Johansen Student Center
Discover the Johansen Student Center at Drake University—a vibrant home for Drake's 150+ student organizations, collaboration, events, and community gathering.
Johansen Student Center
Designed for Connection
Located in the former Morehouse Residence Hall, the Johansen Student Center reflects Drake’s commitment to student engagement and an inclusive community. The thoughtfully renovated space blends the building’s historic character with modern amenities to support how students learn, lead, and connect outside the classroom.
The center serves as a launch point for student ideas, collaboration, and campus involvement—offering flexible environments that adapt to the needs of individuals, organizations, and the broader Drake community.
“For almost 100 years, these walls have served as a place of community amongst our student body. Now the building will continue that legacy by providing a dedicated space for students to build relationships, hone leadership skills, collaborate with community partners, and get plugged into the causes and issues they care about for generations of Drake students to come.”
2025 Student Body President
Location, Offices, and Spaces
Spanning four floors and 40,000 square feet, the Johansen Student Center features a range of dedicated spaces for study, collaboration, and leadership development, including:
Drake's first dedicated space celebrating diversity and inclusion through student-focused programming, which spans 2,700 square feet on the ground floor. The Sammons Intercultural Center includes:
- Den and study space
- Living room and lounge space
- Sammons Intercultural Kitchen
- Sammons Plaza, an exterior extension of the space.
Originally built as the dining hall for Morehouse, the hall is set up daily as a community workspace, but quickly transforms to a 170-person ballroom hosting events from community craft fairs, student activity celebrations, and alumni events.
In addition to study spaces and community lounges, the first floor housed a number of student support offices and interdisciplinary academic institutes.
The Jay N. Darling Institute works to create partnerships between Drake and the people of rural communities to help bolster the economic, social, and cultural vibrancy of rural America.
The Ron and Jane Olson Institute for Public Democracy
Home of the Public Democracy Scholars Program, the Ron and Jane Olson Institute for Public Democracy—positions Drake as the school of choice for politically minded high school students. The four-year program prepares students to be civic leaders through dedicated coursework and immersive engagement.
Student Service Center
The Student Services Center (SSC) serves as an information hub for visitors to Johansen Student Center and a valuable resource for all registered student organizations. SSC's primary services include:
- Drake ID
- Bulldog Bucks
- Key and Door Access
- Parking Pass Services
- Student Payroll/Accounting
The second floor of Johansen Student Center is alive with student organizations, workspaces, and advanced conference spaces designed to enhance collaboration. Student Senate and Student Activities Board support a vast number of student organizations and events that enhance the vibrant life on campus outside of the classroom.
Adams Leadership Institute (ALI)
The Donald V. Adams Leadership Institute (ALI) is a leadership development program offered to undergraduate students at Drake University. Incoming students who apply and are admitted to the Institute gain exclusive access to personalized leadership training, skill development, and "adulting" preparation to enhance their personal, academic, and professional lives.
The top floor of the Johansen Student Center houses the Kinne Center, home to the Alumni Advancement and Records offices.
Available to student groups and committee meetings, the Ernst Boardroom boasts a technologically advanced boardroom space with full recording of video and audio, with enhanced virtual meeting capabilities for larger groups.
Scripps Lounge and Meeting Room on the south end and J.W. Roberts Digital Hub to the north, expand student spaces for study and meeting after hours.