A Tradition of Leadership
Throughout its history, Grinnell has emphasized the importance of human rights and social progress, and encouraged the discussion of the public policies affecting both. Grinnell was a center of abolitionist activity in the 1850s and one of the first colleges in the nation to admit women to the bachelor of arts degree. In the post-Civil War years, Grinnell was the focal point of the Midwestern Social Gospel Movement that produced major administrators of the New Deal, such as Harry Hopkins ’12, Chester Davis ’11, Hallie Flanagan Davis ’11, Florence Kerr ’12, and Paul Appleby ’13—all Grinnell alumni who turned the ideals of a social movement into political action. In more recent times, Grinnell has continued to combine academic excellence and social action. Each new generation of alums has produced leaders in a wide variety of fields from economic development, to medical research, to public policy, to diplomacy—many of whom visit campus to inspire current students. Grinnell also has a tradition of hosting on campus prominent political leaders including Harry S. Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, Hubert Humphrey, Barry Goldwater, Julian Bond, Jon Lewis, Madeline Albright, and a slew of presidential candidates. Since 2011, the college also awards the Grinnell Young Innovator for Social Justice Prize on an annual basis.
A Tradition of Excellence
In the spirit of this tradition, the Grinnell College Board of Trustees established in 1979 the Rosenfield Program in Public Affairs, International Relations, and Human Rights. The program, supported by a $1 million endowment, honors the Rosenfield family-who have been state and national leaders in promoting responsible and progressive action in all three of the program's areas. The program is a particular tribute to former college trustee Joe Rosenfield '25, one of the most generous college supporters and imaginative planners in Grinnell history.
A Commitment to the Tradition
In the spirit of this tradition, the Grinnell College Board of Trustees in 1979 established the Rosenfield Program in Public Affairs, International Relations, and Human Rights. The program, supported by a $1 million endowment, honors the Rosenfield family—Iowa and national leaders in promoting responsible and progressive action in all three of these program areas. The program is a particular tribute to Grinnell alumnus and trustee Joseph Rosenfield ’25, one of the most generous supporters and imaginative planners in Grinnell history. The Rosenfield Program plans a wide array of co-curricular activities that enrich the academic environment at Grinnell. The program brings distinguished figures from around the world to Grinnell College to expose students to important current issues and funds students to pursue internships that apply what they learn on campus about public affairs, international relations, and human rights. The Rosenfield Program connects the Grinnell campus to on-going developments in public affairs and helps to prepare future leaders.
Bringing Distinguished Leaders to Campus
The Rosenfield Program’s most visible role is to sponsor campus visits by distinguished scholars, public servants, and political and social commentators. These visits usually include a public lecture, meetings with classes, and range of opportunities for individual interaction with students. The Rosenfield Program has sponsored visits by more than 400 lecturers, including:
Retired diplomat George Kennan Author and terrorism expert Jane Mayer Former Senators Bob Dole, George Mitchell, and Paul Simon Former Soviet Foreign Minister Alexander Bessmertnyk Chilean writer Ariel Dorfman Members of the Madres de Plaza de Mayo Carmen Lapacó and Maria Adela Antokoletz Leader of the United Farm Workers Cesar Chavez Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Nicholas Kristof, Tony Horwitz, David Shipler, and David Shribman Distinguished historians Lynn Hunt, Mae Ngai, James McCann, and Donald Worster Former West German Finance Minister Hans Apel Human Rights experts Carroll Bogert, Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na’im, and Jack Donnelly Former President of the UK Social Democratic Party Shirley Williams Former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara Security experts Greg Thielmann ’72, Lawrence Korb, and Janne Nollen Former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop President of the ACLU Nadine Strossen NPR Counterterrorism Correspondent Dina Temple-Raston Founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center Morris Dees
Stimulating Discussion Through Symposia
For over 25 years the Rosenfield Program has sponsored conferences and symposia. Typically, the program hosts four multi-day symposia each year, featuring lectures, panel discussions, films, and opportunities for individual interaction with students. Recent symposia titles include: • "Trends in Islam" • "Rights and the Environment" • "The Rise of China" • "Global Pharmaceuticals" • "The Media: Change and Challenges" • “Poverty” • “Beyond the Cold War: The World since 1989” • “Corn Belts: Iowa and International Agriculture” • “U.S. Immigration Policy” • “Women, Politics, and Leadership for the 21st Century”
Program Organization
The program’s director, Sarah J. Purcell ’92, Associate Professor of History, holds a B.A. from Grinnell and an A.M. and Ph.D. from Brown University. She joined the faculty of Grinnell in 2000 after teaching at Central Michigan University. She has been director of the Rosenfield Program since fall 2008, but her Rosenfield involvement stretches back over 20 years when she served as a student committee member, faculty committee member, and assistant director of the program. The Rosenfield Program Committee assists in planning the year’s events and managing the program. The committee is composed of the Director, seven faculty members, seven students, and the Program Associate, Laureen Van Wyk. For the 2011-12 school year, the Rosenfield Planning Committee consists of:
Faculty Members
Sarah Purcell, Director
- Lesley Delmenico
- Vance Byrd
- Rebecca Hamlin
- Ed Cohn
- Jacob Willig-Onwuachi
Student Members
- Claire Griffith '12
- Morgan Bober '12
- Wadazanai Motzi '12
- Dana Utroske '13
- Tom Van Heeke '12
- Cynthia Wu '12
- Colleen Osborne '13
- Umeed Chowdhury '12
If you would like to receive emails abuot Rosenfield events, you can join our announcement list by sending an email to join-rosenfield@lyris.grinnell.edu
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