There are several aspects of the Lilly Program that provide opportunities for alumni involvement. We need alumni as

  • career advisors and mentors
  • internship sponsors
  • speakers on campus

There is yet another opportunity for alumni to participate in the Lilly Program. The Lilly Postgraduate Fellowship is open to alumni up to 5 years after graduation.

Lilly Alumni Convocation Series

During the fall semester of 2003, the Lilly Program presented a series of three talks, featuring Grinnell College alumnae and alumni reflecting on their vocational paths since graduation. The series was designed to build on the very popular faculty series presented during the fall semester of 2002. A pamphlet containing the texts of all three alumni presentations is in preparation. Contact Richard Cleaver to reserve a copy.

The speakers and their topics were:

  • Rachel Weiss '98 (October 2, 2003) - "Coming Home: My Journey to Rabbinical School." Weiss is a student at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Philadelphia.
  • Nora Bloch '92 (November 13, 2003) - "Banking and Social Justice: Finding Vocation in Unlikely Places." Bloch is a community development lender for Wainwright Bank in Boston.
  • David Ruhe '71 (November 20, 2003) - "Who, Me? Religious Vocation and God's Sense of Humor. " Ruhe is Senior Minister at Plymouth Congregational Church - UCC in Des Moines.

Each of the speakers was also available for informal consultation with students after their presentations.

We continue to develop ways to include the richness of experience our alumni can offer on the discernment of vocations, as well to find other ways we can support alumni who are going through their own discernment processes.

For additional ways to be involved in helping Grinnellians, past and present, explore their vocations, contact the Career Development Office.