Our news section is dedicated to sharing pertinent information about these key issue areas, stories about individuals affiliated with and affected by policies in these areas, as well as news about The Harkin Institute itself.
The Harkin Institute selects Craig Owens as new Executive Director
The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement and Drake University are proud to announce that Craig Owens will serve as the next Executive Director of The Harkin Institute. As Executive Director, Owens will advance the Institute's work of delivering...
read moreSeptember 17 | Roadmaps to Retirement 2025: Global Lessons and Paths Ahead
Event Information Date: Wednesday, September 17, 2025 Time: 1:00 - 3:30 p.m. Networking lunch from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Location: Tom and Ruth Harkin Center (2800 University Ave., Des Moines, IA 50311) Zoom Livestream* *A Zoom link will be sent to virtual attendees...
read moreOur Water, Our Future: A Look at the Central Iowa Water Quality Report – Additional Resources
Our Water, Our Future: A Look at the Central Iowa Water Quality Report was the first official presentation of findings from the Central Iowa Source Water Research Assessment (CISWRA) report—a groundbreaking scientific study that provides the most comprehensive...
read moreJuly 30 | Digging Into Disability Data: Making DisabilityStatistics.org Work For You
Event Information Date: Wednesday, July 30, 2025 Time: 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. CT Location: Zoom (a link will be sent to registrants closer to the day of the event) Cost: Free, but registration is required via Eventbrite Accommodations: Live-captioning (CART) in English...
read moreAugust 4 | Our Water, Our Future: A Look at the Central Iowa Water Quality Report
Event Information Date: Monday, August 4, 2025 Time: 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Location: Sheslow Auditorium at Drake University (2507 University Avenue, Des Moines, IA, 50311) YouTube Livestream* *Those who register to attend virtually will receive a YouTube link closer to the...
read moreJuly 16 | Unveiling Ceremony and Panel Discussion
Event Information Date: Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Time: 3:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. - Unveiling Ceremony 3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. - Panel Discussion *The building will be open for self-guided tours from 12:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Location: Tom and Ruth Harkin Center (2800...
read moreRead our new briefs on school wellness standards and policies
Read our new briefs on school wellness standards and policies by our Graduate Research Assistant Aubrey Kohl School Wellness Practices to Combat Diet-Related Diseases Diet-related diseases such as obesity are a threat to the health and well-being of...
read moreJune 9 | Workplace Accessibility Roundtable
Event Information Date: Monday, June 9, 2025 Time: 5:00–7:00 p.m. CT Location: Tom and Ruth Harkin Center (2800 University Ave., Des Moines, IA 50310) Virtual Livestream Cost: Free, but registration is required. Accommodations: American Sign Language and...
read moreMay 22 | Long-Term Care Policy Options Webinar
Webinar Information Date: Thursday, May 22, 2025 Time: 2:00–3:00 p.m. CT Location: Zoom Webinar (link will be sent to attendees closer to the event) Cost: Free, but registration is required. Accommodations: Live-captioning in English will be provided for attendees....
read moreTom and Ruth Harkin Center Achieves Gold Rating for Accessibility from Rick Hansen Foundation
The Tom and Ruth Harkin Center, home of The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, has achieved Gold Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility CertificationTM, becoming the second building, following La...
read moreMedia and Communications Contact:
Kathryn Kuckelman
kathryn.kuckelman@drake.edu
515-271-1895
The Harkin Institute serves as resource not only for information on Sen. Tom Harkin’s career, but also for valuable insight and expertise on the policy issues to which he devoted his career, including wellness and nutrition, retirement security, labor and employment, and people with disabilities.
Address: 2800 University Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50311
Phone: (515) 271-3623
Email: harkininstitute@drake.edu
Office Hours: Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.