Drake University Blue Magazine - Fall 2022

Revitalizing Demo cracy

GREETINGS FELLOW ALUMNI!

What an honor it is to serve as your National Alumni Board president these next two years.

As an 18-year-old girl from Kansas, I immediately fell in love with Drake’s charm. There was this magnetism about the University that drew me in and has stuck with me ever since. I feel like a part of my heart is on our campus. It’s where I met my husband, bonded with lifelong friends in the halls of GK and Harriott, took part in a fair number of shenanigans on Greek Street, and discovered my career direction.

THE STUDENTS THE ENERGY

These young adults are incredibly driven and accomplished. It’s been so rewarding building relationships through the Student Alumni Association’s mentorship program. Each year, I am even more inspired by their energy and tenacity.

Our campus and surrounding neighborhood continue to evolve for the better. Whether it’s a new restaurant or the Broadlawns Clinic, the developments are benefiting both the student body and the neighborhood. And can we talk about our outstanding basketball teams?! The energy in the newly renovated Knapp Center is electric! If you’re back in Des Moines this winter, I highly recommend you catch a game. (You can find my family right behind Griff cheering loudly—especially after a DJ Wilkins clutch 3-pointer.)

THE MEMORIES

Street painting, cards at Peggy’s, Professor Hubbard’s British marketing references, ice cream eating at Greek Olympics—I love reminiscing about my days at Drake, and I love hearing about others’ memories and traditions, too. We all had different experiences but are still connected by what is uniquely Drake.

Over my term as president, I hope to find out what keeps you connected to Drake. And I hope we can offer you even more opportunities to engage in ways that are meaningful to you. It’s the connections that make Drake the great University that it is, and it’s maintaining those connections that keep Bulldogs strong together.

So, what draws me back today? For me, it’s many things: What’s the draw that keeps you connected to Drake?

Nikki (Coffman) Syverson, JO’03

At its heart, democracy is a collective, lived experience that requires an active, informed public. And yet, the thoughtful political discussion and civility at the center of the democratic experience seem to be endangered.

Drake will stand boldly and bravely in creating a hub for democratic discourse, dialogue, and action focused on renewing a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

MEET OUR CHAMP ONS!

Collaboration and teamwork created the Drake Center for Public Democracy. Three individuals--our champions--brought their ideas together to help achieve a shared vision: Making Drake a hub for ideas to revitalize our American democracy.

SCOTT RAECKER

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ROBERT D. & BILLIE RAY CENTER

The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center has been educating millions of people about civility for more than 25 years. The work has never been

“People used to say civility was nice stuff,” he said. “I say we’ve moved

Under Raecker’s leadership, groups like the National League of Cities and the Council of State Governments have engaged the Ray Center for training. Their member governments want strategies for engaging in healthy disagreement without descending into incivility.

I’m not sure there has ever been a greater appetite in contemporary society for solutions to help our democracy function. Drake is already owning this space. The Center for Public Democracy will formalize it, help it grow, and engage more Drake students in our efforts.

RENÉE CRAMER

DEPUTY PROVOST AND PROFESSOR OF LAW, POLITICS, & SOCIETY

Renée Cramer’s classroom is a forum for productive, useful conversation about difficult issues among students of varied ideological perspectives. Drake, she said, is located “in the center of the political universe” and can be an example of behavior in a healthy democracy.

It’s a public good to have democratic discourse, and it’s a public good to have an educated populace involved in democratic decision making. We are a place where people can come to learn to have the difficult and crucial conversations that democracy requires.

RACHEL PAINE CAUFIELD

CO-CHAIR & PROFESSOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

Drake students fill the offices of the statehouse. They walk the steps of the U.S. Capitol. They work tirelessly to change the world in NGOs.

In her vision for the Center for Public Democracy, Rachel Paine Caufield says she envisions the CPD as a place where policy is created, where practitioners gather, and where students are involved in it all.

“It positions Drake as a convener,” she says.

There’s no educational institution across the country that offers the same mix of opportunities for their students. The spirit of civic engagement permeates across disciplinary boundaries at Drake.

Public Democracy

Renae Steichen is director of regulatory affairs for REV Renewables, a renewable energy and energy storage development company based in California. She has held positions related to renewable energy and sustainability since studying politics and environmental policy at Drake. Steichen entered Drake planning to study art history and business management. A first-year seminar course with Keith Summerville, professor of environmental science and sustainability, changed her course of study.

“I didn’t really think about the environment or politics when I was growing up,” Steichen said. “Keith’s passion just overflowed, and I wanted to know about all these issues and save the world. Then, when I took my first politics course with Professor Caufield, I knew this was the area I could make a difference.”

Steichen turned her passions into her areas of focus, double majoring in environmental science and politics.

During her time at Drake, Steichen interned with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, which she says gave her insight into the workings of our democracy.

“There are a lot of different parts of government, and that gave me experience with how bureaucracy works,” Steichen said. “You can create whatever policy you want, but if they’re not going to implement it … well, that’s a whole other issue.”

Her career, which has included work for a utility, has shown her that people with fundamental disagreements must still engage to find areas of agreement. She said Drake prepared her for those conversations.

“I remember a lot of my classes where we’d have debates, and they were very respectful,” Steichen said. “The professors facilitated and stimulated the conversation

making you question things from all sides and consider

hadn’t thought about.”

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RENAE STEICHEN

AS’06 YOU CAN CREATE whatever policy you want, but if they’re not going to implement it … well, that’s a whole other issue.

will be a hub for democratic discourse, dialogue, and action focused on renewing a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. The Center builds on a strong tradition of civic engagement at Drake. Bulldogs are hard at work today shaping the politics of our country.

UNIVERSITY

John Altendorf grew up raising livestock in a small town in Minnesota, where he fostered an interest in politics. Today, he is a legislative correspondent for North Dakota Senator John Hoeven, working on agriculture policy.

“My younger self would be impressed with the experiences I’ve had and where I am today,” Altendorf said. “That’s very much attributable in part to what Drake provided me.”

Altendorf recalls that he chose to attend Drake because the political science faculty was unequivocal when speaking about the opportunities he would have.

“When I visited with the professors at Drake, they said ‘These are all the experiences you’re going to have,’” Altendorf said. “‘We’re going to throw you in the deep end, and we will show you how to make politics a career.’”

During his time at Drake, he became president of Drake College Republicans. Being an actively engaged Drake student afforded him such opportunities as meeting former Vice President Mike Pence twice, United States Senator Lindsey Graham, United States Representative David Young, and conservative political pundit Guy Benson. He even attended a presidential debate on campus.

Drake students are almost spoiled because we become desensitized to seeing prominent political figures,” Altendorf said. “They’re on campus so frequently, we don’t have to seek them out.

Altendorf had several internships as an undergraduate and began his career as a staff assistant for Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (IA-01).

“Drake has such an advantage when it comes to being the largest school in Des Moines, with the state capital there and the Iowa caucuses,” Altendorf said. “There is so much access to opportunities.”

We have a J term class go to D.C., while other schools have J term classes to come to Drake for the caucuses.”

MY YOUNGER SELF would be impressed with the experiences I’ve had and where I am today, That’s very much attributable in part to what Drake provided me.

RACHEL (MANUEL) BRUNS AS’08, JO’08, GR’10

A concert as a Drake student started Bruns in a public service career. Bruns was a volunteer organizer for the 10,000 Hours Show at Drake University, an initiative that granted a free ticket to any student who volunteered 10 hours. Today, she is chief engagement officer for America’s Service Commissions, an association of the 52 governor-designated state service commissions, which promote volunteering and administer 75% of all AmeriCorps State funding.

“At America’s Service Commissions, we provide training, technical assistance, and public policy support for our network of state service commissions with a vision that all states embrace service as a strategy to address local challenges,” Bruns said.

One of Bruns’ first jobs after Drake was as interim director of Iowa Campus Compact, a statewide association of college and university presidents that helps the universities educate students through community and civic learning experiences. She attributes her experience organizing the 10,000 Hours Show as helping her secure the position.

“When I was a student fundraising for the 10,000 Hours Show, I was having meetings with the CEO of Principal and asking him for money,” Bruns said.

“In Des Moines, community leaders are very accessible. I don’t know if you have those opportunities in bigger cities.”

She believes Drake can capitalize on this quality of its home city to prepare students who will improve our country as future civic leaders.

“My time at Drake consisted of being very involved in community service through a variety of campus-based organizations,” Bruns said. “I learned that my interest was in having an impact through public service and nonprofits and that law school, which was my original plan, was probably not going to be the best fit for me.”

She says our country needs people willing to not just discuss the challenges we face, but act on them.

“Climate change is an example,” Bruns said. “Young people agree that climate change is an issue, but they also say they don’t know what to do about it. Bridging those gaps through service learning is a huge opportunity for Drake.”

IN DES MOINES, community leaders are very accessible. I don’t know if you have those opportunities in bigger cities.

JOSE GARCIA-FUERTE

AS’20

Jose, a Denver, Colorado, native, came to Drake because of the Iowa caucuses.

“I knew that placing myself in the geographic area where all this was happening would be beneficial for me in the long run,” Garcia-Fuerte said. “Drake was definitely the political hub for me that I originally wanted.”

Today, he’s a third-year law student at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, with experience as an associate at an environmental law firm. His experiences at Drake included serving as student body president and co-authoring law review articles with Law, Politics, and Society Chair Professor William Garriott. He volunteered for presidential campaigns and met with politicians, including U.S. Senator Joni Ernst, to discuss immigration reform. He worked directly with the Drake Office of Equity and Inclusion to integrate diversity and inclusion into a broader range of Drake coursework.

“Professor [and Deputy Provost] Renée Cramer was absolutely supportive,” Garcia-Fuerte said. “She allowed students to voice their honest, raw and necessary opinions without fear of repercussion.”

As student body president, Garcia-Fuerte attended the Drake University Board of Trustees meetings with other student leaders during the creation of the Center for Public Democracy. He provided his perspective as a student and found that his ideas were valued.

“My hope is that any student who comes to Drake knows they can be an engaged person,” Garcia-Fuerte said. “Democracy gives students the tools to be community members and to hold one another to account in a respectful manner.”

Professor [and Deputy Provost] Renée Cramer was absolutely supportive, She allowed students to voice their honest, raw, and necessary opinions WITHOUT F EAR OF REPERCUSSION.

THE ROBERT D. & BILLIE RAY CENTER AT DRAKE UNIVERSITY

Drake has a mission of helping to create responsible global citizens, Civility is: How do we have difficult conversations? How do we disagree without being disagreeable? That’s the level that we’re working on with civility. We’re beyond aspirational.

The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University and its executive director, Scott Raecker, are currently working to put the promise of the Drake University Center for Public Democracy into action. Raecker and Center staff are engaged in programming to teach civility strategies to diverse groups, including school-age youth, community leaders, and public servants.

Current work of The Ray Center includes:

PUBLIC AGENCY & GOVERNMENT CONSULTING

The Ray Center has provided facilitation services to municipal and regional governance organizations including Des Moines Area Regional Transit, Metro Waste Authority, Central Iowa Water Trails, Des Moines Public Schools Athletic Advisory Committee, Capital Crossroads 2.0, Greater Des Moines Partnership, and the cities of Altoona, Urbandale, Windsor Heights, Bondurant, and Fort Dodge.

COUNCIL OF STATE GOVERNMENTS

The Council of State Governments is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that facilitates idea sharing and excellence among state governments. The Council of State Governments and its regional chapters have partnered with The Ray Center for civility training workshops impacting state legislative leaders in 50 U.S. States, as well as U.S. territories, Canada, and Mexico.

Two specific programs include:

REGIONAL LEADERSHIP ACADEMIES

The Ray Center is the only organization to provide programming to all four Council of State Government Regional Leadership Academies: east, midwest, south, and west. These academies help newer legislators develop the skills necessary to become effective leaders.

BORDER ACADEMY

This annual Council of State Governments West event brings together legislators from four U.S. states and six Mexican states along the border to discuss how they can work better together on important issues, such as water rights.

“When CSG set up the Border Academy it was The Ray Center at Drake University that was contacted to provide the unique services they desired.”

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES & IOWA LEAGUE OF CITIES

The Ray Center will host the first annual National Civility Summit for Local Government in partnership with the National League of Cities and the Iowa League of Cities.

“That happened because of our direct engagement with a Drake University alumnus, Robert Palmer, who is general counsel for the Iowa League of Cities,” Raecker said.

The National League of Cities will continue to partner with the Drake Center for Public Democracy to hold similar training sessions on the national level.

The Ray Center is home to CHARACTER COUNTS! which supports The Ray Center’s mission to improve civility through character development and ethical leadership. Each year, CHARACTER COUNTS! serves over 8 million youth worldwide and teaches the Six Pillars of Character®: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship.

COMMON GROUND SPURS UNCOMMON CONNECTIONS

A group of courageous alumni make the case—and space—for differing viewpoints

In the beginning of 2021, when much of the world was still responding and reacting to COVID-19, and as civility in political discourse seemed to be turning toward extinction, John Heckel, FA’69, was growing more and more concerned about what he was seeing on his own social media account.

He watched as his Facebook page, filled with family and friends— people who once upon a time had shared affection if not shared views—grew more polarizing. In particular, he was paying attention to the words of his friends from high school.

Here, he thought, were people he knew had shared experiences. Among the group, there had been first kisses. First heart breaks. Wins on a basketball court. Losses on the field. There was shared history. And yet.

“How did we find ourselves in a place where we literally couldn’t speak to one another?” he wondered.

He reached out to a number of past classmates, asking if they would be willing to connect with a group of like- and not-so-like-minded classmates. His hope was that they could gain patience, tolerance, and hopefully, even understanding—for one another’s viewpoints.

“It fell apart,” Heckel said. “It didn’t work.”

But Bulldogs are a persistent bunch.

“I write a column in a newspaper for seniors, and ended up writing about this experience,” Heckel said.

That column was picked up by his old Drake fraternity brother, Richard De Zeeuw, LA’69. And he found the column incredibly relatable.

De Zeeuw had also been reaching out to old friends with different viewpoints with mixed reception.

“I live in Portland, so I don’t get to talk to many conservatives, but I noticed a lot of my old friends had a conservative bent, so I said, ‘Hey, I see you’re conservative—I’m liberal—we should talk.’ I got some resistance, but I also got the chance to reignite relationships with people, some of whom I hadn’t spoken to since graduation. Over time, I had some amazing conversations.”

Seeing Heckel’s article, De Zeeuw reached out to a shared fraternity brother, Rick Sline, LA’69, and between the three of them, they made a decision: they would work to form a group, the purpose of which would be to communicate a wide variety of social and political views in an open, constructive setting with a goal of working to understand, and be understood.

“We decided to contact as many of our fraternity brothers who attended Drake from 1964-1972 as we could. Those who had the shared experience of the heydays of the 60s and pre- and duringVietnam,” Sline said. “We reached out to about 30 people.”

Some were angry. Some were open. “Most often, they ignored us.”

Except for a small set of brave Bulldogs. “Twelve. Twelve people responded that they were interested in being a part of the group,” Sline said.

While they were from the same fraternity, there were different graduation years represented, and some had never met. Among them, a member of the ’69 Drake basketball team, two alumni of the year, and a slew of well-lived, successful lives.

Current members include: John Heckel, FA’69; Tom Lauterback, JO’66; Bob Mast, BN’69; Dave McLaughlin, BN’70; Ty Peck, PH’70; Ron Roark, BN’72; Rick Sline, LA’69; Ike Vanden Eykel, BN’71, and Richard De Zeeuw, LA’69.

They intentionally worked to get as even as they could in liberal and conservative participants.

The first rule was to set guardrails. Rick has his PhD in organizational communication, and for this “experiment” to work, he was adamant that it must be founded on dialogue versus discussion.

“Discussion leads to arguments and conflicts,” Sline said. “We didn’t want to have ‘I’m right and you’re wrong’ discussions. We simply wanted to understand, what, from someone’s past, was shaping what they think today? We’re not trying to convince anyone to change their mind.”

WE SIMPLY WANTED TO UNDERSTAND, WHAT, FROM SOMEONE’S PAST, WAS SHAPING WHAT THEY THINK TODAY?

The meetings are structured so that a topic for discussion is shared out ahead of the meeting, and sometimes some articles are shared prior to help spur thought. In the meeting, each individual has a brief amount of time to express their beliefs on the topic. After sharing their belief, they go back around and give time to each individual to explain what life experiences contributed to their beliefs.

John, Rick, and Richard share the role of mediator, serving in a way that ensures if questions are asked, they’re all toward the aim of better understanding—not conflict.

They credit their shared experience at Drake as a strong reason why this experiment is moving in the right direction.

“Before you can have patience and tolerance for one’s differences, it’s really important to connect to the things that make us the same,” Heckel said. “Our different experiences at Drake, whether we graduated in ’64 or ’69, were only slightly

different. We walked the same streets. Lived in the same fraternity house. We had a midnight coffee at Howard Johnson’s. Watched movies at the Varsity. We lived common experiences that we all emotionally carry with us. When things get particularly difficult—when an opinion from the left or the right gets the group feeling uncomfortable—we find a way to reconnect to what we have in common.”

Starting with what they had in common was a natural place to start.

“We began our series of discussions catching each other up on what we’d been doing since we were at Drake,” De Zeeuw said. “There were some really admirable lives led. We gained new respect. And once we got going on topics, we didn’t drive the group so much as the group drove us.”

They have covered immigration, abortion, critical race theory, spirituality—and more than 15 other topics.

“We have trust with one another, and security in the format of moderation. You can’t be wrong here. This is your life. This happened to you. You get to tell the story,” De Zeeuw said.

And they are doing just that.

“This group is fearless, “De Zeeuw said. “We’ve had people say they haven’t shared what they shared with this group with anyone else in their life.”

As the conversations continued, the question stayed on the surface, “Was this experiment working?”

Heckel said he remembers the moment he knew it was working for him. “I heard someone sharing a conflicting belief, and I knew, two years ago, if I’d heard what I was hearing, I would have left the room— left the conversation—and I would have left angry. Instead, now, I sat in it, I took some deep breaths, and I tried to listen. I tried to understand. I didn’t get focused on the view—I focused on the human story.”

That sentiment was shared by others.

“We sent a survey out after about our tenth conversation,” Sline said. “It was resoundingly positive. A lot of people mentioned the challenges, but overall, people saw a lot of value in the structure and the moderators. It confirmed we were on to something.”

“That questionnaire reinforced how important this group had become to people,” De Zeeuw said. “Very few people skip a meeting. No one just forgets. In our last meeting, one of the guys in Florida had lost power, and that’s about what it takes for someone to miss. We’re prioritizing this. It’s an important part of our lives. It means a lot to watch that.”

Their hope is that the foundation they’ve built is

one that inspires others to connect, to find shared understanding with those with whom they have differences but share common ground.

“Any group that is formed needs to have a common lived experience that unites them, that gives you some grounding security to come back to,” Heckel said. “Find that commonality—nurture it—give structured time to allow the space to revisit it when things get shaky.”

Beyond common ground, they say structure and moderation provides security. Ensure that there is at least one, but preferably two, individuals as part of the group who have the skill and demeanor required to stand up for the format and let someone know if it feels like they’re attacking a viewpoint versus working to understand one.

And their hope is, that the experiment they’ve undergone gains the attention of even one more person.

“This culture we live in now—these polarizing views are ripping us apart,” Heckel said. “How will we get out of this dilemma we’re in without groups that have dialogue, that listen, that show tolerance? It starts with one small group, and hopefully, this inspires another.”

For alumni who may be interested in starting their own dialogue groups, please contact us.

Dick De Zeeuw: dezeeuwdick@gmail.com

John Heckel: jh2@humboldt.edu

Rick Sline: rsline11@gmail.com

WE GAINED NEW RESPECT. AND ONCE WE GOT GOING ON TOPICS, WE DIDN’T DRIVE THE GROUP SO MUCH AS THE GROUP DROVE US.”

Deans’ Updates

As you kick off a new school year, what’s new?

DRAKE LAW SCHOOL

CENTER FOR PUBLIC DEMOCRACY

Our faculty will be enhanced with several exciting new professors, including Justice Brent Appel, who recently retired from his service with the Iowa Supreme Court. Along with an outstanding pedigree and wealth of experience, Justice Appel has argued four cases before the U.S. Supreme Court (including a landmark right to counsel case, Brewer v. Williams).

What accomplishments are you celebrating?

Drake Law School?

Drake houses one of only four Congressionally designated Constitutional Law Resource Centers in the United States. The Constitutional Law Symposium presented each spring, and the Distinguished Lecture Series held throughout the year, bring in outstanding national experts to discuss the vital issues of our time. The Center also holds the Judge James Grant lecture, focused on issues of state constitutional law, supported by Patrick Grant, LW’76. All these events are open to the public and are often presented in virtual format as well as in person. To engage in the democratic system, citizens need to know all they can about the foundations of our government. We are pleased that Nathan McCay, LW’80 recently endowed the Symposium to help ensure that this remarkable event continues.

The Drake Law Review ranked once again as one of the most-cited journals in the country by judicial opinions, continuing a tradition of excellence going back to the first edition published in 1951. This year, the Review was ranked #36 out of over 1500 journals for judicial impact. We’ve been ranked in the top 40 every year but two since comparison rankings began in 2003. These students work incredibly hard to ensure the accuracy and quality of the research they publish, which in turn provides an invaluable learning experience for them.

Who or what is making you proud?

The Law School’s Refugee Clinic, supported by a recent Campaign gift from Karen Shaff, LW’79 and Steve Jayne, LW’78, has been working overtime to assist the large number of refugees who were settled in Iowa due to the conflict in Afghanistan. I am proud that our students, led by Professors Suzie Pritchett and Allison McCarthy, have been able to provide this crucial support, while also enhancing their knowledge and skills in an important area of law.

Jerry Anderson

What do you wish alumni knew or supported in this effort specific to the

Catherine Staub SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM & MASS COMMUNICATIONS

Associate Dean and Professor Kelly Bruhn was honored as the 2022 Madelyn Levitt Mentor of the Year. The award was created to recognize faculty and staff who are committed to student success in and out of the classroom.

SJMC student Andrew Kennard placed in the top 20 of the national Hearst Awards investigative writing contest. Kennard, who was news editor of the TimesDelphic, placed 14th for his story on the history of Native American boarding schools in Iowa.

As

Exciting developments are happening in the SJMC! Renovation of Meredith Hall is underway. Our temporary offices on 25th Street next to the Varsity Theater include a TV studio and control room, computer labs, podcast suites, meeting spaces, offices for all SJMC faculty and staff, workrooms for campus media, and even a donated ping-pong table to encourage students to linger in SJMC’s temporary home.

What accomplishments are you celebrating?

We have much to celebrate in the SJMC. We hosted two exciting events over the summer: Mapping the Magazine and Media Now Drake.

Mapping the Magazine, a global conference for magazine scholars, included researchers from the UK, South Africa, Finland, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Portugal, Turkey, and from New York to Washington state.

Media Now Drake, a camp for high school journalism students, welcomed 74 high school campers from coast to coast to participate in one of 11 classes including video, podcasting, photography, writing, and strategic communications, taught by the nation’s top journalism teachers and professionals, including Drake faculty members Eric Adae, Chris Snider, and Lakshmi Tirumala.

Professor Lee Jolliffe’s book “Adventure Journalism in the Gilded Age: Essays from the Arctic to the Orient,” which she co-edited with two colleagues, received the 2022 Browne Award for Best Edited Collection in Popular and American Culture.

CENTER FOR PUBLIC DEMOCRACY

How are students already helping shape or being prepared to help shape democracy through the experiences they’re having in the School of Journalism & Mass Communication?

A free, fair, and independent press is an essential component of democracy. In the SJMC we are preparing the next generation of journalists to help safeguard our democracy. We encourage, educate, and challenge our students to be a voice for the voiceless and to help hold accountable those in positions of power. In our Strategic Poitical Communications and PR courses, students are learning to advocate ethically and responsibly for constituents, organizations, and on behalf of various causes—all processes essential to a functioning democratic society.

you kick off a new school year, what’s new?

Hernandez COLLEGE OF BUSINESS & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

To that end I want to share two milestones we reached earlier this year that are propelling us towards our mission of equipping our students to do well by doing good.

First, our undergraduate students returned to campus this fall to benefit from our college’s cutting-edge business education whose quality was reaffirmed by the leading global accreditation body, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International). The five-year extension of our accreditation this year was in recognition of our continued commitment to high academic quality, measurable student success, relevant business programs, and positive impact on society. Only roughly one-third of U.S. business schools hold the AACSB International accreditation, placing Drake in elite company.

Since I became a dean at Drake two years ago, I have completed more than 500 Bulldog Miles. Walking a mile on the same path around our campus almost every day has been a great way to clear my mind. I value these 20 minutes of strolling because they create space for me to focus on what is important: people. Specifically, our students—and their pursuit of the expertise and experiences needed to achieve their goals—and our faculty and staff who make that valuable learning possible.

My reflections on what I can do to support and empower the people that make up our college reminds me of a quote from former Meredith Publishing executive James A. Autry: “There is no business; there are only people. Business exists only among people and for people.”

Second, our graduate students will be introduced to updated Master of Business Administration and Master of Public Administration programs this fall that will focus on increased flexibility, faster time to completion, and enhanced virtual learning. We are merging our legacy on-campus MBA and MPA programs with their respective online counterparts to offer two enhanced virtual programs that address the needs of emerging and mid-career professionals. The updated MBA program will feature a 36-credit hour curriculum and the new MPA curriculum will be 30 credit hours. The reduction of credit hours (from 39 and 36 respectively) will result in increased affordability and will drive professionals’ ability to complete their program in two calendar years.

We are at an inflection point for business when it comes to its role in helping society to realize the benefits of democracy. Corporate leaders have come to the realization that paying attention to their social responsibility and environmental commitments is central to the economic sustainability of their businesses. It is for that reason that we are continually evolving our curriculum and expanding our extracurricular programing to ensure that future business leaders not only have domain expertise but also the skills and

experience to interpret and respond to the heightened expectations that people and communities have for the private sector to take a leadership role in solving society’s most pressing issues.

The active engagement of business in animating the public discourse is important because trust in the private sector right now is higher than trust in government, media, and non-profits. While governments and the media are seen as divisive forces by many, businesses and NGOs are looked at as unifying sources. In today’s political climate, people in the U.S. and around the world expect business leaders to take action on social and environmental issues. These perceptions and expectations make sense to me given that business leaders are pragmatic by nature; they are paid to create solutions that solve problems. Those companies that serve their stakeholders—customers, employees, investors, communities—the best have proven to perform better financially.

As you kick off a new school year, what’s new?

Alejandro

How are students already helping shape or being prepared to help shape democracy through the experiences they’re having in the College of Business & Public Administration?

CENTER FOR PUBLIC DEMOCRACY

CENTER FOR PUBLIC DEMOCRACY

Ryan Wise SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

I am most excited about enacting our new School of Education mission: We prepare, support, and inspire our students to lead and serve in a constantly changing world. Not only will this statement soon be on the walls in Collier-Scripps Hall, but it will also be even more visible in how we operate as an institution focused on transforming lives and strengthening communities. Our faculty are committed to continually updating their curriculum to make it relevant, meaningful, and connected to those

Schools are the bedrock of democracy. Our students think critically and continuously about their role in shaping the citizens and leaders of our country. Whether our students go on to be teachers, administrators, counselors, or take on other leadership roles, they are steeped in both content and hands-on experiences in schools and communities that prepare them for this important task.

As we work to ensure thoughtful and civil discourse can thrive in increasingly challenging pressures— are there skills and experiences your students are having that give you hope

I’m proud of the relationships the School of Education is developing with our neighboring schools and community partners. This past year, more than 1,000 children were served by the Drake Head Start and Early Head Start programs; our students completed nearly 90,000 hours serving in practicums, student teaching placements, and internships; and our Continuing Education and Professional Development team provided implicit bias training for nearly 500 law enforcement professionals across Iowa. These opportunities will continue to grow in the year ahead!

Our students have access to multiple hands on experiences from student teaching to practicums that put them at the front lines of the most challenging and charged issues confronting society. And at the same time, we provide our students with the mentorship and support they need to be successful. Each of our students has the opportunity to process what they see and experience with faculty, staff, and colleagues to help them excel despite the pressures they face.

As you kick off a new school year, what are you most excited about?

Who or what is making you proud?

How are students already helping shape or being prepared to help shape democracy through the experiences they’re having in the School of Education?

for Drake’s continued leadership in these areas?

Owens BRIGHT COLLEGE

As you kick off a new school year, what are you most excited about?

It’s the same answer every year: I’m eager to meet our incoming students in person and to get to know them, and I’m looking forward to reconnecting with our current students, whom I haven’t seen for a couple months—I miss them!

As you kick off a new school year, what’s new?

This year, we’ll be launching a college-wide newsletter to keep students, faculty, and staff up to date and informed of key information, occasional celebrations, and opportunities for growth and engagement. We must model access to reliable and transparent information that we demand from our public institutions and news media within our academic programs.

What accomplishments are you celebrating?

Our first cohort completed their summer internships and coursework in organizational culture, which puts them past the midpoint of their program. I’m so happy with the progress they are making, their commitment, and their wisdom.

Who or what is making you proud?

I’m proud of our colleagues, not just within The John Dee Bright College but throughout the University, who have stepped up to support Bright College, its students, and its mission throughout the first year. We are putting collaborative democracy to work right here at Drake.

How are students already helping shape or being prepared to help shape democracy through the experiences they’re having in Bright College?

Our students continue to engage in big questions and tough issues, from racial dynamics to voting rights to water quality at every level: the classroom, the community, the nation, and the globe. They are thoughtful, critical, and reflective learners, ready to take on real-world challenges and contribute to dialogue and debate wherever it takes place.

As we work to ensure thoughtful and civil discourse can thrive in increasingly challenging pressures—are there skills and experiences your students are having that give you hope for Drake’s continued leadership in these areas?

Absolutely: Bright College is a widely diverse program, in terms not just of race and ethnicity, but also family income; religious background; sex, sexual, and gender identity; and neurotype. There’s a blend of rural and urban backgrounds, multiple first-languages, and six decades of life represented among Bright College. And out of that diversity and difference, our students create a sense of belonging and mutual support where they are able to speak frankly and honestly, to question and probe and poke at one another’s ideas, and live up to our motto: “We make each other better.”

What do you wish alumni knew or supported in this effort specific to Bright College?

I want alumni to recognize that, while Bright College represents a different way of doing college—interdisciplinary, cohort-based, and project-oriented—it delivers on Drake’s overall promise of excellence and distinction. Bright College benefits from and builds on Drake’s well-established reputation for highimpact, real-world learning.

Craig

Gesine

Gerhard COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES

As we kick-off the new school year, we are excited to see a record number of First Year Students in the College of Arts & Sciences. Close to 400 students have started classes this week with majors ranging from our new programs in American Politics and Artificial Intelligence to Vocal Performance and Writing, and everything in between! We see an increasing number of students interested in pre-professional programs such as pre-med and pre-law, and our faculty advisors and student support team are setting them up with courses that will prepare them for grad school admission. We also encourage students who are multi-interested to sign up as open-enrolled students; they will then take classes in their areas of interest before declaring one major, or two! Our accomplishment rate continues to remain at an extraordinarily high level, with 98.4% of the 2021 graduates employed or in graduate school six months after graduation. Exciting news!

What accomplishments are you celebrating?

During the last academic year, our students continued to be recognized for their outstanding performances. Four of our students (Emily Kellogg, Katie Lajoie, Kathlyn Wagner, Ben Schultz as alternate) were selected as Fulbright finalists, a prestigious and competitive recognition that will support their studies, research and teaching in places across the globe (Mexico, Spain and Taiwan). Tyler Bartolome was selected as a Goldwater Scholar, Jazmine

Guzman received a national scholarship to study in Japan, and Brian Orellana received the NASA STEM Education Merit Scholarship. Our vocal performance students won national singing competitions, and two Chemistry students were accepted into the dualdegree Engineering program at Washington University in St. Louis. Our students performed highly in math competitions, were interviewed for WHO13, conducted science research and published articles with their professors in academic journals. These are just a few of the outstanding accomplishments of our students we are celebrating.

Who or what is making you proud?

The faculty in the College of Arts & Sciences are making me proud! They are busy presenting their scholarship at conferences and conducting research in their fields as travel restrictions have been lifted. Congratulations to Dr. Eric Saylor (Music History) for the recent publications of his biography of Ralph Vaughan Williams with Oxford University Press and to Professor Leanne Freeman-Miller (Voice) for being named Distinguished Ellis and Nelle Levitt Professor. We added five new tenure track faculty in some of our fastest growing programs such as Computer Science & Math and Psychology, and we celebrated a lifetime of service and dedication to Drake with the retirement of Professors Elizabeth Robertson (English) and Jody Swilky (English).

As you kick off a new school year, what are you most excited about?

Renae Chesnut COLLEGE OF PHARMACY & HEALTH SCIENCES

The College is excited about two new programs: the undergraduate Public Health major and the Master of Science in Clinical Psychopharmacology (MSCP) for licensed, postdoctorally trained psychologists. The Public Health major, launched in 2021, expands career pathways for undergraduate students and develops the critical thinking and analytic skills necessary to address topics such as access to health care, health promotion, disease prevention, health disparities, health economics, health policy, and others. The MS in Clinical Psychopharmacology, launching in the fall of 2022, will help expand access to essential mental health care and enhance psychologists’ practice offerings in Iowa and other states where legislation allows for prescriptive

one staff member, faculty representatives, and one alumni representative. The Committee’s charge is to make recommendations regarding ways to promote and achieve the College’s DEI goals by educating and informing the college community about best practices and innovative methods to cultivate a safe, diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment. Along with the formation of the standing DEI Committee, Anisa Hansen, PH’02, clinical pharmacist and professor of pharmacy practice in the College, was named the Director of the College’s DEI efforts.

CENTER FOR PUBLIC DEMOCRACY

Aligning with the College’s vision to be a diverse community of learners leading the way to a healthy world, a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee was recently added to the College’s standing committee structure. With representation from all the College’s academic programs, membership includes four students,

Support of students’ advocacy involvement and democracy-shaping efforts is a positive way that alumni can contribute to the development and growth of future health care leaders. This could include, but are not limited to, support of student attendance at their professions’ legislative day activities, scholarships for students interested in public policy careers, travel funds to support student attendance at public health and health care policy conferences and internships, or endowed professorships in health care policy or public health.

As you kick off a new school year,

What accomplishments are you celebrating?

What do you wish alumni knew or supported in this effort specific to the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences?

DRAKE HOOPS FEST RETURNS

Drake’s men’s and women’s basketball teams took to the streets of Des Moines again this fall for Drake Hoops Fest, a truly one-of-a-kind fan experience on Des Moines’ historic Court Avenue. Now in its second year, Drake Hoops Fest gave fans a preseason look at the 2022-23 Bulldog basketball teams—and a lot more. A youth clinic hosted by Des Moines’ Hometown Team gave kids K-6th grade an opportunity to learn from the Bulldogs free of charge. Several Drake fall sports teams made appearances along with the Drake band, cheer squad, dance team, and Griff II

DAVID GOLDER

David Golder named new chair of Jewish United Fund Board of Directors

Alumnus, dedicated philanthropist, and longtime Drake trustee, David Golder, FA’79, was recently named chair of the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Chicago’s Board of Directors.

Golder comes to the position with a dedicated track record of service to numerous civic and non-profit boards, including serving on Drake University’s Board of Trustees since 2005 and holding the role of chair from 2016–2019.

Golder is the founder and former president of Lightfall Interactive Media. He currently manages investment strategy as managing partner of Golder Investment Management, LLC and oversees philanthropic operations as vice president and treasurer of the Golder Family Foundation, a charitable organization that donates to education, health care, and senior causes.

Achievements

1960 s

1980 s

Ed Sease, LA’64, LW’67, Des Moines, IA, received the Inaugural Drake Law School Adjunct Professor of the Year Award.

1970 s

Steve Erickson, FA‘74, Cedar Rapids, IA, has written and illustrated a children’s picture book called “A Very Chilling Mystery”.

Mary (Grodt) Radia, PH’77, West Des Moines, IA, named DMU College of Osteopathic Medicine Alumna of the Year, 2022.

Cheryl (Brossman) Garland, JO’80, GR’04, Johnston, IA, sold her business, “Integrative Counseling Solutions” to Central Iowa Psychological, and joined as a Community Outreach Coordinator.

Therese (Botts) Sizer, FA’80, LW’86, Hartford, WI, retiring after 29 years as Senior In-House Counsel at West Bend Mutual Insurance Company.

Christopher Hart, FA’82, McComb, MS, singing the role of the Lawyer in Opera Mississippi’s production of Gianni Schicchi.

Jill Johnson, BN’82, GR’83, Fridley, MN, earned a certificate in Private Company Governance from the Private Directors Association®. This certificate in private company governance is the only one of its kind in the U.S.

Gage Church, JO’86, Ames, IA, named Editor of the Ames Tribune.

Tracy (Lister) Rosenberg, ED‘87, ED‘89, Marvin, SD, awarded Conservationist of the year from Women in NRCS (WiN) for work in prairie restoration in the northeast corner of South Dakota.

Michael Wolnerman, PH’87, Des Moines, IA, named Vice President at OneroRx.

Denise Chuick, AS’89, Houston, TX, awarded 2022 Teacher of the Year for her campus and inducted into the Greater Houston Athletic Trainer’s Society Hall of Honor.

Karen Fuller-Munsell, JO’89, North Little Rock, AK, named co-anchor of Wake Up Central on THV11.

1990 s

Stasy (Knight) Avelar, AS’90, Phoenix, AZ, Appointed Maricopa County Superior Court Judge.

Robert Sobkoviak, JO’90, New Lenox, IL, promoted to Senior Manager of Enterprise Architecture Governance & Operations at Discover Financial Services.

Heidi (Sease) Nebel, LW’92, Johnston, IA, re-appointed to the National Plant Variety Protection Advisory Board.

Cabel Gray, BN’93, Iowa City, IA, named Associate General Appraiser at Cook Appraisal.

Jeremy Glenn, BN’94, Chicago, IL, named one of the Top 500 Labor & Employment Attorneys in the nation by Lawdragon magazine and named one of the Notable Gen X Leaders in Law by Crain’s Chicago Business Magazine.

LouisLuong I love everyone who has been a part of my 4-year journey and I don’t regret a single moment of it.

Dexter Wimbish, LW’94, GR’94, Griffin, GA, earned an EdD in Higher education Leadership from Grand Canyon University with a dissertation titled “Causal Comparative Quantitative Study on Job Satisfaction and Faculty Engagement Levels of African American Faculty Engaged in Formal Mentoring Programs in the United States”.

Dorothy Carlin, JO’98, St. Louis, MO, named one of St. Louis Business Journal’s Most Influential Business Women.

James Wainwright, LW’99, Windsor Heights, IA, awarded Best Lawyer of the Year 2023 in Des Moines for Municipal Litigation.

Toni White, JO’99, Johnston, IA, promoted to Recruiter at The Walt Disney Company.

2000 s

Elizabeth (Katz) Coonan, LW’02, Des Moines, IA, Ranked Labor and Employment, Iowa Band 3 by Chambers USA.

Sara (Watson) Klobnak, BN’02, Highlands Ranch, CO, named Retail Marketing Manager at Resident Home.

Jenna McMullin, JO’02, Centennial, CO, named Outstanding Woman in Business from the Denver Business Journal.

Joyce (Jakubowsky) Oaks, JO’02, Waterloo, IA, named a 2022 Forbes Best-inState Wealth Advisor.

Angela Bonthuis, GR’03, Gilbert, IA, received a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching

John Howard, GR’03, Independence, IA, named Superintendant at Union Community School District.

Lisa (Sowinski) Raff, PH’04, Wheaton, IL, received a Master’s of Science in Pharmacy with a major in Pharmaceutical Sciences and concentration in Personalized Medicine. Promoted to Senior Director of Pharmacy, Therapeutics and Pathways at OneOncology.

JOHNNY C. TAYLOR JR.

Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., Distinguished Alumni Award Winner

When Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., GR’91, LW’92, first arrived at Drake in 1989, it felt like he was stepping foot on Mars. As a first-generation student from South Florida, Taylor was navigating a new place and culture. He quickly found a home at Drake, and a place to thrive. Following graduation, he advanced through the ranks to become one of the most successful CEOs in the country.

Today, Taylor is president and CEO of SHRM, the Society for Human Resource Management, the world’s largest HR trade association. This year, Taylor was named the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award, the top honor bestowed upon a Drake graduate.

“Johnny is truly deserving of this award,” said Jerry Anderson, Drake Law School dean and Richard M. and Anita Calkins Distinguished Professor of Law. “Not only because of his success but also for the many ways he gives back to the next generation of students.”

Achievements

2000 s

Anne Bacon, GR’08, Ankeny, IA, named a 2022 Woman of Influence by the Des Moines Business Record.

Mary Pat Rooney, AS‘08, ED‘08, Chicago, IL, elected Fraternity President of Kappa Kappa Gamma.

Brian Harrington, JO’09, Orlando, FL, promoted to Supervisor at Universal Orlando Resort.

Maria (Campos) Lantz, AS’09, ED’09, GR’15, Ottumwa, IA, named Director of Curriculum and Instruction at the Ottumwa School District.

2010 s

Kristin S. Billingsley Cooper, LW’10, West Des Moines, IA, awarded Best Lawyer of the Year 2023 in Des Moines for Economic Development Law.

Cait Hicok, AS’10, Sheridan, CO, named to 2022 Railway Age 25 under 40.

Will Montgomery, ED’10, GR’18, Des Moines, IA, named principal of Jefferson Elementary School.

Christopher Rogne, GR’10, Cresco, IA, named superintendent of the Lake Mills Community School District

Tyler Coe, AS’11, Des Moines, IA, received the Inspiring Advocate for Women Award presented by the Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa.

(CONTINUED)

Katie (McDonald) Starbuck, PH’11, Arvada, CO, promoted to District Leader at CVS Health.

Sarah (Bannon) Florian, AS’12, West Des Moines, IA, joined the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs as Program & Operations Coordinator.

Jonathan L. Kennedy, LW’12, Clive, IA, recognized in the 29th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Marti Payseur AS’12 opened a vegan bakery in Des Moines in August 2022.

Sarah (Russell) Gillmore, AS’13, Ankeny, IA, joined Spavia as a Manager.

Krystal R. Mikkilineni, LW’13, Clive, IA, joined Dentons Davis Brown as a shareholder in the Restructuring, Insolvency, and Bankruptcy department and the Mergers & Acquisitions department.

Tom Florian, BN’14, GR’16, West Des Moines, IA, promoted to Senior Director of Membership & Strategic Marketing at the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce.

Katelyn Stessman, BN’15, West Des Moines, IA, Cofounder and Executive Director of B.WELL Foundation.

Kelsey Tyler, AS’15, St. Paul, MN, appointed Chair of the Advisory Board for Fourth Generation, a young philanthropists’ giving circle hosted at the Minneapolis Foundation.

Sara Filo, AS’17, Rogers, MN, joined Moss & Barnett law firm.

Alliyah Greaver, AS’17, Greenville, OH, named Lead Pastor at St. John Lutheran Church.

Graham Jones, GR’17, Clive, IA, named principal at Maple Grove Elementary in the Waukee Community School District.

Elly (Nachazel) Simpson, BN’17, Des Moines, IA, joined the Iowa Events Center as a Marketing Manager.

Quoc Anh Nguyen, AS’19, BN’19, Vietnam, earned the FSA designation by the Society of Actuaries.

Shahnaz Basha, AS’20, West Des Moines, IA, named QA Engineer with StoneX.

Evan

Taylor

In Memoriam

1940 s

Janet Maclennan Perry, LA’46, Seattle, WA

Frederick J. Hurlbut, ED’47, Lincoln, NE

Donna (Ward) Kroeger, ED’47, Cedar Falls, IA

Martha M. (Spotts) Watson, JO’47, Dublin, OH

Zoula (Pyle) Zein-Eldin, LA’48, Galveston, TX

Lillian R. (Witte) Greenlee, ED’48, South Pasadena, CA

Norma J. Wills, FA’48, Seattle, WA

Richard E. Batterson, LW’49, Orlando, FL

1950 s

Robert J. Wagner, PH’50, Waterloo, IA

Donald G. Stark, BN’50, GR’52, Chapel Hill, NC

Major General Walter D. Reed, BN’48, LW’50, Vermillion, SD

Peg (Taylor) Beeler, ’50, Boulder, CO

Thomas H. Ryder, LW’50, Boise, ID

Virginia H. (Stanley) Proulx, ED’51, ED’65, Saint Petersburg, FL

Pauline (Hoeven) Marshall, ED’51, Des Moines, IA

Ethel (Gordon) Chatkin, FA’51, Old Lyme, CT

Pauline (Drommer) Votteler, ED’52, Gillette, WY

Fred W. Miller, PH’53, Boone

Shirley Jane (Vanroekel) DeRuyter, ’54, Sioux Center, IA

Melvin “Mel” Seymour Gordon, BN’55, Tampa, FL

Harold C. Rankin, PH’56, Mount Pleasant, IA

David A. Knutson, LA’57, Centennial, CO

Ronald G. Graves, BN’57, Douds, IA

John F. Siebenmann, LW’57, Cedar Rapids, IA

Norma J. (Marlenee) Sutton, LA’57, GR’86, Johnston, IA

William David Shepard, LA’58, Inverness, FL

Paula J. (Pivonski) Clark, FA’58, Peru, IL

David M. Edwards, ED’58, GR’68, Mitchellville, IA

Barry D. Sherman, LA’59, Naples, FL

Marilyn (Chisholm) Hankinson, LA’59, GR’65, Des Moines, IA

1960 s

Dennis E. Koskovick, BN’60, Scottsdale, AZ

H. Melvin Olson, LA’60, Gig Harbor, WA

Jerry J. Trout, BN’61 Minneapolis, MN

Susan J. (Peet) Schmidt, FA’61, Cedar Rapids, IA

Mario J. DeMatteis, ED’62, Saint Michael, MN

Diane (Fisher) McGarry, ED’62, Rochester Hills, MI

Warren “Bill” Westlund, BN’62, Urbandale, IA

Charles Weaver, BN’63, Muncie, IN

Jesse E. Bradshaw, DV’63, Oak Ridge, TN

David W. Howrey, BN’63, Cody, WY

Elizabeth (Maxwell) Grask, ED ‘63, Clive, IA

Michael E. Hansen, LW’64, West Des Moines, IA

Thomas S. Calandra, BN’63, LW’65, Spencerport, NY

Gary A. Daws, PH’65, Dixon, IL

Marvin L. Thomason, LA’65, Colorado Springs, CO

Donald M. Leach, BN’65, Green Valley, AZ

William F. Abel, PH’66, Fort Madison, IA

Reverend Charles T. White, DV’66, Mooresville, NC

Steven T. Rufer, LA’67, La Barque Creek, MO

Michael J. Purvey, JO’67, McHenry, IL

Scott C. Chaney, ’67, New Orleans, LA

Joel Pierce, GR’68, Urbandale, IA

Larry G. Minner, LA’68, Grinnell, IA

Richard T. Williams Sr., LA’68, Johnstown, PA

L. John Fletcher, BN’65, LW’68, Elison Bay, WI

Scott W. Bryan, ED’68, Cedar Rapids, IA

Krenio (Polydoran) Wright, LA’68, Des Moines, IA

Marty Gross, LA’69, Des Moines, IA

Alan DeGooyer, FA’69, Des Moines, IA

Jennifer M. (Cogis) Craver, ED’69, Centerville, IA

Louise (Kupka) Springer, ED’69, Marshalltown, IA

Audrey B. Taylor, ED’69, Chariton, IA

Richard A. Hamman, ED’69, BN’73, Clive, IA

Conrad L. Githens, GR’69, Urbandale, IA

1970 s

DeEtta (Thovson) Twedt, ED’70, Belmond, IA

Elmer C. May, GR’70, Williamsburg, VA

Warren L. Taylor, JO’70, Ames, IA

Rachel Paine Caufield –Chicago Tribune op-ed

The Chicago Tribune published an op-ed authored by Professor Rachel Paine Caufield (or “RPC” as she’s known on campus) in April defending Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucus. Coming to Drake from Washington D.C., the professor of political science viewed Iowa’s caucus system with skepticism, like most Americans who live outside the state. Having now spent more than two decades in Iowa and at Drake, she has become an avid devotee of the Iowa caucuses.

For the past five presidential campaign cycles, Caufield has organized events at Drake from small candidate Q&A sessions to nationally televised debates, providing students with unrivaled opportunities to engage in the presidential nomination process.

“Whatever the future of the Iowa caucuses, Drake will remain the place where politics come alive,” said Caufield. “The political experience is not something you just read about or watch on TV, it’s what all of us at Drake do every day to build a better democracy.”

RACHEL PAINE CAUFIELD

In Memorium (CONTINUED)

1970 s

Kathleen A. (Miller) Grimes, ED’70, Johnston, IA

Thomas J. Netzel, GR’70, Newton, IA

Richard M. Hanson, GR’70, Fort Collins, CO

Mary Ann (Grove) Hall, ED’71, Marshalltown, IA

Charles Gross, ED’71, Minneapolis, MN

Lt. Col Guy K. Barrett, LA’71, Melbourne, FL

Mark A. Hollister, BN’72, Wesley Chapel, FL

Mary Beth (Johnston) Kourey, ED’72, West Des Moines, IA

Sidney Halma, GR’72, Nashville, TN

Steven B. Bramhall, PH’72, Deerfield, IL

Richard J. Larimer, ED’72, GR’75, Cedar Falls, IA

Howard S. Stegmann, LA’74, Marshalltown, IA

Mark S. Soldat, LW’74, Windsor Heights, IA

Donald R. Freer BN’75, Turtle Lake, WI

Julie D. Evans, BN’76, Des Moines, IA

Darwin J. Lookingbill, LA’76, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Ione Shadduck, LW’76, West Des Moines, IA

James E. Haberkorn, LW’77, Spirit Lake, IA

Robert Lynn Garbe, GR’77, Lexington, SC

Cora (Curtis) Hayes, GR’78, Des Moines, IA

Julee A. Cruise, AS’79, New York, NY

1980 s

1990 s

Rex Staub, LW’90, Urbandale, IA

Donald J. Paterson, GR’90, Tempe, AZ

Steven J. Schwarze, AS’92, Missoula, MT

Tamra E. Koester, BN’95, Des Moines, IA

Heidi T. Henson, GR’96, ’98, Gloucester, MA

Janna E. Polite, LW’96, Indianola, IA

2010 s

Gabrielle M. Jonas, PH’19, Omaha, NE

2020 s

Jackson H. Meyer, AS’21, Iowa City, IA

Margaret Klimczyk, LW’84, Mars, PA

John T. Palter, LW’85, Dallas, TX

Laura A. Shalla, LA’86, Waukee, IA

Patricia Sue Miller, GR’86, Cleghorn, IA

Michael D. Andrew, LW’86, Des Moines, IA

Brian E. Millsap, BN’88, Oak Park, IL

Jeffrey A. Baker, LW’89, Des Moines, IA

Faculty

Hubert W. Winebrenner, Emeriti Faculty, Tucson, AZ

James Lindberg, Emeriti Faculty, Des Moines, IA

questionkayla28 I’ve been looking forward to Relays week since this Spring semester began! From spending time seeing the scenery change to connecting at the Black And LGBTQ+ Alum reunion, meeting Sorors that crossed Phi from the early 90s and before, to attending relays, and ending the weekend with the Drake Black Faculty Affinity cookout! So many stories from our Black Drake Grads, especially from the 1960-70s and reminiscing on being a student and track athlete at Drake.

Introducing Everclass!

BY DRAKE UNIVERSITY

Learn more at ALUMNI.DRAKE.EDU/EVERCLASS

Everclass is a new series of virtual talks on interesting topics presented by alumni voices. Fuel your curiosity and creativity, spur connections— and maybe even career potential.