Forget Punxsutawney Phil, next Monday, Feb. 2, as the nation turns its eyes to Pennsylvania for Groundhog Day, Drake University is launching a spirited new tradition with the inaugural “Griff-Hog Day.” Students, alumni, and fans will gather at Drake Stadium to hear the Griff-Hog’s exclusive prediction on whether the 116th Drake Relays will see clear skies and warm...
Drake University is pleased to announce the selection of Joseph M. Valenzano III as the University’s next provost. Valenzano, an accomplished academic leader and communication scholar, currently serves as the Dean of the College of Communication at Butler University. He will officially begin his duties at Drake on July 1, 2026, upon the planned retirement...
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...
The Drake University Occupational Therapy Department had a substantial presence at this year’s Iowa Occupational Therapy Association (IOTA) Conference, which took place on November 1, 2025, in Des Moines. Current Drake Pre-Occupational Therapy and Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) students, as well as faculty and alumni, gathered at this event, which brought together OT professionals from...
The Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences will award its highest honor, the Lawrence C. and Delores M. Weaver Medal of Honor, to Drake pharmacy alumnus, James (Jim) De Muth, PH’70. Jim will deliver the Weaver Medal Lecture during the 2026 Drake Relays week on Wednesday, April 22, as a part of the...
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...
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....
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...
Drake University was ranked the top private school in Iowa for the third year in a row by The Wall Street Journal’s 2026 College Pulse Rankings. The University ranked #2 among all Iowa institutions and was among the top 200 in the U.S. of more than 580 ranked institutions. This recognition comes just one week...
C. Boyd Granberg, Professor Emeritus and former Dean of Drake University’s College of Pharmacy (now the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences), passed away on August 31, 2025. He was 104 years old. During his lifespan, Granberg dedicated 34 years to Drake University, serving as a pharmacy faculty member from 1950 to 1977 and then...