Former Mexican President Vicente Fox

Vicente Fox, former president of Mexico, will speak at Drake University’s Knapp Center at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 28, as part of the Martin Bucksbaum Distinguished Lecture Series.

Fox served as president of Mexico from 2000 to 2006. He was the first candidate from an opposition party to be elected president since 1920, upsetting the Institutional Revolutionary Party that had dominated presidential elections for decades.

Bucksbaum Lecture committee members look for a person of national or international stature who has made a range of contributions to society when choosing a speaker.  Fox is an important player on the international stag; in fact, he will visit with Pope Benedict XVI the day before his lecture.

In his talk, Fox will likely draw on the themes of leadership and the future of relations between the United States and Mexico.

During his presidency, Mexico experienced a period of fundamental economic stability. Fox paid special attention to improving trade relations with the United States, calming civil unrest and reducing crime, corruption and drug trafficking.

Fox studied business administration at the Universidad Iberoamericana before studying at Harvard Business School. He then worked his way up in the Mexican unit of the Coca-Cola Company, from route supervisor to head of the company’s Latin American operations.

Fox’s desire to become president stemmed from his belief that Mexico had enormous potential to become one of the world’s leading nations, a conviction he developed growing up on a ranch in the city of Guanajuato. During a period of economic struggle in Mexico during the 1980s, Fox saw the need for new leadership and began his career as a politician. He was elected governor of Guanajuato state in 1995.

Today, Fox travels the globe as a public speaker. In his 2007 book, Revolution of Hope: The Life, Faith and Dreams of a Mexican President, Fox recounts his experience in Mexican politics and the path he took to get there, as well as his perspective on the state of world affairs.

Fox’s lecture will build on Drake University’s tradition of bringing engaging, thought-provoking individuals to Des Moines through the Bucksbaum Lecture Series. “An Evening with Former President of Mexico Vicente Fox” is free and open to the public. The lecture will also be live-streamed on www.drake.edu/bucksbaum.

In their speech, “An Afghan Odyssey: Legal and Media Issues through the Eyes of Two Lawyers Deployed with the Iowa National Guard,” the men offered insight into the complexities of war and litigation that the two encountered during their 2010 deployment with the 2-34th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, “Task Force Red Bulls.”

Kelly served as a brigade judge advocate and conducted comprehensive counter insurgency operations while facilitating competency and credibility of Afghan provincial and district institutions. One of the challenges he faced was doing his job while working with other countries’ forces in order to ensure that international laws were followed.

“It was our mission to make their courts, cops and corrections better,” says Kelly. “We were running training programs for Afghan judges, prosecutors and lawyers, as well as local police.”

Drake alumnus Maj. Mike Wunn in Afghanistan

Wunn, who had previously deployed to Kosovo as well as countries in Central America, Europe and southwest Asia, focused on providing media support and guidance to commanders and soldiers. He worked with the news media to share the story of the deployment by facilitating coverage of pre-deployment activities. Once he was in Afghanistan, he collaborated with Afghan journalists to provide information about security, governance and development efforts.

According to Wunn, one of the key challenges on the job was striking the right balance between obligations to keep the American public informed while using information operations to help improve security among the Afghan people.

“Social media provided opportunities to help keep people informed and allowed soldiers to communicate with people at home, but also presented the challenge of maintaining operational security,” Wunn says.

Working in Afghanistan allowed the two to see the benefits of the United States’ military involvement firsthand.

“The Afghan people have a long road to travel before the government can take care of their people,” says Kelly. “I was impressed at how hard the military and U.S. agencies worked to help them.”

Both Kelly and Wunn found the National Guard through Drake ROTC. They say their experiences at Drake taught them the importance of leadership and gave them the skills to properly to serve their country.

Kelly cites Russell Lovell, professor of law, and participation in Drake Law School’s Public Service Scholarship Program as critical parts of his time at Drake.

“We would have meetings with Professor Lovell about what we could do as Drake Law graduates to promote justice, how to serve as leaders in our communities and ultimately how to respond to the call of public service,” says Kelly.

Kelly saw the National Guard as a way to serve in the military while living in Iowa and maintaining his career as a lawyer.

Wunn says his decision to join the Iowa National Guard came about by being in the right place at the right time. Commissioned as a second lieutenant through Drake ROTC in 1991, his plan was to go into the U.S. Army Reserve as an air defense artillery officer. When a professor suggested he take an opening in a mobile public affairs detachment unit in the National Guard, he immediately changed his plans, favoring the position that would incorporate his journalism background.

Kelly and Wunn returned to their civilian positions after deployment but have new outlooks and opportunities. Wunn was recently selected to serve as an international partnership specialist, coordinating the state’s partnership program with the Republic of Kosovo.

For Kelly, returning to the United States brings the opportunity to put ideas learned in Afghanistan into practice. Mediation, he says, is an approach to problem solving that he now finds more valuable.

“I have found that many times, the parties have the solution to their issues and they are better off spending their time mediating rather than trying to have someone else force an answer,” says Kelly. “Our answers sometimes did not work in Afghanistan because it was not an Afghan solution.”

The two lawyers gave Drake students a sense of the complex problems that exist in Afghanistan and the hard work that is being done to solve them.

“I wanted to share our experience because we should be proud of what our people are doing there,” says Kelly.

“Having Fulbright scholars from Drake is a great reputation booster,” says Eleanor Zeff, associate professor of politics and international relations and director of the Fulbright program at Drake. “These students serve as ambassadors for both Drake and the United States, so people hear about Drake and see that our students are nationally competitive.”

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the United States government and is designed to “increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchange,” according to the preamble of the legislation that created the program. The program awards approximately 1,700 student grants per year, selecting scholars based on the strength of the student’s application and the needs of the country. A GPA of around 3.7 to 4.0 is usually recommended for potential Fulbright Scholars at Drake, although this is not a requirement.

The largest number of students from Drake to receive Fulbright grants in an academic year is three. Zeff says the number of students coming to her for help applying for these grants grows each year.

The 2012 finalists:

•    Amina Kader, international relations major, is a finalist to teach English in Oman.

•    Kate Albrecht, AS’05, GR’11, is a finalist to teach English in Poland.

•    Lindsay Wharton, currently a Rhodes Scholar, is a finalist to pursue her doctorate degree in Finland.

•    Cara Pratt, environmental policy and international relations major, is a finalist to teach English in Brazil.

•    Anna DeVries, politics and international relations major, is a finalist to teach English in Indonesia.

•    Lisa Scott, AS’11, is a finalist to teach English in South Korea.

Many of the finalists have been planning to go abroad after graduation since they began at Drake. Pratt says she heard about the Fulbright program her first year at Drake and planned her education with the goal of receiving a grant.

“I’m lucky to have had students, professors and advisors who have served as my mentors here at Drake,” says Pratt. “Older students paved the way and inspired me to do things I would have never considered otherwise.”

Fulbright grants aren’t the only programs for students wishing to study, teach or work abroad after graduation. Ryan Price, a junior law, politics and society and study of culture and society double major, is currently a finalist for a Truman Scholarship, which provides up to $30,000 in funding to students pursuing graduate degrees in public service fields.

While none of the finalists have been officially accepted to their program, being a finalist in a highly competitive program is special.

“It’s an incredible honor to be selected as a Fulbright finalist,” says Albrecht, who earned her MA in Secondary Eduation from Drake. “Being selected as a finalist is confirmation to me that I chose the right career path.”

Dorothy Pisarski, associate professor of journalism, recently coordinated a J-Term Fair, which allowed students to explore their options, meet instructors and ask questions.

“The January Term will open up new vistas for students,” Pisarski says. “Those staying on campus will be totally immersed in one course, and those traveling as they study will discover learning in new ways.”

In addition to being part of the J-Term Task Force, Pisarski will join Carlyn Crowe, internship coordinator and adjunct instructor for the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, in leading one of seven courses instructed primarily off campus. The immersive course, “International Advertising: Travel Seminar to Poland,” will expose students to differences in the practices of advertising, public relations, graphic design and integrated marketing communications in the Polish cities of Krakow and Warsaw.

Tropical Topics

Professor of Education Tom Westbrook’s J-Term class, “Leadership at Sea,” will also involve navigating as students apply the leadership skills they study in the classroom while they learn to sail, work in teams and experience life at sea. As part of the newly created leadership concentration, this course will take place both in Des Moines and in the Bahamas, onboard the tall mast schooner Liberty Clipper. The trip will also include experience in small craft sailing, kayaking, snorkeling and a service project.

David Courard-Hari, associate professor of environmental science and policy, will lead another international experience. In the “International Environmental Seminar to Ecuador and the Galapagos,” a group of students will investigate the interacting and competing demands of tourism, resource use, economic development and conservation in two tropical South American locales. Each student will spend about 36 total hours on a service-learning project on a topic of their interest. Potential project focuses include invasive species mitigation in parks, work in a health clinic or educational assistance in a local school.

Domestic Opportunities

After extensive work with the Iowa Caucuses and the ABC News Republican presidential debate, Rachel Paine Caufield, associate professor of politics, is looking forward to leading a group of students to Washington, D.C. for “Inside Washington: The Presidential Inauguration.”

“The inauguration is a moment in the life of the country where official Washington meets average, everyday people,” says Paine Caufield, who has attended previous inaugurations. “It’s a real sense of being present at something that has the potential to change the course of the nation.”

Students will spend 11 days in D.C., attending various academic and VIP events, meetings, receptions and, of course, the presidential inauguration.

“My hope is that students will gain a sense of investment in the process that will ultimately stay with them and lead them to want to continue to be involved in government,” Paine Caufield says.

Students who would rather reside in Des Moines during the three-week January Term have the chance to enroll in “Theories of Myth and Archetypes: Harry Potter and the Golden Fleece,” taught by Elizabeth Robertson, associate professor of English. The course, however, will cover more than the generation’s favorite wizard; students will be introduced to various theories of myth and archetypes as they seek to explore narratives of creation, of the hero and of the divine child. While studying J.K. Rowling’s novels, they will examine Harry as one of a set of modern characters whose adventures are full of recognizable and ancient motifs.

“The Harry Potter books offer a rich field for the study of a range of concepts, from the ancient science of alchemy to modern societal concerns about difference and discrimination,” Robertson says.

In addition to these exciting options, students can also study education in Ghana, urban poverty in New York City, the major pedagogies of arts education in Switzerland and Charles Dickens’ life in London. In Des Moines, professors will be leading courses focusing on subjects like robot programming, jazz music and Middle Eastern film.

To find more information about these classes and the many others that will be part of the inaugural 2013 January Term, visit the Drake website.

With so many activities to partake in, the Office of Alumni Relations created a one-stop shop for Relays attendees: www.drake.edu/relays. This website has it all: event schedules, ticket information, photos, accommodation listings and more. This should be your first stop when planning a Relays weekend to remember.

A variety of events bring together alumni, community members and students to celebrate the Drake Relays. The week kicks off with the Relays Parade, a chance for student and community organizations to help celebrate Relays week with a colorful float. The much-anticipated Beautiful Bulldog Contest is next on April 23. Pups large and small will strut their stuff in the hopes of donning the crown and cape and sitting on the throne reserved for the best looking pooch of the bunch. Next up is the Grand Blue Mile on April 24 — no matter your skill level, hit the pavement and join some of the world’s best runners for a quick jog. Wednesday will be a whirlwind day, complete with Downtown Street Painting and Pole Vault at the Mall at Jordan Creek Town Center. Finally, more advanced runners can take part in the Drake Relays On-the-Roads 8K and half-marathon on April 28.

Several events just for alumni will take place during Relays week as well. The 40-Year Reunion — celebrating the class of ’72 — and African American Reunion will kick off on Friday, April 27 and continue through April 29. The 10-Year Reunion and All Greek Reunion will take place on Saturday. The All Greek Reunion may be one of the largest affinity reunions ever, with more than 2,000 alumni expected to return to campus.

Throughout the Relays, the Office of Alumni and Development will have a tent set up directly across from Drake Stadium near Herriott Circle, a new addition this year thanks to Liberty Mutual. Alumni can stop by to update their information and reconnect with the University and old friends.

Along with visiting www.drake.edu/relays, “like” the Drake Relays Facebook page and follow us on Twitter @drakerelays for up-to-date information, fun contests and photos from all Relays events.

The third annual Downtown Street Painting, scheduled from noon to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, allows business, nonprofit and community organizations to celebrate the Drake Relays and join the fun.

Downtown Street Painting is a clean affair — a marked departure from its on-campus counterpart, where many students end up with more paint on themselves than on their designated squares along Carpenter Avenue. But the community spirit is every bit as high on Court Avenue as it is on Drake’s own painted street.

How it works: Businesses, nonprofit and community organizations paint a 4-foot by 4-foot square on the sidewalk along Court Avenue, incorporating the theme of “America’s Athletic Classic. Where the games begin.” The square remains painted and will be viewed by the hundreds of thousands of people who visit Court Avenue throughout the year.

What it offers: Community exposure, team building and an easy and affordable way to show your support for the community and for the Drake Relays. And a free t-shirt! (The judges’ favorite square also receives the fame of being featured on Drake’s alumni website, www.alumni.drake.edu.)

Who’s welcome: Anyone is welcome to purchase a square (although square space is limited), and the public is invited to watch local artists at work. Beautiful Bulldogs are also invited and have been known to swing by.

What it costs: $250 for businesses, $150 for nonprofit and community organizations. There is no charge for watching the festivities.

Visit this Flickr gallery for photos from past years. Groups can register online or by mail.

If you have questions about the event, please contact Jessica Berger, jessica.berger@drake.edu, 515-271-3935. For logistical questions (design, supplies, etc.) please contact Joy Giudicessi, joy.giudicessi@drake.edu, 515-271-2769.

About Relays Week: Visit drake.edu/relays for comprehensive information about Relays Week, April 21–29. Become a fan of Drake Relays on Facebook. Follow @DrakeRelays on and use hashtag #DrakeRelays on Twitter to track conversations about this year’s Relays Week.

Whether it’s the length of basketball shorts or the landscape of campus, part of the fun of our monthly old-school photos is to show you how much things at Drake have changed. This month, we feature a Drake mainstay — and not much has changed but her hairstyle.

Wanda Everage, vice provost for student affairs and academic excellence, will retire in May after 24 years serving Drake University. That’s on top of her time as a student; Wanda graduated from Drake in 1972. Although she gave her last “Wake Up With Wanda” speech during Welcome Weekend in the fall, she is finishing the year strong: She will speak to alumnae in Minneapolis and will be featured at several events on campus.

Join us in the Cowles Library Reading Room on Saturday, April 28 from 9:30¬–11 a.m. (over Relays weekend) as we wish her well on her next chapter. Please bring a memento (letter, picture, collage, music CD) to add to a special memory box at the reception. Not able to attend? You can send something ahead of time to Kinne Center, Attn: Liz Tesar, 2507 University Ave., Des Moines, IA 50311.

Share your own memories of Drake days gone by in the comments section. Browse electronic editions of The Quax and other historical resources in The Drake Heritage Collections on the Cowles Library website.

Mark Becker was convicted of killing Aplington-Parkersburg football coach Ed Thomas in 2009. A jury found Becker guilty of first-degree murder, and he was sentenced to life in prison — despite his plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. The Supreme Court agreed to hear oral arguments in Becker’s appeal in December 2011.

Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Cady speaks at the 2011 Supreme Court Celebration

Students will observe a second oral argument after the Becker case, this one involving medical malpractice. Arguments will begin at 9:00 a.m. in Sheslow Auditorium and will be followed by a question and answer session with the justices. The oral arguments will be live-streamed here.

“Supreme Court Week gives us a chance to honor the justices for their outstanding work to educate our students about the legal profession,” said Allan Vestal, dean of the Drake Law School. “I am not aware of any other law school that has the level of engagement from the judiciary that we see from the Iowa Supreme Court.”

The Supreme Court Celebration is held annually to honor the Iowa Supreme Court for its commitment to justice and legal education and to recognize achievements by students, faculty, alumni and friends. This week’s events and others the Court supports during the year help law students become more familiar with appellate court procedure and their role in the justice system.

The Supreme Court Celebration banquet on March 31 is the culmination of the three-day event. The banquet is a longstanding tradition at Drake Law School that honors Drake’s relationship with the Iowa courts and legal community.

In addition, the final round of student arguments in the Supreme Court Competition will take place at the Iowa Judicial Branch Building on March 31. Each year, outstanding advocates in the law school compete in the Supreme Court Competition for the honor of being one of four students to present final arguments to the Iowa Supreme Court. The competition is based upon a real case, using an actual record that at one time was pending before the Iowa Supreme Court, thus giving competitors a realistic experience.

Other Supreme Court Celebration events include the Drake Journal of Agricultural Law Dinner on March 29, the Drake Law Review Dinner on March 30 and the Drake Moot Court luncheon on March 31. For more information click here.

“The College is committed to developing pharmacists who are dedicated to serving their clients, patients, profession and community,” says Raylene Rospond, dean of the college. “The health fair is a wonderful example of the service that can help members of our community live happier and healthier lives.”

CPHS students offered free health screenings, including blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol and bone density tests. Grip strength tests and flexibility screenings were also available. A total of 87 students administered 352 screenings to 71 patients.

Spike gets a checkup at the CPHS Health and Wellness Fair

But patients weren’t the only ones reaping rewards from the event.

“Students are learning how to properly conduct preventative health screenings, counsel on the results of those screenings and send patients in the right direction to improve their well-being,” says Brian Wall, a pharmacy student and member of the fair organizing committee. “Having direct patient contact with members of the community reinforces what is learned in the classroom and improves the skills needed to interact with their future patients.”

The 2012 fair included an exhibition area for student organizations to display poster presentations and provide information. Topics at the booths covered proper drug disposal, over-the-counter medication safety, acetaminophen safety, immunizations and poison prevention. The area also featured a local chiropractic clinic offering free spinal scans.

Participants and passersby were also treated to a surprise: The Psi chapter of Phi Delta Chi at CPHS staged a flash mob. The dance — performed to the tune of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” with revised lyrics — aimed to promote awareness about the possibly dangerous combination of over-the-counter medications. Click here to watch a video of the performance.

“In the end, patients gained critical information on their health and well-being and have hopefully become more active in improving their own health,” says Wall.

Hemmings first developed the idea when she attended the Public Relations Society of America International Conference in October 2010. When she couldn’t stop thinking about it, she approached Carlyn Crowe, adjunct professor of journalism, about starting a student-run agency. 515PR was born. It became an official student group in fall 2011.

The group is set up as a full-service agency, offering graphic design, social media and media relations assistance. All those skills are being put to use for their first client, United Way of Central Iowa. The agency recently made a pitch to promote the nonprofit’s campaign against illiteracy. Students conducted research, brainstormed tactics, created a strategy and proposal and will implement the campaign.

Tallgrass Grocery Co-op in West Des Moines is the agency’s newest client. The students will soon launch a brand awareness campaign for the store.

Students are gaining real-world experience on campus while simultaneously learning about the public relations industry. This well-rounded experience — which includes creating budgets and timelines and addressing legal matters — is valuable as students move toward graduation and job hunting.

“A student-run PR agency gives a new dimension to the types of professional experiences that students can acquire while in school,” says Crowe, 515PR’s faculty advisor. “While we already have students working in internships, as well as working with clients in capstone classes and through Public Relations Student Society of America, the agency allows them to be in charge and requires a new level of responsibility and accountability.”

Collaboration is a key component in the success of the agency both within the agency and SJMC, as well as with outside organizations. Students initiated a partnership with Strategic America, a full-service integrated marketing firm in West Des Moines, which is already paying dividends. Strategic America worked with the students to find clients and has been helping them with the process of creating plans for their clients. In fact, the group’s two main contacts at Strategic America are Drake alumni Katie Popp, JO’05, and Jim Davis, BN’11.

Members range from sophomores to seniors, creating a great chance for the younger students to learn from their more experienced peers. Hemmings says this mentor/mentee relationship is an important part of how the agency operates.

“I put a lot of thought into how it would run and who would be involved,” says Hemmings. “I don’t want this to end when I leave.”