Support

For the ones who offer unrivaled opportunities.

Your support of The Ron and Jane Olson Institute for Public Democracy will aid these key areas:

Talent & Infrastructure 

Investments in faculty, staff, and infrastructure will ensure the Ron and Jane Olson Institute for Public Democracy is a hub for civic leadership and policy innovation and position Drake as one of the leading institutions in the nation for democratic knowledge, practice, and impact. Funding will support:

Director of Ron and Jane Olson Institute for Public Democracy whose knowledge and visionary leadership will create a strong foundation for success.

Practitioners-in-residence to attract leading experts to Drake to infuse new perspectives and knowledge into the Ron and Jane Olson Institute for Public Democracy.

Faculty experts in democratic practice to engaged faculty from fields such as political science, policy, legal studies, and journalism and mass communication to advance the work of the Center and transform learning opportunities for undergraduate students.

Faculty research stipends to position Drake as a thought-leader for democratic practice and bipartisan discourse and provide undergraduate research opportunities.

Community engagement coordinator to assist Public Democracy Scholars in finding and securing applied learning opportunities, including internships and research.

Director of civics education, who will create, disseminate, and administer a first-of-its-kind national curriculum in civil dialogue and civility as well as civics curriculum for K-12 schools.

Staff positions to aid critical functions, including curriculum and professional development, assessment, and partnership with the Council of State Governments.

Renovated spaces to house the Ron and Jane Olson Institute for Public Democracy and to create and improve venues for visiting speakers, candidate appearances, and media events.

Support for innovative collaborations and engagement with campus partners, including The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center, The Harkin Institute for Public Policy and Citizen Engagement, Vote Smart, Drake Law School, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business and Public Administration, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and Cowles Library.

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