The next concert in the Keys to Excellence Piano Series will feature an extraordinary chamber music experience with world-renown pianist Marta Aznavoorian and violinist Janet Sung on Monday, Nov. 10, at 7:30 p.m. in Sheslow Auditorium. Admission is free. In addition to the concert, Aznavoorian will present a public masterclass on Sunday, Nov. 9, at 4 p.m. in Sheslow Auditorium. The concert program is comprised of the following works: The Keys to Excellence Piano Series is supported by Drake University Jordan Concerts. For more information, contact Nicholas Roth at 515–321–5947 or nicholas.roth@drake.edu. KEYS TO EXCELLENCE PIANO SERIES 2025-2026: SPENCER MYER – Indiana UniversityOctober 26: MasterclassOctober 27: Concert MARTA AZNAVOORIAN & JANET...
$4 Million Alumni Gift Establishes Endowed Chair in Drake Biology Department
Drake University announced the creation of the Clifford (“Cliff”) G. Rea Endowed Chair in Biology, which was made possible by a $4 million gift from the late alumnus Clifford G. Rea, AS’60. Professor David Senchina, Ph.D., is the inaugural chairholder. Rea, a graduate of the Drake Biology Department, established the endowment to provide flexible, long-term support for an outstanding faculty member who excels at engaging undergraduates in research. “Cliff’s generosity continues to shape the future of our Biology Department,” said Gesine Gerhard, Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. “His legacy ensures that our students will experience the high-impact,...
Faculty Spotlight: Professor Hunter R. Clark Reflects on 33 Years at Drake Law
Professor Hunter R. Clark has been a pillar of the Drake Law community since 1993, teaching International Human Rights Law and sharing his expertise in International Law, International Trade, State and Local Government Law, and the U.S. Supreme Court. Over his three decades at Drake, Professor Clark has inspired generations of students and lawyers by encouraging them to think critically and engage meaningfully with the world around them. As he prepares to retire at the end of this semester, he reflects on his career and what he hopes that students will take away from his teaching. What do you enjoy...
Microsoft 365 Issues Impacting Campus, Oct. 29
Microsoft 365 is currently experiencing a widespread issue in the US affecting many services used at Drake. Outlook, Teams, Office, OneDrive, login processes, and potentially others are experiencing degraded performance or intermittent access issues. These service interruptions are external to Drake and stem from issues with the Microsoft Azure infrastructure. Our ITS team is actively monitoring the situation for more information as it becomes available. We appreciate your patience and understanding while Microsoft works toward full recovery. If you’re being impacted by this issue, you can report it to the ITS Support Center by submitting a ticket through our portal...
Drake University Announces Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Program in Panama
Ciudad del Saber grows with addition of Drake University as affiliated member Drake University—a top-ranked private U.S. institution with 144 years of excellence—announced today the launch of a new program in Panama City, Panama, following the signing of a formal agreement between the University and Ciudad del Saber. Students will be able to pursue a career-defining accelerated three-year Bachelor of Science in Data Analytics with a minor in Artificial Intelligence from Drake’s new location at Ciudad del Saber, or pursue a wide array of majors and minors through a “2+2” program in which the final two years are completed on Drake’s U.S.-based campus in Des Moines—Iowa’s capital city. Applications for the program will open in August 2026 with enrollment beginning in August 2027. “This program is built...
Drake University Law School Ranked as a Top School for Criminal Law in PreLaw Magazine
Drake University Law School earned an A- ranking for criminal law in preLaw Magazine, placing Drake among the top law schools in the nation for this field. The publication based the rankings on law schools’ offerings in criminal law, including clinical programs, certificates, externships, partnerships, and courses. The results are reported in preLaw’s Fall 2025 issue. Drake Law offers students substantial opportunities to learn about and develop skills in the field of criminal law. With courses spanning topics such as prosecution and defense, scientific and expert evidence, and global issues in criminal law, students gain a comprehensive foundation in the field. Through the...
Drake Student Wins First Place In Prestigious Pacemaker Awards
Recent Drake University graduate Cassandra Schoene was recognized as a national leader in Social Media Reporting in the Associated College Press’s annual Pacemaker Awards, one of the most prestigious national college media contests in the country. Schoene was awarded first place in Social Media Reporting for her six-part TikTok series for Urban Plains, the Drake School of Journalism and Mass Communication’s capstone project. Her story focuses on factory farms, otherwise known as concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs)—how they came to be, the risks they pose, and the policies and politics that allow them to exist. “I feel incredibly honored to...
Security Awareness Training is Live
All faculty and staff received an email this morning (sent from do-not-reply@drake.edu) with their enrollment in “Security Awareness Foundations” training. As announced in OnCampus, this mandatory training has been aligned with Cybersecurity Awareness Month and is not a phishing attempt. Please complete this brief 20-minute module by November 21 to help strengthen our University’s security. For additional details about Cybersecurity Awareness Month and this training campaign, visit our Internal Site (Drake login required). If you have questions or need assistance, reach out to the ITS Support Center at service.drake.edu/its or call 515-271-3001. To receive ITS news posts via email, opt in...
Drake University Names Dr. Megan Brown Dean of John Dee Bright College
Drake University is pleased to announce that Professor Megan Brown has been appointed as the new Dean of John Dee Bright College. Brown succeeds Craig Owens as the second dean of the two-year college program that awards associates degrees in two main tracks: Business, Organization, and Professional Studies or the Integrated Arts, Sciences and Humanities. She will now take the lead in overseeing the college’s innovative curriculum and student success initiatives. Owens will continue to serve Drake as the Executive Director of the Harkin Institute for Public Policy and Citizen Engagement. Brown previously served as the associate dean of the...
Drake University Appoints Kelly Bruhn Dean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Drake University has promoted associate dean Dr. Kelly Bruhn, APR, to lead the School of Journalism and Mass Communication as its next dean. Bruhn will assume the role July 1, 2026, following the retirement of the current dean, Dr. Catherine M. Staub. Bruhn will serve as the ninth dean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC) since its founding in 1962. “Dr. Kelly Bruhn is, quite simply, the gold standard for a modern communication leader and educator,” said Drake University Provost Sue Mattison. “Her work has elevated the public relations profession across the Midwest, and her student-centered leadership...