• American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP), 1994-present
  • Council of Deans Immediate Past Chair, 2022-2023; Chair, 2021-2022; Chair-Elect, 2020-2021
  • Strategic Planning Committee, 2022-2023, 2020-2021
  • Investment Committee, 2022-2023
  • Finance Committee, 2015-2016, 2018-2019
  • AACP Leadership Fellows Program - Dean Facilitator, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, 2018-19
  • Student Services Committee Chair, 2016-2017
  • Administrative Services Chair, 2013-2014
  • Leadership SIG Executive Comm & Leadership Toolkit Committee Chair, 2012-2015
    PharmCAS Advisory Panel
  • PharmCAS Conduct Committee
  • Student Services SIG, 1993-present
• Impaired Monitoring for Pharmacy Professionals Program (IMP3), 2017-present
• Iowa Pharmacy Association
  • President, 2010-2011, Board of Trustees Chairperson, 2011-12
  • Foundation Board Member 2012-present
  • PNI, Inc. 2011-2019
• NCAA and Missouri Valley Conference
  • President 2013-14, 2003-04
    
    

UNIVERSITY SERVICE:

• Council of Deans, 2015-2024
• Dean's Search Committees,
  • School of Journalism - 2021-2022
  • School of Education - 2019-2020
  • College of Arts & Sciences - 2017-18
  • College of Business & Public Administration - 2016-2017
  • Law School - 2015-16

• STEM@Drake Steering Committee, 2015-2018
• Faculty Athletic Representative: NCAA, Missouri Valley Conference, 2000-2016
• Intercollegiate Athletic Council, Chair 2000-2010
• Council of Administrative and Academic Departments, 1993-2015
• Faculty Senate, 2011-2013, 2014-2015
• Graduate & Professional Studies Council, 2008-2016
• Council on Leadership Development, 2007-2015

COLLEGE SERVICE:

• College Administrative Committee, 1993-2024
• Academic Affairs Committee, 2003-2015
• Advisor, Drake Pharmacy (Rx) Unified Group of Students (DRxUGS), 2000-2016
• Advisor, Pharmacy & Health Sciences Day Committee, 1993-2016

HONORS AND AWARDS:

• AACP James Robertson, Jr. Leadership Excellence in Student Services Award, 2018
• AACP Sustained Contribution to Administrative Practice in Pharmacy Education Award, 2018
• Lambda Kappa Sigma Vanguard Leadership Award, 2014
• Drake University True Blue Award, 2014
• CPHS Mentor of the Year, 2011
• Granberg Leadership Award, 2010
• Phi Lambda Sigma/Rho Chi Appreciation Award, 2008, 2014
• Drake Spirit Award, 2009
• Hartig Faculty Development Award, 2009
• Phi Delta Chi Honorary Brother
• Pharmacy Mentor of the Year, 2001
• College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Alumni Achievement Award, 2001

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY:

Being able to positively impact another person is one of life’s greatest rewards. The opportunity to do this was one of the main reasons that I chose pharmacy as a career as well as one of the reasons that I entered into an academic career more than fifteen years ago. The opportunity to assist and influence students and pharmacy practitioners in their development has been a rewarding experience and continues to be a source of motivation for me as a faculty member.

Through these experiences, I have come to believe that my role as an educator is to be a facilitator of learning and a mentor of professional and personal development. A number of beliefs about the educational process have formed my teaching philosophy. The following list enumerates these thoughts on learning and their application to my facilitation and mentoring:
1) People don’t care what you know until they know that you care.
2) Independent and continuous learning is an important lifelong skill.
3) Reflection on learning activities helps students become empowered as learners.
4) Active learning experiences need to be explained to students so that they understand the connection between the activity and the desired outcome.
5) Students entering college today don’t just appreciate technology – they expect it.

I have been fortunate to be exposed to a variety of instructors and mentors in the past who have positively influenced my viewpoints. It is my hope that those characteristics and skills that I have developed and use are beneficial to the students that I have and will come in contact within our pharmacy program.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:

Interim Dean and Professor of Pharmacy Practice, Drake University College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, 2015-16

Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs and Professor of Pharmacy Practice,Drake University College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, 2004-2015

Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and Assistant Professor of Pharmacy, Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, June 1998 – 2004

Director of Student Services and Instructor of Pharmacy, Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences November 1993-May 1998

Pharmaceutical Representative, Eli Lilly and Company: July 1985- Nov. 1993

RESEARCH PROJECTS IN PROGRESS:

• Comparison of Strengths-Finder results in various populations of students
• The Impact of Leadership Programs

OTHER AREAS OF INTEREST IN RESEARCH:

• Professionalization of Students
• Effectiveness of Diabetes Education Programs
• Predictability of Admission Criteria

Currently Accepting Student Researchers?  YES

LATEST PRESENTATIONS, PROJECTS, AND PUBLICATIONS:

Chesnut, R., White, A., Finch, C. Leadership Success Programming:  Administrative Identity Formation: Executive Presence.  AACP Interim Meeting, Orlando, FL, 2023. 

Chesnut, R., Anderson, G., Bunder, O., Dietrich, M., Rosenberg, J., Prerequisite Courses: Barriers to Pharmacy Admission or the Keys to Student Success?  American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education,  Feb. 2022, 8920; DOI 10.5688/ajpe8920   https://www.ajpe.org/content/early/2022/02/13/ajpe8920.

Chesnut, R., Irma Lirma Rangel Texas A&M College of Pharmacy White Coat Ceremony Keynote Speaker, Corpus Christi, TX, Oct. 2021.

Chesnut, R., Trygstad T., Experiential Learning Directors Keynote Presentation Q&A (moderator). ACT/AACP Community Pharmacy Practice Transformation Workshop, Nov. 2020. 

Chesnut, R., Trygstad T. CEO Dean’s Keynote Presentation Q&A (moderator). ACT/AACP Community Pharmacy Practice Transformation Workshop, Nov. 2020.

Chesnut, R., Leadership in Turbulent Times, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Administrative Services Section. Webinar. Presented on April 30, 2020.

Chesnut R., Moving the Profession Forward through Strategic Partnerships, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, San Juan, PR, Feb. 2020.