguirre and his teammates Suzy Brewer, Larry Rabang, Jordan Abrams, and Sydney Porter worked alongside Mwirotsi to brainstorm, plan, and execute two fundraising events. The first was a Krispy Kreme donut sale around Giving Tuesday that aimed to increase awareness of the organization. The team “tabled” in the Olmsted Student Center breezeway and shared Pi515’s mission with many students. Over three days, the group raised $510, making them the winners among the three teams.
CHANGE FOR
“ I’ve had some experience fundraising, but seeing the impact and the money raised opened my eyes...”
“I’ve had some experience fundraising, but seeing the impact and the money raised opened my eyes to the possibility that I could see myself helping nonprofits in the long run,” said team member Brewer.
The sale also advertised the team’s second fundraising event—a CEO roundtable titled “Give Back to the Future.” The panel comprised four business executives who shared their expertise with Drake students. Pi515’s connection to work readiness was a strong tie-in for the event and resonated well with attendees.
Professor Mitchell’s students were so successful that the Zimpleman College of
Business recognized the class with a Social Impact Award for outreach last spring. They were commended for effectively employing their newly learned project management skills to raise over $1,000 combined and increase the visibility of local non-profits.
“I am so proud of this class and this group of students,” Mitchell said. “I always favor class projects that present realistic and memorable opportunities to apply class concepts, but this assignment went even further than I expected as the projects were meaningful and impactful for both Drake students and our community.”
Our People
People
INTRODUCING ACTUARIAL SCIENCE TO A NEW GENERATION
Zimpleman students are active community members who work to make a meaningful impact on the next generation of business leaders in the Des Moines area. Senior actuarial science majors Simran Bhagat and Celeste Trevino are models of Zimpleman’s commitment to providing students with opportunities to create change as undergraduates.
The two teamed up with Doug Bujakowski, associate professor of actuarial science and risk management, to create a presentation for local high school students about the actuarial science profession and why they should consider it, especially if they are interested in mathematics or statistics. The three started by visiting six Des Moines high schools, where they typically spoke in upper-level math courses with large minority student populations.
“I feel like everyone should be able to know that the profession exists, and I feel like not knowing is one thing that has been a barrier for a lot of people in my community,” Trevino said. “So, that’s what we’re doing. We’re trying to introduce it in high school so students can have the knowledge to make the decision to pursue the field early on.”
Bhagat added that the team specifically wanted to target minority students
for their presentation because white males currently dominate the actuarial profession.
“You don’t see many people who look like me or Celeste,” she said. “Even as I have gone through internships at Travelers Insurance and Principal and my education, I always try to find people who look like me because I feel like they will be the ones who will answer my questions the best or understand me the best. I hope that I can be that person for other aspiring students.”
Trevino and Bhagat shared that at the beginning of every presentation, they ask students to raise their hands if they’ve heard of the actuarial science profession before. Typically, not a single
hand gets raised. However, throughout the presentation, they found students to be very engaged, and the students asked thoughtful questions.
“It’s really just getting to talk to them to learn what their thoughts are about the career,” Trevino said, “It’s been a really great experience.”
The team also highlights Drake’s actuarial science program in each presentation. Trevino and Bhagat came to the university precisely because of it, and they hope others follow in their footsteps.
“Knowing that Drake’s program was one of the top in the nation and recognized as a Center of Actuarial Excellence by the
“I always try to find people who look like me because I feel like they will be the ones who will answer my questions the best or understand me the best. I hope that I can be that person for other aspiring students.”
SIMRAN BHAGAT
Society of Actuaries stood out to me,” Bhagat said. “Being in Des Moines as well with all the insurance companies meant I really knew that I would be able to find my success here.”
Since beginning to conduct high school outreach at the beginning of 2023, Bhagat and Trevino’s work has expanded significantly. Bujakowski said additional students have signed up to present 86 presentations at 39 high schools.
It is the work of students like Bhagat and Trevino who help ensure the next generation of Zimpleman students are set up for success and instill in them the guiding principles of business as a force for good.
ONGOING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES OPEN DOORS FOR DRAKE ALUMS
While Zimpleman College graduates may go beyond Des Moines after graduation, the college’s robust conference programs help maintain strong connections to alumni while promoting ongoing education. For Vietnam native and Drake alum Jade Vuong, last year’s Sustainable and Responsible Investing Conference provided an opportunity to return to her alma mater while furthering her expertise.
Vuong’s educational journey began with her bachelor’s degree, which she completed in 2018, followed by her Master of Business Administration in 2020. As an international undergraduate student, Vuong struggled to find a company willing to sponsor her work visa. It was not until attending an on-campus career fair that she found an opportunity to be sponsored for work by her future employer, LWBJ. Following graduation in 2018, she started as a member of LWBJ’s auditing staff and was later promoted to audit senior.
In January 2022, LWBJ was acquired by UHY, a full-service CPA consulting advisory firm ranked 20th among international firms. Following the acquisition, Vuong became involved in sustainability practices as a manager of transaction advisory services. In her role, she advises start-ups to mid-sized companies on due diligence and driving financial performance. This includes facilitating transactions for mergers and acquisitions.
Vuong shared that smaller companies like the ones she advises often have difficulty reporting sustainability from a financial standpoint. She attended the Sustainable and Responsible Investing Conference at Drake and learned from industry experts in corporate social responsibility and governance.
“I was able to better understand the complexity of the ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) landscape,” she said. “I was pleasantly surprised by how Drake is preparing students in this sector of the field.”
Outside work, Vuong serves as a board member for the American Red Cross Northern and Central Iowa Chapter and recently joined Zimpleman’s National Advisory Council. She also is working to earn an accreditation in Fundamentals of Sustainability Accounting (FSA) to further her expertise.
Looking back on her collegiate experience, Vuong said, “Without Drake, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I am glad I went to a private university where you really know everyone in the class, and everyone supports each other.”
“Without Drake, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
JADE VUONG
ACCOUNTING DISCOVERS PASSION GOVERNMENT
Meet Matthew Williams, a visionary Zimpleman College of Business student who is not just studying business but actively channeling it as a force for good within the Drake community and beyond. His dedication and impact earned him the highly coveted Oreon E. Scott Outstanding Senior Award in the spring of 2023. His Drake story is filled with countless examples of unique professional opportunities, impactful mentorship, and a dedication to giving back. Now, in his first year of graduate studies in Zimpleman’s accounting program, Williams is a well-rounded young business professional ready to broaden his impact.
Williams was first drawn to Drake’s undergraduate program as an aspiring accounting major due to its strong CPA exam pass rates. In October 2018, the University ranked 14th in the nation— an average pass rate nearly 30 percent higher than the national average. In
addition, Williams had the opportunity to connect one-on-one with business school faculty members, where he formed an even stronger interest in attending.
“I felt like, wow, I’m getting that much personal attention as a prospective student,” he said. “I think the feeling I get from everyone is that we are here solely to make sure that you succeed toward your goals, and I’ve seen that in every interaction I’ve had.”
Williams discovered a passion for incorporating public service into his future accounting career. As a fierce advocate for disability awareness on campus and a Dean’s Honor Roll for Social Impact member, he has embodied the mission to use business as a force for good throughout his college career.
One of Williams’ first internships was with his local municipality in the summer of 2021, significantly furthering his passion for service through accounting.
“I got a chance to get my feet wet in various areas, like applying for COVID grants, working on audit preparations, and all sorts of things to see how much local government really makes an impact in the world,” he said.
His advisor, Kelley Ellis, associate professor of accounting, also took this passion to heart and helped him find additional professional development opportunities that incorporated his dedication to service. This included a nomination to attend the Association of Government Accountants annual conference in Washington, D.C., in February 2022. Williams was one of 10 accounting students from across the U.S. selected to attend. He recently returned to D.C., where he interned with KPMG’s Federal Audit Practice.
Williams will start his accounting career as a public sector audit associate this July with Baker Tilly. The role primarily focuses on auditing school districts, libraries, municipalities, and other small local government agencies. He interacted with the company when they conducted an audit during his local municipality internship, during which he formed a favorable opinion. He shared that the company strongly aligned with his service values through the clientele they work for.
“My hope is to use those skills to kind of get myself to a point where I can be a CFO or someone in a leadership role in a finance realm in a local government agency,” he said.
MAJOR PASSION FOR GOVERNMENT WORK
Until then, Williams will continue his studies at Drake while giving back to his community. Last fall, he joined the University’s newly formed President’s Committee on Supporting Persons with Disabilities as the student representative. The committee will strategically integrate disability inclusion in all aspects of campus activities.
“This university has opened a lot of doors for me, I’ve always felt like I have a responsibility to pass it along...”
MATTHEW WILLIAMS
“This university has opened a lot of doors for me,” he said. “I’ve always felt like I have a responsibility to pass it along because when you’re in a position of doing well, then you have to pass it on somehow.”
DACA RECIPIENT FOUND WELCOMING HOME AT DRAKE
Zimpleman College graduates are taught not just basic business principles but also how to become more confident leaders in the community. For Kenia Calderon Ceron, who received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 2017 and will receive her Master of Business Administration in 2024, her Drake experience included personal transformation and discovery.
Born and raised in El Salvador, Ceron has lived in Des Moines for 19 years. As an early Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient, the number of universities available to her for a college education was limited. The federal government program had only been around for six months when she enrolled at Drake. She credits Drake’s hardworking staff at the admission and financial aid office for her acceptance.
“He told me that he did not care about my immigration status, that all that mattered was my desire to go to school,” Ceron said. “I’m here at Drake because of his assistance and inclusion, and he welcomed me in a way that no other institution did at the time.”
Ceron started her undergraduate studies in August of 2013, studying management with a concentration in entrepreneurship. She was fiercely dedicated to oncampus leadership between classes and
working multiple jobs. Most notably, she co-founded La Fuerza Latina, an organization dedicated to “providing a safe space for students in solidarity with the Latinx community,” which is still thriving today.
Since graduating in 2017, Ceron has had a successful career in consulting and is now in her third year as the vice president of bilingual business development for GreenState Credit Union. She recently returned to Zimpleman for her Master of Business Administration.
“I am truly an introvert, but the College of Business made me into the most extroverted business leader you will ever meet, and that is because of the school, the professors, and everybody there.”
KENIA CALDERON CERON,
“I knew that Drake was the only institution that I was going to get the support and truly the education that I desired,” she said. “It was an easy decision to make, and so far, I think this program has taught me more than I have ever learned in my life.”
In pursuing her master’s at Drake, Ceron shared that she hoped to serve as a role model for Latinos in the area to enroll in Zimpleman’s program.
“Since I got to Drake in 2013, my passion has been to get more Latinos from the Des Moines area to go to Drake because I feel that it’s not our first option,” said Ceron. “My goal is to get more Latinos and Latino professionals in Iowa to see Drake’s MBA program as their first option because of how excellent my experience has been so far.”
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT
Dr. Lendie Follett
At the Zimpleman College of Business, our faculty create meaningful, real-world experiences for their students. One example of this is Dr. Lendie Follett’s leadership of her senior capstone courses. Dr. Follett is an associate professor and chair of the information management and business analytics department. Dr. Follett partnered Zimpleman data analytics majors with the Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) to research various aspects of their food pantry system across two capstone courses.
In the first capstone partnership in the Spring of 2019, students investigated the impact of “Nutri-Score,” a five-color nutrition label and rating system, on the food pantry experience. Nutri-Score promotes freedom of choice by providing shoppers with a scientifically derived score representing nutritional content in an easily understandable format. After completing their research, students provided their recommendations to DMARC’s Board of Directors, of which Dr. Follett is a member.
This spring, Dr. Follett’s students in Case Studies in Data Analytics are serving as data analytics consultants to DMARC and are using their food pantry data in a different way than before. Their objectives include highlighting customer demographics to better understand the needs of pantry visitors and predicting monthly food pantry volume at each DMARC location. This is particularly important since DMARC has seen a record number of visitors. Students are researching how pantry usage is affected by Iowa’s food policies such as SNAP benefits and creating compelling data visualizations and statistical models to support their recommendations. At the end of this semester, students will present their findings to DMARC’s Board of Directors.
The collaborative work Dr. Follett leads with her students in partnership with DMARC has resulted in multiple publications, including the article, written in collaboration with Andrew Bryant, Daniel Beck, and Sarai Rice, “Investigating the Short and Long-Term Effects of ‘Nutritional-Score’ Pricing on Food Pantry Selections” in the scientific journal Appetite. Dr. Follett is engaged in several other projects with DMARC aimed at raising awareness of food insecurity in the Des Moines metro.
Continuing a Long Legacy of Research Excellence
Connecting research to practice has long been a tradition of Zimpleman faculty. This connection strengthens the student experience by providing the most current understanding of workplace dynamics and benefits practitioners by delivering actionable insights that can be leveraged in their current environment.
Several of the college’s leading faculty members recently collaborated to deliver on this legacy of research excellence.
Understanding Employee Preference for Work Location
Professors Radostina “Ina” Purvanova and Alanah Mitchell showcased their collaborative study in a recent Harvard Business Review article, “Where Companies Want Their People to Work—and Where People Actually Want to Work.”
Through multiple interviews with team members and company executives, Purvanova and Mitchell identified distinct organizational strategies and specific employee preferences for work location. Their study unearthed nine employee personas, ranging from “the Avatar” in a remote-first work setting to “the Producer” in an office-forward environment, that reflect how alignment or misalignment between organizational approach and personal preference impacts an employee’s outlook and behavior.
Purvanova and Mitchell believe that how organizational leaders interpret the alignment of these strategies with their employees’ preferences can create opportunities for a better understanding of these new workplace dynamics and generate better outcomes for all.
Zimpleman Business Students Experience
The People, Places, and Industries of Costa Rica
This past January, a group of Zimpleman students participated in an actionpacked two-and-a-half-week study abroad experience in Costa Rica. Under the guidance of professors Amy Vaughan and Brian Vander Naald, the 16 students had the opportunity to explore the cultural impact of a group of Costa Rica’s indigenous people—the Maleku—and gained an understanding of environmental factors affecting the country’s coastal region. The group also examined Costa Rica’s burgeoning tourism and coffee industries.
Our Pride
Pride
ZIMPLEMAN COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
HIGHLIGHTS Executive Education
Joins Zimpleman College of Business
For the last nine years, more than 1,000 professionals have been shaped by Drake’s Executive Education program through its open enrollment and custom non-degree leadership offerings. Recently, the University decided to move Executive Education to the Zimpleman College of Business after carefully considering the program’s vision and intended audience. By doing so, the program will continue to significantly impact professionals across the Midwest and beyond with the added benefits of the business school’s applied knowledge and relevant business resources.
Bucksbaum Lecture Series
The Zimpleman College of Business was honored to host Heather McGhee for the inaugural Bucksbaum Lectureship in Business. A New York Times best-selling author of The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Us and How We Can Prosper Together and a champion of equality in America, McGhee has a distinguished career in public policy, having crafted legislation, testified before Congress, and helped shape presidential campaign platforms. Her remarks challenged and inspired the more than 500 members of the Drake community in attendance to think about the “solidarity dividend” that can be generated when people come together.
McGhee’s lecture initiated the new track of the longstanding Martin Bucksbaum Lectureship Series. Focused on topics at the intersection of business and society, this track was made possible by the generous support of the late Melva Bucksbaum and her daughter, Mary Bucksbaum Scanlon. The new lectureship series managed through the Zimpleman College of Business will bring to campus thought leaders to discuss how business and entrepreneurialism can make both an economic and societal impact. Integral to the series will be opportunities for students to engage with speakers in round table discussions.
NEW FACULTY AND LEADERS
Angela Gallagher, director of Executive Education
Gallagher brings a wealth of knowledge from a distinguished career, including corporate and leadership communications, leading organizational culture transformations, team building, and staff development initiatives. She is a Drake alum and was an executive coach in the Executive Education program.
Molly Shepherd, assistant professor
Shepherd is an assistant professor of practice in leadership, human resources, and organizational behavior. A member of the Drake community for over 10 years, Shepherd has broad experience in industry and academia with research interests in cultural competency development and the profound influence of positive psychology on effective leadership.
Claire Muselman, assistant professor
Muselman is an assistant professor of practice in leadership, human resources, and organizational behavior. With a professional background in workers’ compensation and human capital development, she brings leadership and organizational development expertise to the classroom.
DONOR RECOGNITION
ZIMPLEMAN COLLEGE OF BUSINESS 2022-2023 GIVING
The many accomplishments of the Zimpleman College of Business are made possible by its dedicated supporters. This listing highlights gifts of $10,000 or more made to the college during the 2022-2023 fiscal year. If you are interested in joining the Zimpleman College of Business donor community, please reach out to Meaghan Tigges, senior advancement officer, at 515-271-4843 or meaghan.tigges@drake.edu
Gifts of $50,000 +
Bill and Jean Buchanan (Bill, BN'57)
The David J. Noble Foundation
Principal Financial Group
Wells Fargo Foundation
Larry and Kathleen Zimpleman (Larry, BN’73, GR’79; Kathleen, LA’76)
Gifts of $10,000 - $24,999
American Academy of Actuaries
Athene USA
Andrew P. Buchta (BN'92)
Ned and Micky Burmeister (Ned, BN’81) Casualty Actuarial Society
Paul H. Davis (BN'57)
James H. Foster (LA'55)
Gene N. Fuller and Jacquelyn Roberts Fuller (Gene, BN'68; Jacquelyn, BN'68)
Mark C. and Diana Hewitt (Mark, BN'85)
J. Scott and Julia M. Johnson (Scott, GR'90)
Barbara G. and Steven E. Lippai (Barbara, LA'71; Steven, BN'71)
* † - Deceased
Gifts of $25,000 - $49,999
EMC Insurance Companies
James L. and Nancy Lykke (James, BN'71)
Barbara L. and Frank M. Svoboda (Barbara, BN'80)
Ray and Penny Malcoun (Ray, BN'68)
Charles† and Louise† McDonald (Charles, BN'60, GR'83; Louise, '61)
Sheryl S. Miller (LA'74, GR'76)
Travis J. Rabe and Meghan J. Hutton Rabe (Travis, BN'94; Meghan, JO'94)
Alfred A. Rosenbloom (LA'71)
David Schulte and Mary Adams Schulte (David, BN'83)
Ms. Lou Ann Simpson (BN'65, LW'68)
Mr. Donald W. Smith (BN'71)
Society of Actuaries
Brian M. Westphalen (BN'65)
Marilyn R. Wright†
Business for Good Summit
This April, the Zimpleman College of Business hosted its inaugural Business for Good Summit. The one-day event brought together influential thought leaders to delve into topics like social mobility, mission-driven business, and financial inclusion. Attendees also participated in workshops focused on leveraging business as a force for positive change. Stay updated on next year’s summit by following Zimpleman on social media.
