The College of Business and Public Administration at Drake University announced Wednesday that it has been awarded a four-year, $1 million grant from the David J. Noble Foundation to ensure that the Noble Center at the business school continues to be a state-of-the art learning space and to provide new resources that will open more doors to opportunity for deserving students. Noble, the late founder of American Equity Investment Life Insurance Co., died in 2017. “David Noble’s strong values and commitment to Drake University have provided a valuable foundation for the Noble Center that has empowered our students to become subject matter experts and ethical, inclusive leaders,” said Alejandro Hernandez, dean of the College of Business and Public Administration. “We appreciate the Noble family’s continued support as we seek to enhance student learning through the Noble Center and through new scholarship programs made possible by this generous gift.” The grant will support the resources at the Noble Center — including industry-standard Bloomberg Terminal workstations and other high-value data subscription services. Funds are also dedicated to the installation of next-generation hybrid meeting technology to enable concurrent in-person and virtual engagements. The gift will also support the recently announced College of Business and Public Administration Dean Team initiative, which offers a select group of top-tier business school students an all-inclusive Drake experience including regular meetings with the dean, tailored leadership development, visits to local employer sites, and networking with business professionals.