Beautiful Bulldog Contest Judges

Gary, BN'72 & Melissa Porter

Gary and Melissa Porter have been generous in their support of Drake, endowing scholarships, sponsoring a room in the Johansen Student Center and contributing to recent renovations at Olmsted. While Gary is a Drake alum, Melissa is a Bulldog by marriage. After starting his career at Deloitte in Denver, Gary received MBA and PhD degrees from the University of Colorado where he met fellow business major Melissa. She earned her marketing degree from CU and enjoyed a 32-year career with IBM in global sales and business development. Gary’s teaching career included appointments at several universities, and his textbooks have been leaders in the field of introductory accounting education. Gary is currently Distinguished Lecturer at Drake where he is a member of the National Advisory Council for the Zimpleman College of Business. Melissa utilizes her sales and marketing skills in support of Gary’s books. Those include Griff: My Life as Drake’s Top Dog, a book about the school’s loveable live mascot and most recently Little Rex: A Night at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. Melissa also serves as a fundraiser and marketing consultant for several non-profit organizations in the couple’s Hudson, Wisconsin community.

Lindsey Burrell

Lindsey Burrell joined the WHO13 team in January of 2023 as an evening Anchor/Reporter. Although born and raised in South Carolina, Lindsey is no stranger to the Midwest. Prior to moving to Des Moines, she worked in Rapid City, South Dakota as a main anchor and reporter for KOTA Territory News and Black Hills FOX News. Lindsey's no stranger to pageants, as she competed in the Miss America Organization, receiving first runner-up to Miss South Carolina in 2021. As an avid dog lover and proud Chihuahua owner of her baby, Pearl, Lindsey is thrilled to hang with the big dogs today in judging the Beautiful Bulldog Contest.

Sue Mattison

Sue Joseph Mattison, Ph.D., has served as Provost of Drake University since 2016, leading seven academic colleges and schools, two libraries, and key areas including equity and inclusion, institutional research, online and continuing education, grants and compliance, the registrar, academic quality, and student success. A first-generation college graduate, she earned degrees from the University of Northern Iowa and a Ph.D. in epidemiology from the University of Iowa. She has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in epidemiology, statistics, and human diseases, and her widely published research focuses on cancer epidemiology, particularly racial disparities in breast cancer treatment and outcomes, with recognition in The New York Times. She volunteers with organizations supporting environmental causes, immigrants and refugees, and women reentering society. At the end of June, she will step down from her role as provost, return to the faculty for a one-year sabbatical, and collaborate with the Harkin Institute on research related to Iowa’s high cancer rates.

Ben Mardis, AS'19 - At Large Judge Contestant Winner

Ben Mardis is a pediatric physical therapist and proud 2019 graduate of Drake University. He is a dedicated professional with a deep-rooted connection to the Bulldog community. As a generational alum—following in the footsteps of his grandparents, parents, and alongside his sister—Drake has played a meaningful role in both his personal and professional journey. During his time on campus, he had the unique opportunity to serve as one of the first student handlers for Griff I with Drake Admissions on Fridays. It was at Drake where he met some of his closest friends, as well as his future wife, making the experience even more special.

Trinity Houston, Student Judge Contest Winner

Trinity Houston is a senior at Drake University studying international business and marketing, with a minor in management. Originally from Savannah, Georgia, she has been deeply involved on campus as a student ambassador, Crew Scholar, and Adams Leadership student. Trinity is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity. A passionate dog lover, she enjoys visiting the farmers market to meet new furry friends. Trinity is proud to be part of the Drake community and is excited to serve as a judge for the Beautiful Bulldog Contest.