Drake University is pleased to announce Debra DeLaet as the Herb and Karen Baum Chair of Ethics and the Professions. Herb Baum, BN’59, and his wife, Karen, contributed $2 million to establish the Herb and Karen Baum Chair of Ethics and the Professions in 2010. This prestigious faculty position guides students across the University in developing a firmly grounded personal commitment to the highest standards of ethics and ethical decision making.
A competitive application process determines the Baum Chair of Ethics and the Professions. Faculty members with the rank of full professor may apply for the position, which rotates among the six colleges and schools. A new chair is appointed every two years. The chair position was held most recently by Garry Frank, the Thomas F. Sheehan Distinguished Professor of Public Administration.
“I am honored to have been selected as the Baum Chair of Ethics and the Professions and thrilled about the opportunities this professorship offers,” says DeLaet, professor of politics and international relations. “In this role, I look forward to developing networks of students, faculty, staff, local alumni, and community professionals to work together to address important ethical challenges within their particular areas of academic and professional expertise. In doing so, one of my fundamental objectives would be to enhance ethically-informed civic engagement on campus and beyond.”
Debra DeLaet received her B.A. in political science from Miami University and her M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame. At Drake, she teaches courses on human rights, the United Nations, gender and world politics, and global health.
DeLaet has received several prestigious awards during her time at Drake, including Honors Program Teacher of the Year, Arts & Sciences Teacher of the Year, and the Arts & Sciences Stalnaker Lecturer. Additionally, she has published books on U.S. immigration policy, human rights, and global health. She has also published numerous journal articles, book chapters and reviews. Her current research projects focus on global health.
DeLaet’s responsibilities as the Baum Chair of Ethics and the Professions include conducting an annual symposium and interacting with organizations in the Des Moines area regarding ethics and values in the professions.