Writer Archives

Niki Gianakaris

Executive Director of Media Relations, University Communications

Niki is the executive director of media relations at Drexel University’s Office of University Communications. Together with a team of four news officers, she oversees media relations at the university and the College of Medicine, with the exception of the Academy of Natural Sciences and Athletics. Niki joined Drexel in 2002 as a staff writer and later became an assistant director of media relations before becoming director in 2010. Prior to Drexel she worked in Rowan University’s Office of University Relations while earning a master’s degree in writing with a specialization in journalism. She also received her bachelor’s degree in communications from Rowan University. Niki blogs for the Drexel News Blog and tweets at @drexelniki.

Contact:

ngianakaris@drexel.edu

215.895.6741

Back to School. Accessories, books and fresh apple against chalkboard

PECO and the Exelon Foundation Renew Commitment to Successful West Philadelphia Education Partnership

PECO and the Exelon Foundation awarded a $300,000 grant to the Drexel Exelon Foundation/PECO Community Education Collaborative – a program that supports and enhances the work of the School District of Philadelphia at the Morton McMichael and Samuel Powel elementary schools in West Philadelphia. The purpose of the program is to improve educational outcomes for local students with a particular focus on STEM education.

Dana and David Dornsife together with Drexel representatives and the Lindy family cut the ribbon.

Drexel Purchases West Philadelphia Community Center to Expand Community Partnerships and Programming

Four years after the Dana and David Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships opened its doors to the Powelton and Mantua communities, Drexel University announced plans to expand the programming offered to the community with the purchase in June 2018 of the West Philadelphia Community Center.

Photo of the 27 members of the Korman family in from of the Korman Center

Drexel Dedicates Transformed Quad and Korman Center Addition

A dedication ceremony on June 6 officially marked the opening of the addition to Drexel’s Korman Center and surrounding “Quad.” Located at the heart of Drexel’s campus, the Korman Center and its surrounding green space have served as a University landmark for decades.

Artwork that depicts golden hand of God and blue star of David

Through These Hands: Loss and Community Inspire Professor’s Judaica Collection

When Chase, a retired Drexel University fashion design professor, heard that Drexel’s Raymond G. Perelman Center for Jewish Life was in need of artwork to accompany its newly donated Torah, she knew the project was meant for her.

Drexel President John Fry and Raj Gupta at an event

With a $5 Million Gift Drexel Establishes the Raj & Kamla Gupta Governance Institute

Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business is once again at the forefront of preparing organization leaders to govern better. With the help of a $5 million gift, the College will establish the Raj & Kamla Gupta Governance Institute.

photo of a woman with back pain at an office desk

If Sitting Is The New Smoking, Should Employers Be Held Liable?

Doctors have warned us for years about the health risks associated with sitting too much. Researchers have linked sitting for long periods of time to a number of health issues, including increased high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat and cholesterol. They also warn that prolonged sitting increases the risk of cardiovascular problems and cancer. What does this mean for organizations whose employees end up sitting for at least eight hours a day? Should they be held liable for harms caused to employees in sedentary workplaces?

Rosalind Remer, founding executive director of the Lenfest Center for Cultural Partnerships.

With $3 Million Gift to Drexel, Lenfest Foundation to Fund Student Co-op Jobs in Cultural Nonprofits

With a $3 million gift to Drexel University, the Lenfest Foundation will fund paid cooperative education jobs for students in the nonprofit cultural sector. In recognition of this generous gift, the University will name its Center for Cultural Partnerships in honor of Gerry and Marguerite Lenfest. The Center was established in 2015 to fortify cultural institutions like museums, libraries and historical societies and make their offerings and experiences more accessible to Drexel students.

Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement to Evaluate Drexel Police

A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will visit Drexel University from July 9-12 to evaluate all aspects of the Drexel University Police Department’s policies and procedures, management, operations and support services.

Team of nurses and doctors in a hospital setting

Study: Empowerment is Key to Better Performing Hospital Employees

For many patients, what helps make their hospital stay a much better experience is the help of a good health care provider at their bedside. But what helps these providers perform better? A recent study showed that feeling empowered goes a long way in dynamic settings like those of hospitals and empowerment can be promoted by creating an environment that encourages proactive behaviors directed toward prioritizing patient care.

Art and Tech Innovator John Maeda to Speak at Drexel Commencement at Citizens Bank Park

Computational design guru John Maeda will address the class of 2017 at Drexel University’s commencement, which will be held on June 13 at 7:30 p.m. Maeda is the global head of Computational Design and Inclusion at Automattic, the parent company of Jetpack, WooCommerce, Longreads, WordPress.com and more. The University-wide ceremony will be held at Citizens Bank Park for the second consecutive year.

photo of Alison Young, Eisenhower Fellow

Drexel’s Alison Young Named Eisenhower Fellow, Will Study Gender Equity of Public Sector in G20 Countries

Drexel University’s Alison Young, executive director of the Institute for Strategic Leadership in the LeBow College of Business, was one of 20 U.S. leaders from government, business and civil society to be selected as a 2017 Eisenhower Fellow. The fellows are some of the leading minds in education policy, consumer protection, agriculture, diplomacy, defense, education, health, media, immigrant integration and public service.

What Do Google Search Queries Reveal About Brand Attitudes?

It has been widely thought that brand search volume — the counts of queries that a search engine receives from users that include specific brand names, like “iPhone” — can predict sales for that brand. Google makes this information available to marketers for free through Google Trends, an application that allows anyone to see how frequently popular brand names are searched, and it has become a valuable tool for marketers. But new research from Drexel University, Brigham Young University and Google shows there is a lot more to consider when looking at the large number of queries that include brand names.