Drake University

Drake University
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Name	Drake University
Established	1881
Type	Private
President	Marty Martin
City	Des Moines
State	Iowa
Country	United States
Undergrad	3,000+
Postgrad	1,500+
Campus	Urban
Colors	Blue and White
Nickname	Bulldogs

Drake University is a private institution founded in 1881 in Des Moines, Iowa with a liberal arts orientation and professional programs in law, pharmacy, and business. The university is notable for hosting the annual Drake Relays and for connections to regional civic leaders, national politicians, and cultural figures. Drake maintains partnerships with local institutions and national organizations, and its campus integrates historic and modern architecture in the Des Moines River valley.

History

Drake traces origins to the post-Civil War expansion of institutions in Iowa and the American Midwest, influenced by figures associated with Methodism and municipal development in Des Moines, Iowa. Early benefactors and trustees included business leaders tied to Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, Woolworth Corporation, and regional legal networks. During the Progressive Era Drake expanded curricula parallel to reforms advocated by scholars active in Johns Hopkins University and University of Chicago circles. The university weathered the Great Depression and mobilized alumni during both World War I and World War II, with veterans benefiting from provisions similar to those in the G.I. Bill. Mid-20th century campus growth paralleled urban renewal projects in Des Moines, Iowa, with philanthropic gifts from families linked to Principal Financial Group and civic entities. Late 20th and early 21st century initiatives included accreditation processes with bodies akin to the Higher Learning Commission and program expansions reflecting trends at institutions such as Michigan State University and Boston College.

Academics

Drake comprises colleges and schools offering undergraduate and graduate degrees, with law and pharmacy programs paralleling curricula at institutions like Harvard Law School and University of California, San Francisco School of Pharmacy in professional orientation. The law school engages in clinical education, moot court competitions, and placement networks overlapping with judicial circuits that include the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit and state bar associations similar to those in Iowa. Business education features majors in accounting and finance with connections to certification pathways such as those administered by American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and industry partners like Wells Fargo and Principal Financial Group. Research and scholarship span humanities, social sciences, and STEM fields, with faculty publishing in outlets sponsored by organizations like the American Political Science Association, Modern Language Association, and American Chemical Society. Graduate programs emphasize professional practice and public service, paralleling models at Georgetown University and Indiana University Bloomington.

Campus and Facilities

The campus sits near downtown Des Moines, Iowa with buildings that reference architectural movements seen at University of Virginia and Columbia University. Facilities include law school classrooms and clinics, a pharmacy program laboratory comparable to those at Ohio State University and Purdue University, and business school suites equipped for case competitions like those hosted by Harvard Business School and Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. The athletics complex includes stadiums and arenas that host events such as the Drake Relays and concerts analogous to performances at Wells Fargo Arena. Cultural venues on campus support music and theater productions linked to repertory traditions found at New York City Opera and regional theaters like Des Moines Playhouse. Libraries house collections and archives with materials comparable to holdings at State Historical Society of Iowa and special collections that attract scholars researching Midwestern history and law.

Student Life

Student organizations encompass political groups engaging with entities like the Iowa Democratic Party and Republican Party (United States), cultural associations tied to diasporic communities represented by Asian American Journalists Association and National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and professional clubs that network with firms such as KPMG and Deloitte. Greek life includes fraternities and sororities affiliated with national councils similar to the North American Interfraternity Conference and the National Panhellenic Conference. Campus media produce student newspapers and radio programming resonant with outlets like Iowa Public Radio and student press networks akin to the Associated Collegiate Press. Annual traditions build community participation during events comparable to collegiate festivals at Homecoming (United States) and athletic meet days reminiscent of the Penn Relays.

Athletics

Drake fields NCAA Division I teams nicknamed the Bulldogs, competing in conferences akin to the Missouri Valley Conference and facing opponents such as Creighton University, Wichita State University, and University of Northern Iowa. The track and field program rose to national prominence through the Drake Relays, attracting Olympic athletes from nations represented in events like the Olympic Games. Basketball has produced postseason appearances and alumni who played professionally in leagues including the National Basketball Association and overseas competitions governed by FIBA. Facilities support intercollegiate competition, recruiting efforts that intersect with high school circuits like the National Federation of State High School Associations, and fan traditions resembling those at regional rivalries between Iowa State University and University of Iowa.

Notable Alumni and Faculty

Alumni and faculty have included politicians, jurists, business leaders, and cultural figures connected to national institutions: members who served in legislatures comparable to the United States Congress and statehouses, advocates who litigated before courts like the Iowa Supreme Court, and executives who led companies such as Clear Channel Communications and Principal Financial Group. Graduates pursued careers in media at organizations including The New York Times and CNN, in law at firms practicing before the United States Supreme Court, and in public service with roles in administrations akin to those of President of the United States appointees. Faculty have published in journals of the American Historical Association and engaged in research funded by agencies similar to the National Science Foundation and foundations like the Gates Foundation.

Category:Private universities and colleges in Iowa Category:Educational institutions established in 1881