Deans’ Corner

Today’s Zimpleman students would want our alumni to learn just how deeply they appreciate the foundation built through their experiences. As our school continues to grow and evolve, it does so on the shoulders of those who have come before. The impact of our Zimpleman alums is woven into the fabric of our current student’s education, from the programs they enjoy to the opportunities available to them. Our students honor the past with gratitude and are inspired by your journey (especially when they walk by our Student Success wall). You continue to motivate them to learn and lead with purpose.

Be positive and open about learning. Opportunities to learn are all around you. Learn from faculty, from staff, from students, from Griff. (From Griff you’ll learn that sometimes you just need to eat some popcorn and take a nap.) Have fun with learning. Experience the joy of learning. Learn with a smile on your face. This moment, right now, is the perfect time to learn.

One of Drake’s greatest strengths is the way students embody adaptability, inclusivity, and passion, continually teaching the community how to grow and evolve. Students bring fresh perspectives, embrace change, and model resilience as they navigate global issues, challenge traditions, and create innovative solutions. Their diverse backgrounds remind us of the power of inclusivity and the importance of listening to multiple perspectives, while their dedication and purpose demonstrate how education extends beyond knowledge to transforming lives and communities. The College of Arts and Sciences is proud to learn from its students and alumni, drawing inspiration from their creativity, drive, and commitment to making a positive impact on the world.

Our current students would tell prior graduates that learning, both in and beyond the Drake University School of Education, is built upon relationships. Here, faculty and staff are united by our mission to prepare, support, and inspire our students to lead and serve in a constantly changing world. And in times of rapid change, what steadies us is the care we extend to each other. Students experience daily how personalized instruction prepares them for success, how the diverse backgrounds and experiences of classmates broaden their field of vision, and how hands-on practice with support from trusted mentors turns theory into action. They learn that the deepest impact comes not from working alone but from growing together. Whether they become teachers, counselors, principals, superintendents, or community leaders, they carry forward a simple truth: growth happens when we are invested in each other’s success.

When I think about what I can learn the most from young people today revolves around technology. At first glance, you might think I am referring to social media and alternative channels to consume new media. While this is certainly true, our workplaces are rapidly changing with the increasing integration of artificial intelligence (AI). Long gone are the days of sifting through paper charts and stacks of journals to find the best solutions for our patients. The effective and efficient workflows and processes I developed in the early days of my career are obsolete. We have lots to learn from the enthusiasm of our students whose curiosity and adaptability allows them to experiment and expeditiously integrate AI tools into their workflows and process. Our students have much to teach us on how to integrate new AI tools into our engrained practices. However, we must understand the strengths and limitations of this rapidly evolving technology to ensure we are not sacrificing convenience for the truth. Regardless of how technology changes, critical thinking has been and will always remain a foundational skill that we instill in our graduates.

One of the special things about Bright College culture is how eager our graduates are to share their wisdom with current and incoming students. Even though our first class graduated only two years ago, our graduates bring loads of experience and wisdom to bear on those conversations. A big takeaway from Bright College—as it would be from any Drake program—is that learning how to learn is as important as what you learn. Cultivating curiosity and creativity, summoning the courage to ask challenging questions, and making self-reflection a daily habit are foundational to professional success and personal formation. Our students learn these lessons early on, refine and reinforce them throughout their time at Drake, carry them forward into their lives and—thankfully—generously bring them back to those who come up behind them.

The law is changing faster than ever—technology, globalization, and shifting societal norms mean we can’t just rely on precedent; we must be creative problem-solvers and leaders. We’ve learned that building genuine relationships—with classmates, professors, and the community—is as important as case law, because the practice of law is built on trust. And finally, through our summer externships and clinical experiences, we’ve seen first-hand that purpose matters: clients, courts, and communities respond to lawyers who bring both skill and integrity to their work.

Looking ahead ten years, Cowles Library will still be a champion of intellectual freedom, standing with public and school libraries to keep ideas and books open and accessible. Most of what we provide will be digital, making it easy for students to connect from anywhere. At the same time, our archives, special collections, and print collection will remain a vital part of campus life—preserving heritage and offering space for reading and reflection. Librarians will be deeply embedded in teaching and research, partnering with faculty on everything from open textbooks to emerging technologies. Above all, we’ll continue preparing students with the critical thinking and information literacy skills they’ll need to thrive in an ever-changing world.