For the third consecutive year, students at Drake University’s Zimpleman College of Business rated the College as a Level 4 ‘Transforming School’ in the 2025 Positive Impact Rating (PIR) survey. This distinction places the College in the second-highest tier of business schools worldwide for its perceived positive societal contributions.
The Zimpleman College of Business is one of only seven business schools in the United States to achieve a Level 4 rating. The international survey provides business schools with insight into their students’ perspectives on the school’s efforts toward positive societal impact.
“To receive this recognition for a third straight year is a powerful affirmation of our commitment to embedding societal impact into the core of our educational mission,” said Alanah Mitchell, dean of the Zimpleman College of Business. “This consistent rating from our students demonstrates that our vision to serve as a force for good is not just a vision statement, but a lived reality within our classrooms and community engagement. I am incredibly proud of our entire college community for their shared commitment to shaping the next generation of responsible and impactful business leaders.”
Student leadership has been central to the college’s efforts. Allie Koenigsfeld, the Zimpleman College of Business’ Societal Impact Student Assistant, was selected to be a co-presenter at the global announcement of the PIR results during the 2025 UN Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) Global Forum in New York.
“Representing the Zimpleman College of Business in New York was an honor,” said Koenigsfeld. “Schools across the globe were amazed at the involvement of students at Drake and were inspired by our passion for societal impact. Student voices will shape the future success of the Zimpleman College of Business, and I am happy to be a small part of an incredible impact.”
Leaders of the Zimpleman College of Business have received significant international attention. In both 2024 and 2025, Zimpleman was highlighted as a featured case study by the PIR for its innovative approaches to societal impact. Furthermore, Assistant Dean of Strategic Initiatives for the Zimpleman College of Business, Danette Kenne, and Koenigsfeld were invited to lead a breakout session at the 2025 PRME Global Forum in New York, sharing the college’s strategies with an international audience of business school leaders.
The PIR is a unique rating created by students, for students, to assess how they perceive their school’s positive impact on the world. The 2025 edition saw a record engagement of 17,167 student responses from 86 business schools in 30 countries. The rating is based on 20 questions across seven dimensions: governance and culture, programs, learning methods, student support, institution as a role model, and public engagement.