Free screening of The Fault in Our Stars to take place at Varsity Cinema on April 1 Drake University is honored to welcome #1 New York Times bestselling author John Green for the Martin Bucksbaum Distinguished Lectureship. The event, “An Evening with John Green,” will take place on Thursday, April 2, 2026 at 7 p.m. in the Knapp Center on Drake’s campus. The lecture is free and open to the public and will be moderated by Associate Dean, Dr. Lindsay Woodward. Attendees are encouraged to submit questions for John Green here. John Green is a bestselling author whose novels include...
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...
Drake University Appoints Professor Anisa Hansen to Associate Provost for Campus Equity & Inclusion
Drake University is proud to announce Anisa Hansen as the University’s next Associate Provost for Campus Equity & Inclusion. Stepping into the role on July 1, Hansen will succeed Terrance Pendleton, who has served in the position for the last three years and plans to return full-time to his faculty role as an Associate Professor of Mathematics. Hansen earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Drake University in May 2002 and is currently a Professor of Pharmacy Practice in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. She has worked as a behavioral health clinical pharmacist at Iowa Lutheran Hospital since...
Planned Banner Maintenance: April 25
ITS staff will be performing maintenance on Banner and Self Service on Saturday, April 25 starting at 7 p.m. and lasting until approximately Sunday, April 26 at 9 a.m. During this time, Admin Pages, Self Service, ProcessMaker, TouchNet, and other connected systems will be unavailable. This downtime is necessary to install the latest mandatory updates and security patches and better secure and protect University data. 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...
Drake University announces 47th Annual Beautiful Bulldog Contest® winner
Flora will reign as the 2026 Drake Relays mascot and the Most Beautiful Bulldog Judges proudly announced the winner of the 47th Annual Beautiful Bulldog Contest® at the Knapp Center on Drake University’s campus on Sunday. Seven-year-old Flora was crowned the champion and will serve a week-long reign as the official mascot for the 2026 Drake Relays. Flora, hailing from Iowa Falls, Iowa, stole the show during her strut down the “pup-way.” Accompanied by owners Nicole Gleason and Augie Wachter, the charismatic bulldog charmed the judges in her blue dress embellished with a glittery Drake “D” and white flowers. A...
2026 CPHS Alumni Achievement Awards Announced
The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences’ annual Alumni Achievement Awards will be presented at the CPHS Awards Ceremony on April 22, 2026 at 9:00 am in Sheslow Auditorium. This year’s outstanding alumni included Young Alumni Achievement Award recipients Jessin Joseph and Andrew Wagner as well as Alumni Achievement Award recipient Sue Mears. More event information, including the program and livestream link, can be found on the CPHS Awards Ceremony webpage in the days leading up to the event. Jessin Joseph Dr. Jessin Joseph of Chicago, Ill., graduated with his Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Drake University in 2017. Currently, Jessin serves as Vice President, PBA Markets at Judi Health...
Drake University to House Personal and Professional Papers of Former Governor and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack
Drake University announced today that Cowles Library will house the personal and professional papers of Thomas J. Vilsack, the 40th Governor of Iowa and the 30th and 32nd U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. The agreement was formalized during a signing ceremony at the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates. The acquisition includes a wealth of materials that document Vilsack’s more than 40 years of public service to both the state of Iowa and the nation. “One of the hallmarks of a Drake education is the ability to engage directly with the people and ideas that move our world,” said Drake University President Marty Martin. “To have Secretary Vilsack’s personal and...
Planned ProcessMaker Maintenance: April 14
ITS vendor partner ProcessMaker will be performing routine maintenance on the system starting this evening, Tuesday, April 14, 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 see the full 2026 maintenance schedule, visit drake.edu/its/maintenanceschedule. To...
The Blue Oval Awaits: Your Essential Guide to the 116th Drake Relays
The roar of the crowd, the splash of paint, and the world’s most elite athletes returning to Des Moines—it can only mean one thing. The 116th Drake Relays are officially here. Whether you’re here to witness world-class athletes compete, return to your old stomping grounds to reconnect with fellow alumni, plan out your Relays week schedule with fellow students, or simply here to see which English Bulldog is crowned the Most Beautiful Bulldog, the 2026 Drake Relays promise something for everyone. Of course, Relays week revolves around the excitement on the iconic Blue Oval. The 2026 Drake Relays—known as “America’s...
Drake Programs Ranked Among Best Graduate Schools by U.S. News & World Report
National survey highlights excellence in Law, Health Sciences, and Education Drake University has once again been recognized as an exceptional school for advanced professional education, with multiple programs ranked among the top in the nation in the U.S. News & World Report 2026 Best Graduate Schools rankings. The national survey recognized Drake for its strong programming across several disciplines. The University’s Law School, the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (CPHS), and the School of Education each earned high rankings in this year’s list. “It is an honor to once again be recognized by U.S. News and World Report,” said...
Law School News
Drake Law School No. 91 in U.S. News & World Report Best Law School Rankings
Drake University Law School is ranked among the top law schools in the nation in the newly released U.S. News & World Report 2026 Best Law School rankings. The latest ranking at No. 91 marks the fourth year in a row of ranking within the top 100 schools in the country. See the full list of U.S. News rankings for Drake Law School: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/drake-university-03058 Drake Law saw significant gains in its specialized offerings, particularly in skill-based training: · Legal Writing: The program jumped six spots this year to No.11 in the nation. · Trial Advocacy: In a major leap, the...
Law School News
Drake University Law School Earns Top Ranking for Trial Advocacy
Drake University Law School was awarded an A- ranking for trial advocacy by The National Jurist, placing Drake among the top schools in the nation for this category. The publication based the rankings on law schools’ offerings in trial advocacy, including programs and opportunities that allow students to develop their ability to deliver arguments, evidence, testimony, and substance. Students gain this experience through a range of opportunities, including participation in trial advocacy courses, mock trial competitions, and clinics that place them directly in the courtroom. These experiences allow students to refine their litigation skills, build confidence, and learn from experienced faculty and...