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May 19, 2000 Vol. 52, No. 47

Drake welcomes about 1,000 new alumni

At Drake University's 119th commencement ceremonies at the Drake Knapp Center last weekend, the University welcomed approximately 1,000 graduates to the ranks of Drake alumni and presented two honorary degrees.

Dayton R. Duncan, an author and writer/producer of documentary films who was born and raised in Indianola, Iowa, received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. Marie C. Wilson, GR'80, president of the Ms. Foundation for Women, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree.

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Duncan is the author of six books, including Grass Roots: One Year in the Life of the New Hampshire Presidential Primary, a unique look at presidential politics through the experiences of grass-roots volunteers. He served as chief of staff to New Hampshire Gov. Hugh Gallen, as national deputy press secretary for Walter Mondale in the 1984 presidential campaign and as press secretary to Michael Dukakis in the 1988 campaign. In 1998, President Clinton appointed him chairman of the American Heritage Rivers Advisory Committee, and Secretary of Interior Bruce Babbitt appointed him to the board of directors of the National Parks Foundation.

In addition, Duncan has been involved for many years with the work of documentary filmmaker Ken Burns. He was a consultant on the award-winning public television documentaries "The Civil War," "Baseball" and "Stanton & Anthony" and was co-writer and consulting producer for an award-winning 12-hour series about the history of the American West. He also wrote and co-produced "Lewis & Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery," a four-hour documentary that won the Spur Award and The Wrangler.

Wilson is an activist, author and expert on the issues that affect the lives of women and their families. She earned her bachelor's degree from Vanderbilt University and a master's degree in education from Drake University. She served on the Des Moines City Council and was director of women's programs at Drake, where she pioneered programs utilizing job sharing, flexible work time and career development.

For more than 14 years, Wilson has been president of the Ms. Foundation for Women, which seeks to advance the rights of women and girls. She has been the powerhouse behind many of the foundation's initiatives such as "Take Our Daughters to Work Day," now a national phenomenon. She also is co-founder and president of the White House Project, a non-partisan public awareness effort working to change the American political climate so that qualified women can launch successful campaigns for the U.S. presidency and other key posts.
Dean Troyer to become provost July 1

Ronald Troyer, dean of Drake University's College of Arts and Sciences, will become Drake's next provost July 1, President David Maxwell has announced.

The provost is Drake's chief academic officer. Troyer will succeed interim provost Stephen Hoag, who has served in that role since 1998 and will return to his previous job as dean of Drake's College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

"Dean Troyer brings a number of valuable attributes to the task, including his knowledge of Drake University, his life-long commitment to teaching, learning and scholarship, and his considerable administrative experience," President Maxwell said. "Ron's most compelling asset is his sophisticated understanding of the opportunities Drake has before it. In addition, he is a leader in the national higher education community in the discussion on developing synergies between professional and liberal arts and sciences education."

Troyer has been at Drake since 1980 and has been dean of the College of Arts and Sciences since 1994. He is a professor of sociology who continues to conduct research and publish scholarly works.

He has been president of the Faculty Senate, chaired a task force on enhancing the quality of the freshman experience and has been coordinator of the first-year seminar program. In 1990 he was selected to give the Stalnaker Lecture at Drake and received the college's Centennial Scholar Award. In 1991 Troyer received the College of Arts and Sciences' Outstanding Teacher Award.

"The provost's job is a tremendous challenge. It is an honor to be chosen as the chief academic officer at a university with such an exceptional faculty and dedicated staff," Troyer said. "I look forward to working with the outstanding administrative team that President Maxwell has assembled. My goal is to work with the faculty, administrators, staff and students to help Drake realize its tremendous potential as a leader in private higher education in the United States."

Troyer announced Thursday that Susan Wright, professor of sociology, will become interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, effective July 1. Wright has been a Drake faculty member since 1975.
Drake students win honors in Indianapolis

Thirteen Drake students competed this spring in the Midwest Model European Union Simulation at Indiana University and Purdue University at Indianapolis. They were accompanied by Eleanor Zeff, adjunct associate professor of politics and international relations.

"It was a wonderful experience for all involved," Zeff said. "Our two teams represented Finland and Denmark, and we had two winners on each team."
Drake won first place for Denmark's Environment Minister (Andrew Willems, a junior from Kent, Wash.) and first place for Finland's Foreign Minister (Zach Nunn, a junior from Des Moines).

Drake also took second place for "Best Prime Minister" for Finland (Krista Ferguson, a senior from Columbia, Mo.) and third place for Denmark's Finance Minister (Toby Van Assche, AS'00, of Leuvensesteenweg, Belgium).
President Maxwell to speak at downtown forum on education

On Thursday, May 25, Drake President David Maxwell will speak at a session of "Classrooms to Coffeehouses," a forum and luncheon sponsored by the Downtown Partnership at the Savery Hotel in downtown Des Moines.

President Maxwell and Iowa State University President Martin Jischke will speak at the 10:50 a.m. session titled "Exploring the Cutting Edge: What Other Cities Are Doing."

Former St. Paul Mayor George Latimer will be the luncheon speaker. After lunch, there will be field trips in downtown Des Moines followed by a panel discussion. The cost is $75 for the forum, luncheon and a field trip, or $35 for the luncheon. For reservations and more information, call 243-6625 or visit the partnership's Web site at www.desmoinesdt.com.
New online community connects alumni worldwide

Drake University alumni worldwide may now join drakealumni.net, an interactive online alumni community that helps members to connect with each other, with their alma mater and with a wide range of services. Detailed information on joining the community and on the services it offers can be found by going to Drake's alumni home page, www.drake.edu/alumni, and clicking on the "Alumni Online Community" link.
Volunteers needed for area tour

Drake's Center for International Programs and Services will be the starting point for the annual Drake Historic Home Tour from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 3, and Sunday, June 4.

The tour will start at the International Center. Volunteers are needed to greet visitors and hand out information about the facility. Those who volunteer for a three-hour shift will get a free pass for the tour.

For more information or to volunteer, call Gretchen Olson at x2437.

Advance tickets are on sale for $7.50 at the Drake Diner and the Allligator's Tale bookstore. Tickets will cost $10 the days of the tour.
Person to lead Annual Fund

Peggy Person, alumni and development director for the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, has been named interim director of Drake's annual fund programs.

Person, BN'76, GR'96, will assume this position June 1. She will succeed Dawn Price, who plans to leave Drake May 31 to join Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa.
Sophomores travel to Germany

Three Drake sophomores traveled to Germany this week on an all-expenses paid 10-day trip for 15 United States journalism students sponsored by the Federal Republic of Germany.

The program is designed to acquaint American students with the German news media and with important political and cultural issues in Germany. The students will participate in group projects, reporting on issues of interest to them.
The Drake students are Michael Corey of Eau Claire, Wis., Amanda Lewis of Denver, and Michelle Tolan of Wasilla, Alaska. Corey is a news-editorial major; Lewis and Tolan are broadcast news majors.

They will meet with German editors and broadcasters and political leaders. Their itinerary includes visits in Berlin, Bonn, Potsdam, Weimar, Frankfurt and other cities along with visits to sites of former concentration camps.
Follow choir's tour on the Web

The Drake University Choir gave a free concert shortly before leaving Des Moines Thursday on a 12-day European tour that includes performances in Austria and Italy.

Beginning Monday, May 22, photos and daily accounts of the choir's experiences in Europe will be posted at www.drake.edu/events/choirtour/ on the World Wide Web.



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