Drake University mourns the loss of former U.S. Congressman and distinguished alumnus Neal E. Smith, LW’50, who passed away on Nov. 2, 2021. Congressman Smith and his wife Bea generously supported Drake University throughout their lives, the impact of which is felt today by Drake University students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Smith was 101 years...
Category: Alumni
Bump Honored with Inaugural Pursel Family Pharmacy Scholarship
Morgan Bump, third-year student pharmacist, was awarded the inaugural Loretta M. and Thomas M. Pursel Sr. Family Pharmacy Scholarship. This scholarship recognizes a third- or fourth-year student pharmacist within Drake University’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (CPHS) who meets one of the following criteria: 1) exhibits leadership experience within a national pharmacy organization, 2) is a military veteran or current member of the military/guard, and/or 3) is a single parent. Bump has exhibited leadership in...
Drake University to hold 150th commencement ceremonies May 14–15 in the Knapp Center
Graduates from the classes of 2020 and 2021 will be honored during six in-person, socially distanced ceremonies Drake University will hold its 150th commencement ceremonies in-person, with appropriate health and safety measures, May 14–15. Originally scheduled to be outdoors, the undergraduate and graduate ceremonies have been moved indoors to the Knapp Center due to forecasted...
Dwana Bradley and Wayne Ford named senior ambassadors for Drake University’s John Dee Bright College
John Dee Bright College at Drake University, a two-year college which will begin classes in fall 2021, today announced the appointment of Drake alumni Dwana Bradley, editor-in-chief of The Urban Experience, and former State Representative Wayne Ford as Bright College senior ambassadors. In this role, Bradley and Ford will work with local businesses and organizations,...
Rescue Dog Myrtle Mae Wins Beautiful Bulldog Contest® presented by Sammons Financial
Rescue dog Myrtle Mae was crowned the overall winner at the 2021 Most Beautiful Bulldog Contest® presented by Sammons Financial at Drake University Sunday, April 18. 2003 Drake Law graduate Whitney Bogdanski of Des Moines started fostering Myrtle Mae from Lucky Bulldogs Rescue in 2020. The family fell in love with her immediately and knew she needed...
A Life of Milestones and an Enduring Legacy
Catherine Williams, LA’61, shaped a brighter future for children and families in Iowa and around the country. Across her career in human services, she established the first foster parent group for children with developmental disabilities, provided the first statewide training program for foster parents, developed the first subsidized adoption program, and implemented Iowa’s first child...
Evans Family Foundation Gift Establishes Scholarship Fund for Boys and Girls Club of Central Iowa Members to Attend Drake University
The Evans Family Charitable Foundation, with long ties to Des Moines and Iowa, has established a scholarship fund at Drake University for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Iowa with an initial gift of $100,000. The Evans Family Charitable Foundation’s annual gifts to Drake University will be utilized to award scholarships to Boys and...
Truth Will Have the Final Word
I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech, Oslo, December 10, 1964 Dear students and colleagues, I was born in December of 1961 during my father’s last year at the University of Kentucky College of Law. After graduation that following...
New way to enjoy Drake University events at home
Tune in to Front Row at Drake every Thursday night to connect and witness the talents of Drake students, faculty, and staff Starved for collegiate sports, music, or art? Drake University is bringing them to you every Thursday night with the new Front Row at Drake series. Tomorrow night, Dec. 3, 2020, the University will...
Drake ranked among top universities in the nation in 2021 U.S. News & World Report ranking
Drake University is one of the nation’s leading universities, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2021 Best Colleges rankings. The 2021 edition of Best Colleges places Drake 124th among 389 of the nation’s most elite private and public doctoral institutions, advancing six spots from last year’s rankings. This is the second year U.S. News...