The John Dee Bright College at Drake University is entering a new chapter of leadership. Founding dean Craig Owens concluded his tenure Sept. 12, transitioning to Executive Director at The Harkin Institute. Megan Brown, associate dean, began serving as dean designate Sept. 15. Pending approval by the Board of Trustees in October, Brown is set to assume the role in full, marking the next chapter for the college.
Evolution is rarely linear or one size fits all; more often, it’s shaped by unexpected twists and turns. That same spirit of growth defines the Bright College, a program built to “do college different.” Offering a two-year associate’s degree rooted in interdisciplinary learning and collaboration, the Bright College is less about where students begin and more about where they want to go. From its conception, faculty, staff, community partners and students have worked together to shape that vision.
Over their years at Drake, Brown and Owens have often shared spaces to collaborate: sometimes in individual courses, other times across entire programs.
“We have a way of working together where our strengths complement each other and where our individual weaknesses are shored up by the strengths of the other. So I think it’s been a hugely rewarding relationship over these past 18, 19 years,” Owens said.
At its core, Bright College values accessibility and affordability, ensuring that every student has the tools to succeed not only within the classroom but far beyond Meredith Hall, the college’s home base. Prior to his departure from the program, students reflected on Owens’ impact on their own lives.
For Princess Winters, the Bright College student senator, Owens was her first contact and introduction. They met at the beginning of her journey at Bright College to create a roadmap of the next two years.
“I went to Howard Hall, and he was in this picturesque setting, he was sitting in a chair, and he was reading The Times Delphic…legs crossed, and it was just so surreal,” Winters said. “Him and I just talked about my trajectory and what I wanted to do and my career. And I knew immediately that [Bright College] is something I wanted to do.”
Her meeting with Owens reflected the kind of support Bright College emphasizes, where students learn to connect their academic interests with real-world challenges across multiple disciplines.
“At the foundation of the curriculum is the notion that life, real life, is interdisciplinary,” Owens said. “There is no period of your day out in the real world that is the chemistry period of your day. There’s no one-and-a-half or two-hour segment of your day that’s the mathematics segment of your day, and then the sociology segment… It all blends together.”
During his time at Bright College and at Drake, Owens fostered connections with colleagues, such as Brown, laying the foundations of collaboration in his own life. The time Owens spent pouring into the school and people that will it, will not be an impact easily forgotten.
“Craig has the creativity and seemingly boundless energy needed to work through challenges, as well as the ability to connect with people and make sure that they feel seen and heard,” Brown said in an email. “I am sure that he will excel at motivating the Harkin team, connecting with stakeholders both locally and nationwide, and—most importantly—honoring Tom and Ruth Harkin’s legacy of citizen engagement and providing all Americans with access to opportunities.”
