Drake University bid a fond farewell to Griff II during a formal retirement and “Changing of the Harness” ceremony at Old Main today. The event honored Griff II’s more than six years as the University’s beloved live mascot while also appointing his successor, Griff III. Drake University President Marty Martin presided over the event, ceremonially removing the harness around Griff II and placing a custom-fitted “Griff III” harness around the one-year-old English Bulldog, marking the start of a new chapter for the University’s Live Mascot Program. The Live Mascot Program at Drake serves as a vital bridge between the campus and Des Moines communities. Griff II’s tenure was defined by an era of warmth and companionship, providing a constant source of support and joy for students, faculty, staff, and fans alike. His impact reached...
Drake University Announces Upcoming Retirement of Beloved Live Mascot, Griff II
Celebrations to continue through the spring, Griff III to be revealed later this week Drake University announced today that Griff II, the cherished English Bulldog who has served as the University’s official live mascot for the past six years, is retiring in May 2026 at the end of the current academic year. Drake has prepared a variety of celebrations to recognize Griff II’s tenure and his dedicated service before he settles into a well-deserved retirement full of snoozing, snacks, and snuggles. “Griff II is an extraordinary ambassador for Drake University and the City of Des Moines,” said Drake President Marty...
Drake Leads in 2025 U.S. News & World Report National University Rankings
Drake named a top 200 school, and #1 in Iowa for “Best Value School” Drake University was once again ranked among the top 200 best colleges in the nation — this time in the U.S. News and World Report national university rankings, competing against the largest universities in the country. The news comes just weeks after receiving similar accolades from The Wall Street Journal’s 2025 College Pulse Ranking. U.S. News also ranked Drake as the #1 private school in Iowa within its national university rankings. According to the U.S. News national university ranking methodology*, Drake also secured high marks in several...
Planned Network Maintenance: Friday 6/19
ITS staff will be performing maintenance on the campus network on Friday, June 19 between 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. During this time, wired and wireless network services may be unavailable in areas of campus as core network equipment is replaced. Work will be completed in phases by campus section, beginning with the residence halls. Each area is expected to experience less than one hour of downtime. ITS has prepared equipment and locations in advance to minimize disruption. This work is necessary to replace aging core network equipment as part of the ongoing Network Refresh Project. This maintenance is scheduled...
Looking After a Community: John Rovers Set for Retirement After 33 Years at Drake University
After over three decades of serving in various roles within the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (CPHS), Dr. John Rovers, Professor of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, has concluded his career at Drake University and will officially retire in December of 2026. A native of Canada, Dr. Rovers first moved to Iowa in 1991. He began his career in pharmacy, receiving his undergraduate degree and completing a drug information residency at the University of Toronto before going to Boston, Mass. to receive his PharmD at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences and complete a fellowship at Northeastern University. Dr. Rovers’ first position back in Canada in 1988 was in hospital pharmacy. However, his role as a...
Planned ProcessMaker Maintenance: Tues 6/16
ITS vendor partner ProcessMaker will be performing routine maintenance on the system starting the evening of Tuesday, June 16, at 6:45 p.m. and lasting approximately 8 hours. During this time, brief disruptions of a few minutes at a time may happen sporadically. Additionally, automated processes may be interrupted but will be queued to run after the work is completed. If you experience issues after the maintenance is complete, contact the ITS Support Center for help by visiting service.drake.edu/its, calling 515-271-3001, or visiting the lower level of Carnegie Hall with your device. To receive ITS news posts via email, opt in by completing this form. To...
Drake University Expands its Transnational Education Offerings to Singapore
Ed.D. Leadership Program will be offered in Singapore via Drake-NSTC partnership Drake University announces a significant expansion of its global educational footprint by launching its Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) Leadership program in Singapore. The new program is made possible through a new international partnership with Nanyang Science and Technology College (NSTC), a private education institution. The program has been approved by the Singapore government via the quality assurance agency, SkillsFuture Singapore, as well as by the Higher Learning Commission—the U.S.-based accrediting agency. Starting in fall 2026, Drake University will begin offering its Ed.D. in Leadership program to students across Asia. The program will utilize a flexible, hybrid teaching model that combines online coursework with in-person sessions—emphasizing the academic rigor and high-quality educational...
Drake University Camp Turns Middle Schoolers into Entrepreneurs for a Day
Registration is open for Drake University’s inaugural Youth Entrepreneurship Day. The new program will take place on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, and is designed for students entering sixth through eighth grade. Hosted by the Buchanan Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, the one-day experience gives middle school students a hands-on introduction to entrepreneurship from Drake staff. Students will identify a real-world problem, map a business model, and pitch their ideas to peers and instructors. “Middle school students have an incredible sense of curiosity and creativity,” said Alanah Mitchell, Dean of the Zimpleman College of Business at Drake. “This new camp gives students an opportunity to...
Windows Device Restart Issue Following HP BIOS Update
A recent BIOS update released by HP may affect some Drake-managed Windows computers. What you may see: While this may look concerning, your device is not damaged and no data is lost. This issue can be resolved with assistance from ITS. What to do: If you experience this issue, please contact ITS to schedule support. An ITS technician will work with you to restore normal access. Additional information: For more details from HP, please see:Learn more about the BIOS update issue
Drake CPHS Celebrates 100 Professional Program Graduates at 2026 Commencement
The Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (CPHS) held its annual Professional Hooding and Commencement Ceremony for professional program students on Saturday, May 16, 2026. The CPHS Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences undergraduate students participated in the University Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony held the following day on Sunday, May 17. Receiving their degrees and doctoral hoods during the CPHS Hooding and Commencement Ceremony were: The ceremony included reflections from five of the graduating student government representatives. Victoria Miller and Sybbie Steim (PharmD), Lauren Osborn and Ashley Tupy (OTD), and Madi Adams (MAT) congratulated their peers and wished them luck in the next chapter of their careers. “Regardless of your grad school story, it is...
Drake University’s Emerson Whittemore Awarded Fulbright to Uruguay
Recent graduate to serve as cultural ambassador from March through November 2027 Emerson Whittemore, a recent Drake University graduate, has earned a prestigious Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award and will travel to Uruguay next year to serve as a cultural ambassador for the United States. She is among more than two dozen Drake University graduates who have received Fulbright scholar awards, dating back to the 1950s. In this role, Whittemore will support the Fulbright mission by promoting English language acquisition and engaging in meaningful cultural exchange. This experience will allow her to foster mutual understanding between the United States and...
Planned ProcessMaker Maintenance: May 26
ITS vendor partner ProcessMaker will be performing routine maintenance on the system starting the evening of Tuesday, May 26, at 6:45 p.m. and lasting approximately 8 hours. During this time, brief disruptions of a few minutes at a time may happen sporadically. Additionally, automated processes may be interrupted but will be queued to run after the work is completed. If you experience issues after the maintenance is complete, contact the ITS Support Center for help by visiting service.drake.edu/its, calling 515-271-3001, or visiting the lower level of Carnegie Hall with your device. To receive ITS news posts via email, opt in by completing this form. To...
Drake University’s Economic Impact Totals $424.1 Million in 2025
Newly released 2025 Economic and Community Impact Report details strong numbers In a newly released 2025 Economic and Community Impact Report, Drake’s total annual economic impact was $424.1 million during 2025. This comprehensive analysis underscores the University’s commitment to being an engaged higher educational institution — serving not just as a center for academic excellence, but as an anchor institution to Central Iowa and a vital engine for local and statewide prosperity. “For decades, our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and fans have contributed extensively to the prosperity of our vibrant neighborhood and the state we proudly call home — not...