Drake University Vice President and Dean of Students Jerry Parker announced on LinkedIn March 1 that he will temporarily relocate to Panama this August to oversee the launch of Drake’s first international campus.
“I am relocating to Panama to launch our campus located in Ciudad del Saber where we will offer programs in Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence,” Parker said in an email. “This will be an eleven-month appointment with me still retaining my title with a return to Drake in July of 2027.”
Parker framed the move as part of Drake’s broader mission to prepare students for global engagement.
“Drake University is truly living out its mission by preparing our students to become responsible global citizens,” Parker wrote. “By the fall of 2027, Drake University will stand up its first international campus in Panama at Ciudad del Saber.”
Last year, Drake began exploring a partnership with Ciudad del Saber, or the City of Knowledge, a former U.S. military base that has been transformed into a government-supported hub for academic institutions and technology companies. Drake has previously sent J-Term cohorts to the campus, and University leaders identified it as a strong location for expanded international collaborations.
Rather than building its own campus, Drake leaders discussed the possibility of creating a dual-degree program similar to the University’s partnership in Qingdao, China.
Parker said he is excited to oversee the launch of the new campus as Drake expands its transnational education initiatives.
