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Alumni News
There is no one who loves Drake University more than Paul Morrison, LA'39. He has a heart that virtually beats for Drake, he served a long career at Drake, and he continues to work for Drake on a volunteer basis each and every day. Drake would not be the same without him or his family's presence. He calls his family the "Morrison tribe." Four generations of Morrisons will have passed through Drake by the end of this year, making Drake a 100-year family tradition. Morrison's legacy at Drake has been honored with the dedication of the Paul F. Morrison Relays Lecture to the Morrison Room in the Bell Athletics Center. The "Morrison tribe" was founded in 1902 when Morrison's parents, Marion, LA'06, and Leonta, LA'06, entered Drake. Morrison and two of his five siblings, Emily, LA'43, and Leonta, LA'53, attended Drake in the 1940s and 50s. He met his wife, Pauline, who completed her degree in 1989, at Drake during the mid-1930s. The Drake tradition continued with Morrison daughters, Jenine, LA'62, Mary, LA'73 and Holly, LA'76, all of whom were active in athletics and extracurricular activities around campus. Mary Lee, LA'69 and Thomas C. Nelson, LA'65, a niece and nephew of Morrison, also received their degrees from Drake. And the "Morrison tribe" marches on with Phil Longman, Morrison's grand-nephew, who will enter Drake this fall -- exactly 100 years after Paul Morrison's parents. For 67 years, Morrison has remained one of the most active and dedicated people on campus. As a student he worked at the Times Delphic office. After graduation, Morrison returned to Drake and started his first post-graduate job as director of the news bureau. Always an active supporter of Bulldog athletics, he will see his 572nd Drake football game this year. Although Morrison retired in July 1987, he returned the following day and has volunteered 40 hours a week (or more!) for the past 15 years. He volunteers in various ways around campus, but his main interest lies in rediscovering the lost years of Drake women's athletics. Morrison, who says his fondest memories are meeting his wife and watching his family grow up at Drake, sums up his Drake experience in one sentence, "Drake is a great place to come home to." And, at Drake, we're grateful that Paul Morrison comes home every day. Meaghan Simpson is a 2002 public relations graduate. Digging her duties Alumna does good deeds in Peace Corps
By Jane R. Burns, JO'83 If you look at a map of Jamaica, you see how the roads head from the coast to the mountains and suddenly end as if they drop off in the middle of nowhere. One particular road heads from Port Antonio, once the stomping grounds of Hollywood elite, and heads into the Blue Mountains and the John Crow Mountains. To go 15 miles takes two hours, crossing treacherous passes with names like Friday or See Me No More while winding through tiny villages that are a world away from the coastal tourist resorts with names like Couples or Hedonism Laura Berdan, LA'00, lived at the end of that road for two years as a member of the Peace Corps. Berdan was a water and sanitation adviser, living in a village called Mill Bank. There's a quick and easy description of her assignment, but it hardly sums up what she did in two years. "People joke and say, 'Oh, you're in Jamaica digging latrines,'" Berdan said. "That's just such a small part of it.'' In fact, the Peace Corps volunteer doesn't do any digging at all. Part of Berdan's work also involved writing grants to secure financing for the districts' needs. The residents who get the latrines are doing much of the work; in their impoverished area, it's the only contribution they can make. "It's difficult because sometimes the people don't have the means,'' she said. The Japanese Embassy is funding the grant under which Berdan worked, to build 90 latrines in three districts in the country. Currently, some neighbors share latrines; the goal is to have each household with its own. The challenges in the community go beyond latrines. In the nearby town of Comfort Castle, a new school had finally opened so the children didn't have to travel so far. It didn't last long; last September, an arsonist set the school on fire. "The community had been working for years to get a school. The finally got it, it was wonderful, and then it burned down,'' she said. Berdan worked with getting volunteers to take down the burned parts of the school and bleach and scrub parts that remained. She also worked to get books donated for the school. The work with the school wasn't in her Peace Corps job description, but is an essential part of a Peace Corps assignment. "You work on what they want you to work on,'' she said of the communities. The Jamaica in which Berdan lived is one that most tourists don't even realize is there. The average annual income in Jamaica is approximately $3,500. A bumpy road to visitors is the same road the locals talk about having had recent improvements that make it better than it's been in ages. Villagers wander around carrying machetes to grab food -- bananas, breadfruit, guava, coconuts -- or to clear a path through the fertile area that might have been passable just days earlier. It's more rainforest than sandy beach. To grab a quick drink, it's just as common to whack the top off a coconut as it is to twist the top off a Red Stripe. This is the life to which Berdan had to become accustomed -- living in a room in a three-room house she shared with a villager, bathing in the nearby Rio Grande, picking up a lilting patois (e.g., informal regional language or jargon) or heading to the city to do work and being treated like a tourist. Yet there's no mistaking the beauty of the place. Berdan first arrived in the dark and only had the bumps and curves of the road, and the crossing of a bridge that would challenge Indiana Jones, to give her a sense of the local geography. "I woke up in the morning, opened the curtains and saw the John Crow Mountains,'' she said. "It was beautiful.'' Berdan returned to her native Minnesota in July to begin postgraduate studies. Jane Burns, JO'83, is a copy editor at the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Alumni vital in student recruitment efforts Drake graduates play an important role in recruiting prospective students. By speaking first-hand about the many ways Drake provides a high-quality education and prepares graduates for the world after college, alumni can promote Drake in a way no professional recruiter can. Alumni are walking billboards of exactly how far a Drake education can take someone. And, since admission counselors aren't able to be everywhere at once, alumni are extremely important in recruiting new students from around the country and around the world. Join the Drake recruitment effort
Request a prospective student
referral form from the Office of Alumni and Parent Programs if you know high school
sophomores, juniors, or seniors who plan to go to college. By filling out the information
and returning the card to Drake, students will receive a contact and more information.
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 Chicago retirees keep connectedChicago area alumni gather outside the Mornton Arboretum in Lisle, IL after a retired alumni luncheon. They are, from left, Charles Dianis, BN'56, Mary Dianis, Bruce Swanson, ED'64, Edward Davis, BN'57, Carol Trojonowski, Hildy Fishlore, Beatrice Sorderegger, FA'56, John Sorderegger, BN'57, Howard Fishlore, FA'57, Robert Bersin, JO'50, Doris (Herman) Bersin, LA'52, Raymond Prosperi, JO'48, and Michael Rito, BN'50. |
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On the job on Capitol Hill by Rachel Ballweg
Lose Drake graduate Susan Neely's direct dial work number and you're forced to call the main switchboard. But you might be caught off-guard by the receptionist's greeting: "White House." Neely's employer is the United States of America, and her boss is President George W. Bush Neely, GR'89, is a special assistant to the President and senior director of communications in the Office of Homeland Security. Few people get the opportunity to work in the White House and have an effect on national policy regarding national security. But it's all in a days work for Neely, who began working in politics as part of Congressman Jim Leach's staff following graduation from college. She went on to work with Gov. Terry Branstad and has worked with Gov. Tom Ridge in the Office of Homeland Security since its formation in September. While working for Governor Branstad, Neely pursued her MPA at Drake. A relentless pace and a prime parking space "Working in the White House is exhilarating, demanding, relentless, and a privilege," said Neely. "It's exhilarating because I'm doing something for the country. And doing it at this level is very exciting. If you like working on public policy, there is no more relevant place to do so. The White House is probably the most sophisticated policy, political, and public relations operation in the world." With a plaque on her wall reading "Commissioned Officer for the President," a terrific view of the Washington Monument and the magnolia trees on the White House lawn, Neely enjoys what she calls "substantive" perks. "When we need to be filled in on various issues, we get to work with the best minds in the country, the experts in those issues," said Neely. "You can learn a lot from that. My job is also very relevant. My work really affects people's lives. Walking into a meeting in the West Wing and working with people who are top in the country in each branch of the public and private sectors is also a perk." "On the fun side," added Neely, "I've had a chance to fly on Air Force One, which is a very nice way to travel! I accompanied the President and Governor Ridge to Charlotte, NC, for a community roundtable discussion about how that city is dealing locally with security issues; and then we flew to a first-responders meeting in New York City." "I also have a great parking space!" laughed Neely. Tight security and a bomb-sniffing dog Despite the perks, there is a catch. Neely must arrive at work half an hour early just to get through all the extra White House security. And as a mother of two young children, adding 30 minutes to her schedule can make for a hectic day. "To get into the White House complex, staff pass through a lot of security. Probably even more since Sept. 11," explained Neely. "You show your pass to multiple Secret Service agents. Your car is checked by a bomb-sniffing dog. (This process is affectionately referred to as 'canining'). And, your car passes through several physical barriers." Once in her office, Neely reads multiple newspapers, electronic news clips and emails from the previous night before heading off to her daily 7:45 a.m. meeting for senior Homeland Security staff. This is followed by an 8:30 a.m. communications staff meeting with the president's senior communications staff, where they review the agenda, major speeches, events, and messages for the week. "The rest of the day varies," said Neely. "My staff and I field media calls from all over the world. We develop speeches and events to help explain homeland security policy to the public. We have policy discussions with all branches of the government and agencies on a whole range of homeland security issues from smallpox vaccine, to drivers' license standards, to security at nuclear power plants. I also speak to various public groups. It's helpful to listen to the public's questions and concerns about homeland security. We're trying to get to know the people we need to work with in other federal agencies, learn what their needs are and determine how we can all work together." Although the pace of her job is demanding, Neely said her schedule has improved considerably since the weeks immediately after the terrorist attacks. "Governor Ridge reminded us that we're in this for the long haul and need to reserve some energy," said Neely. "The President and Governor Ridge set a brisk pace. We're always mindful that another attack could happen at anytime, so we're working against the clock, trying to keep the country secure at all times. Time is against us." Yet, Neely loves her job. "Everyday I feel like I'm doing something that makes a difference in people's lives," exclaims Neely. "To do this kind of public service, to work in the White House, this job is like the Super Bowl for public affairs people." Art imitating life Neely's larger-than-life job contributed to what she describes as one of her strangest and proudest moments as a White House staff member. "NBC came to the White House to tape 'The Real West Wing,' a news special with Tom Brokaw," said Neely. "All of the West Wing was lit for TV. Everywhere you went there were TV lights and cameras following you. It felt like I was in a theater production. It was a very surreal moment. Art imitating life or at least trying to capture it on film." "Probably my proudest moment on the job was during the President's State of the Union address," said Neely. "Having him refer to the Office of Homeland Security and listening to his speech knowing that I had some small input on that speech felt great. It was a great speech too; bold policy and very emotional. It pulled at a lot of people's heartstrings." Working on Capital Hill runs in the family: Neely's husband works for the U.S. Department of Justice as chief of international training and development, where he provides training and support to governments in developing countries that are trying to establish a more democratic process. He works with prosecutors and former law enforcement officers to run training seminars and provide know-how so governments can create their own programs and infrastructure. Neely credits her Drake MPA with helping her get where she is today. "Getting my MPA at Drake was a very important part of my career. It allowed me to flesh out greater substance and theoretical understanding of how policy is worked out and implemented through the government process," said Neely. "The MPA helped me pull my experience together. I had good professional experience working in government at the federal and state level, but, I needed to add more knowledge and skill to my practical experience. Classes in budgeting, intergovernmental relations, statistics, marketing, and management were incredibly helpful. My MPA helped me think as a manager which was key to achieving this ultimate career goal." |
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