Lectureship Committee

When the Lectureship was established, a committee was appointed to oversee it. Current Lectureship Committee members include:

• Neil Hamilton, Dwight D. Opperman Chair of Law | Committee Chair
• Mary Bucksbaum Scanlan
• James Autry
• Pamela Bass-Bookey
• Michael Gartner
• Janis Ruan
• Marcia Wanamaker
• Eleanor Zeff

History

When the Lectureship Series was first established, the initial Lectureship Committee appointed by President Michael Ferrari included:

• Melva Bucksbaum
• Mary Bucksbaum, daughter of Martin and Melva Bucksbaum
• Jim Autry, poet, consultant, and retired executive of the Meredith Corporation
• David Hurd, former CEO of the Principal Financial Group
• Charles Johnson, Chairman and CEO (retired) of Pioneer HiBred International
• David Kruidenier, former publisher of the Des Moines Register and a member of the Cowles family
• Lorraine May, a Des Moines attorney
• Neil Hamilton, Ellis and Nelle Levitt Professor of Law and Director of the Agricultural Law Center
• Susann Siebke, formerly the Director of the Drake Business Center
• Robert Woodward, Ellis and Nelle Levitt Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Myron Marty, the Ann G. and Sigurd E. Anderson University Professor, has been the chair of the committee and coordinator of the lectures since its inception. He was assisted by Susann Siebke until his retirement in 2001. Beginning with the lecture in March 2000 by Marian Wright Edelman, administrative support has been provided by Rod Henshaw, dean of Cowles Library, and Susan Breakenridge, special assistant to the dean.

Charlotte Hubbell also served on the initial committee but resigned when her family moved to the Netherlands.

Contact Us

For more information, contact Erica Hartschen, Assistant to the Vice President for University Advancement, at 515-271-4990 or erica.hartschen@drake.edu.