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News Professor Parsa receives Fulbright Scholar grant Rahul A. Parsa, professor of statistics at Drake, has been awarded a Fulbright Scholar grant to lecture and conduct research at the University of Natal, South Africa, during the 2003-04 academic year, according to the United States Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. Parsa will conduct research in the area of data confidentiality/perturbation and also study the methodologies used to collect public health data. "I am honored to receive this award," Parsa said. "It provides me an opportunity to do research and teach in South Africa while gaining a deeper understanding of the local culture and heritage. In addition, it provides me the opportunity to represent Drake University and to interact with faculty and students from a different country. I am thankful to Drake University for providing me the opportunity to be a Fulbright Scholar." Recipients of Fulbright Scholar awards are selected on the basis of academic or professional achievement and because they have demonstrated extraordinary leadership potential in their fields. Parsa is one of approximately 800 U.S. faculty and professionals who will travel abroad to some 140 countries for the 2003-04 academic year through the Fulbright Scholar Program. Established in 1946, the program aims to build mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries. Professor Honts receives top state award for science teachers Jerry Honts, associate professor of biology at Drake, received the Distinguished Iowa Science Teaching Award at the 115th annual meeting of the Iowa Academy of Science. "This award usually goes to faculty members at research institutions such as the University of Iowa and Iowa State University," said Don Stratton, the Ellis and Nelle Levitt professor of physiology and professor of biology at Drake. "It's quite an honor to have a Drake faculty member receive this award." The award was established to acknowledge, honor and promote exceptional and innovative teaching of undergraduate science at an Iowa college or university. Eligible disciplines include all sciences, mathematics and the science-based technical disciplines. Since Honts joined Drake in 1995, he has developed and offered 11 new courses and is an advocate and practitioner of inquiry-based learning. "It has been my goal to expose Drake students to the cutting edge of research in molecular and cellular biology," Honts said. "My success in this regard can be attributed to being able to teach in an environment that is conducive to pedagogical development and innovation." Scholarship program, campus visits, new technology drive admission numbers This was a landmark year in Drake's Office of Admission. The total number of applications for admission was the largest in more than 25 years, and the entering first-year class is the largest in 10 years. The new first-year students are academically strong and come from 31 states and countries.  Drake's National Alumni Scholarship program also had a banner year. A total of
256 high school students competed for National Alumni Scholarships - a record
high for the program, which provides full-tuition and full-ride scholarships
to highly accomplished high school students wishing to attend Drake.Drake continues to embrace technology in its student recruitment strategy. Drake's new admission Web site, targeting prospective undergraduate students, went live in March. The site allows users to customize their Web experience in order to receive information pertinent to their specific interests and to share information with the Office of Admission so that Drake can better tailor its contact with the students. Since its launch, www.choose.drake.edu has had 2,000 users personalize the site. Drake also is boosting the number of online chat events it hosts for prospects and parents. The events, which were launched last year, are run by Drake admission staff and involve a series of separate chat rooms where students can discuss specific topics, including college search, academics and student life. Overall, there was a heightened interest in Drake at every event this past year, from Alumni Home Receptions to campus visits. Campus visit programs, which are an important factor in a prospective student's college decision-making process, continue to be well attended and win favorable comments from students and parents alike. Drake recently participated in the fifth annual Iowa Private College Week program. This year Drake had more than 500 registrations for the program, which was an increase over last year. Judging by the current inquiry pool, things look bright for next year as well. The pool is bigger and reservations for campus visits are already on the rise. Willey named vice president for institutional advancement
"We set very high standards for our next vice president of institutional advancement, and we're excited we have found someone who exceeds our expectations," President Maxwell said. "John has significant experience in all of the areas that are critical to a successful advancement operation. He has the background, expertise, and interpersonal skills to make a major contribution to the senior administrative leadership of the institution. He's a perfect match for Drake University." At Ohio Northern, a university with an enrollment of 3,300 students in Ada, Ohio, Willey led fundraising to two record years, with gift totals at least 30 percent above the previous 10-year average. He also secured the largest capital commitment in Ohio Northern's history for a new building to house the College of Business Administration. "I am excited about joining Drake and moving to Des Moines with my wife, Barbara." Willey said. "We look forward to playing an active role not only in the life of Drake University but the life of Des Moines and other central Iowa communities." Willey, 55, who was raised in southern Georgia, has family roots in Iowa. His father was born and raised in Pocahontas County, and his grandfather resided in both Carroll and Pocahontas counties. Prior to joining Ohio Northern University, Willey was vice president for institutional advancement at Lyon College in Batesville, Ark., and vice president for college relations at Alverno College in Milwaukee. He also has served as vice president for capital resources at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. Willey, who spent two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in South Korea, holds a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Georgia, a master's degree in history from Vanderbilt University and a master's degree with a focus on nonprofit management and educational policy analysis from Columbia University. Presidential historian visits campus, musician to follow
Pulitzer Prize-winning composer and musician Wynton Marsalis will give the next Martin Bucksbaum lecture. Marsalis, who has garnered nine Grammy Awards, is the first jazz musician to win the Pulitzer Prize in music. He received the prize for his epic oratorio on the subject of slavery, "Blood in the Fields." He serves as artistic director of the internationally recognized Jazz at Lincoln Center Program, which includes the popular Marsalis' Jazz for Young People series. Since his debut album was released in 1982, Marsalis' numerous jazz and classical recordings have sold nearly 5 million copies worldwide. He has taken his jazz groups to 30 countries on six continents and is the author of Sweet Swing Blues on the Road, an in-depth chronicle of his touring life. In 1996 Time magazine named Marsalis one of America's 25 most influential people. Marsalis will give a lecture titled "Leadership: The Creative Process" at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22 in the Drake Knapp Center, then perform a concert with the Wynton Marsalis Septet. Both events are free and open to the public. For information, phone 515-271-3994. Edwards named dean of College of Business  Charles C. Edwards Jr., dean of Drake's School of Journalism and Mass Communication,
has been named dean of the College of Business and Public Administration and
has begun serving as dean of both academic units.Edwards, who joined Drake in 2002, is former publisher and president of The Des Moines Register, which won three Pulitzer Prizes and was named the best of Gannett's 97 daily newspapers three times during Edwards' tenure. He also served on Drake's governing board for 13 years, including chairman of the Academic Affairs Committee. "The dual appointment was made for two primary reasons," said Drake Provost Ron Troyer. "First, Charlie Edwards has demonstrated a remarkable talent for handling complex tasks in both the private sector and at Drake University. He has been outstanding as dean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication and he has the ability to assume both deanships. Second, there are a number of synergies emerging between the two academic units, which are even developing a joint graduate program. "As dean of both units, Charlie Edwards will be able to further develop connections and collaborations," Troyer added. "These emerging synergies present new opportunities for securing external resources to provide enhanced support for faculty and programs and develop innovative strategies for competing in the marketplace for both academic units." |
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