Wilson Center Courses

Courses Tailored Toward Leadership and Innovation

The Wilson Center sponsors courses that complement the existing curriculum of majors and concentrations, as well as provides course offerings in areas of student demand consistent with our mission but with no departmental home.

Wilson gives special attention to connecting our students with professionals, particularly alumni, who serve as leaders and innovators in their fields and can offer inspiration, mentorship, and valuable lessons. Our courses also feature opportunities for discovery-mode, practice-based or experiential learning.

Each year, Wilson offers a core repertoire of courses, including our highly popular Creative Careers: Learning from Alumni. Wilson also sponsors a number of short courses with diverse and varying foci, often taught by our accomplished alumni. Lastly, Wilson sponsors enhancements to existing courses to add opportunities for leadership and innovation to the existing curriculum.

Fall 2023 

Introduction to Entrepreneurship (WIL-101-01)

Short course taught by Kevin Allen. Introduction to Entrepreneurship provides a framework and tools to explore contemporary, successful entrepreneurship. The application of proven, practical emotional intelligence skills help students navigate the different stages of entrepreneurship including developing business concepts, leading teams, and overcoming challenges. The course culminates in the weekend-long start-up competition, Pioneer Weekend (09/22/23-09/24/23), where students will receive additional mentoring from alumni leaders and entrepreneurs.

Creating Marketing Campaigns (WIL-101-02)

Short course taught by Katy Wells. This course will explore the phases of building a successful marketing campaign — performing research, developing a messaging strategy, creating a perfect media mix, and analyzing success. Working in groups, students will have an opportunity to build an entire marketing campaign from scratch by selecting a faux product from a real industry. As students gain knowledge on the process, final presentations may be printed and used for portfolios.
 

Spring 2024

Law and Social Change (WIL-101-01)

Short course taught by Jenny Samuels. 
 

Spark Challenge (WIL-110-01)

Taught by J. Montgomery Roper. Students are provided with a framework and guidance as they research and present solutions to social problems in the community using a hybrid approach based on applied anthropology, design thinking, and policy analysis. Students may focus on issues they have identified themselves or tackle an issue identified by a Grinnell community organization. While not required, all students are encouraged to pitch their solutions for the chance to win up to $10,000 as part of the Wilson Center's SPARK Challenge. All SPARK participants must enroll in the class for credit or as an audit.

Learning from Alumni (WIL-210-01)

Taught by Henry Reitz '89Students engage with alumni to learn about their lives and careers. Leadership and career-focused readings together with discussion with alumni will help students think creatively about their Grinnell education and possible futures. The second goal of this course is to help create a multi-generational network or community of Grinnell alumni, faculty, and current students in order to enhance our potential for changing the world.

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