Commitment to Diversity

Dean Matthew "Matt" Powell was born into a family with modest means but a strong commitment to higher education. He was one of three children born in three years, so the full-tuition scholarship he received to Drake Law School was "a big help."

"I am aware someone had to give the funds that made my scholarship possible," says Powell, LA'71, GR'74, LW'74.

Powell spent the majority of his legal career working for the federal government. He retired as the assistant general counsel for the National Science Foundation.

"My well-rounded Drake education was helpful in tackling new areas of law and policy, collaborating with PhDs and lawyers, many of whom came from the Ivy League," he says.

Powell says he was the only student he knew of with a physical disability when he attended Drake Law. He remains concerned about diversity within the legal profession, which is why he and his wife, Elizabeth, have made multiple leadership gifts to support the Dean M. and Elizabeth M. Powell Diversity Scholarship in the Law School.

"Unfortunately, underrepresented folks are the least likely to have the resources to finance a law school education," he says. "We support the benefits greater diversity can bring to Drake, the Law School experience, the legal profession, and the public access to diverse well-trained lawyers."

You can make a lasting difference for future Drake students. To learn how you can make gifts like the Powells have, contact John Amato at 515-271-2849 or john.amato@drake.edu.