Our Speakers | Drake University

Bill Burnett

Conference Keynote Speaker

Bill Burnett is the Executive Director of the Design Program at Stanford. He directs the undergraduate and graduate program in design at Stanford, both interdepartmental programs between the Mechanical Engineering department and the Art department. He earned his BS and MS in Product Design at Stanford and has worked professionally on a wide variety of projects ranging from award-winning Apple PowerBooks to the original Hasbro Star Wars action figures. He holds a number of mechanical and design patents, and design awards for a variety of products including the first “slate” computer. In addition to his duties at Stanford, he is a on the Board of VOZ (pronounced “VAWS – it means voice in Spanish) a social responsible high fashion startup and advises several Internet start-up companies. He is the author, along with Dave Evans, of Designing Your Life and Designing Your New Work Life.

Neil Ward, MFA

Conference Breakout Speaker

Neil Ward is an Associate Professor of Graphic Design at Drake University and enjoys teaching interactive design (including user experience, HTML and CSS, and app design), human-centered design (including the history behind it), design thinking, and foundational design courses. He has been principle of Neil O. Ward Graphic Design, since 2006, and has worked as a staff designer in marketing agencies pursuing a wide range of design projects. Neil’s professional experience includes print, publication, corporate identity, and interactive design.

Leslie Jackson, OTD, MEd, OT/L, FAOTA

Conference Breakout Speaker

Dr. Leslie Jackson is the program director and chairperson of Drake's occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) program. She is an occupational therapist with over 40 years' experience working with clients in a variety of settings, including in communities. She has taught occupational therapy students' strategies to engage people where they live, work and play and provided hands-on opportunities to understand the impact of their efforts. Dr. Jackson is currently the Drake Slay Fellow for Social Justice in which she is facilitating the refinement of CEL resources to support authentic community engagement that focuses attention on how we work in and with different communities, rather than relying on "what's in it for Drake." 

Corey Lewis

Conference Breakout Speaker

As a dedicated healthcare professional with a passion for helping patients achieve their optimal level of health, I have extensive experience in the field of primary care and chronic disease management. Currently, I am a member of the Primary Care Clinic care team at Broadlawns Medical Center a Federally Qualified Health Center in Des Moines, IA, where I serve as a Clinical Health Coach., In this role, I effectively communicate with people from diverse cultural backgrounds and adapt my coaching style and approach to meet the unique needs of each patient. The community I serve inspired me to create The Healthy Project, a public health media company that focuses on topics related to health equity, prevention, health disparities, and social determinants of health. The podcast has been ranked in the top 200 U.S. medical podcasts and holds conversations with healthcare professionals and thought leaders from all over the world and listened to in 68 countries/territories and 993 cities. After seeing the need for more health equity conversation in my community, I created My City My Health, a health equity conference that addresses cultural competence and awareness in healthcare, mental health, prevention, and community collaboration.

Annique Kiel, MA

Conference Breakout Speaker

Annique Kiel is the executive director of global engagement and international programs at Drake University. As the senior international officer, Kiel oversees the strategy for global engagement and plays a key role in ensuring the infusion of global and intercultural learning throughout the Drake experience. As part of her role, she oversees the Office of Global Engagement which houses education abroad, international student recruitment, international student and scholar services, global partnerships, and a center and an institute focused on global capacity and perspective-building for the Drake community. Over the course of her career in international education, Kiel has presented at several regional, national, and international conferences on topics ranging from strategic international partnerships to study abroad program design. Kiel has developed expertise in leading intercultural competency trainings and regularly conducts classes and workshops domestically and internationally in this area. She is also active in the field of international education outside of her role at Drake, serving on several national and international boards, as well as on a local board of directors for CultureALL, a Des Moines-based non-profit organization providing cultural programming. Kiel received her B.A. in International Studies and French from Central College (IA) and her M.A. in French Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she was named an Honorary Fellow in 2012.

Bernie Frazier, SPHR

Conference Breakout Speaker

Author of the book, “Your Success is in YOU!: Empowering and Equipping You to Create Your Best Career Ever!”, Bernie Frazier, SPHR is also a speaker, career coach/strategist, talent acquisition expert, and the President of CAREERCompass, LLC, a speaking and career coaching/strategy firm. Bernie has shared her expertise as keynote speaker for numerous businesses and organizations, including Wells Fargo, Cisco, Emerson, Peabody Energy, Centene, Ameren, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, Mercy Health, Drake University, and National Association of Workforce Development Professionals to name a few. She has coached clients globally from C-Suite executives to individual contributors regarding career development and the fine art of job search effectiveness. Bernie also served as the “Career Coach” on KSDK’s Today in St. Louis - the St. Louis NBC affiliate, shared timeless job search tips on SiriusXM and KTRS 550 AM radio in St. Louis, been featured in the New York Times, profiled in the St. Louis Business Journal, and is a contributing writer for Thrive Global.

Amanda Martin, M.Ed. 

Conference Breakout Speaker

Amanda Martin is the Assistant Director of Community Engaged Learning at Drake. She works with students to get them connected to the local community and helps them build the skills and knowledge to be changemakers in the world. Amanda is an AmeriCorps VISTA alum, having served two years at the Volunteer Center of Story County in Ames, IA. She also worked for the AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) prior coming to Drake, and has led AmeriCorps programs at Drake. Outside of work, Amanda is an active Toastmaster and raises funds annually for the Alzheimer’s Association.