See It in Action

Statement of Direction and Intent

The strategic choices of 2026-30 will advance and accelerate Grinnell’s highest aspirations for academic well-being and community. The work we undertake together will steward resources and foster ideas that elevate and sustain the College as a place that is competitively sought after for its academic excellence and its deep and lasting commitments to diversity, social responsibility, and global perspectives. We engage in this work with resolve and generosity, intent on building the conditions and spaces for exceptional belonging and achievement, so that we may fulfill the call of our mission and values to serve the common good.

Grinnell’s Distinction

What others thnk of us

Next to Shah Sayfullobekov '28 @ The Mother Mosque of America

Academic Excellence

Connecting Faith and Climate Action

For Roland Swank ‘29 a summer internship with the Iowa Faith & Climate Network offered an opportunity to explore a question sparked by attending one of the organization’s conferences: What does Islam say about caring for the environment?

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Alumni News

Learning Law, Building Connections

A rising third-year student from Bemidji, Minnesota, Roberts is spending the summer as an intern at Mahaffey Law Firm, splitting his time between its Grinnell and Montezuma offices. A double major in political science and anthropology and a member of Grinnell’s swimming and diving team, he came to the internship with an interest in law but little experience with the day-to-day work of a law office.

Academic Excellence

Who Shapes a Neighborhood?

Through interviews with longtime residents in Des Moines and Iowa City, a Summer MAPs project examines how lived experiences shape perspectives on neighborhood change, housing affordability, and local politics.

2026-27 Priorities

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Curricular Innovation

Dean Ruth Feingold and the Dean’s Office will partner with Executive Council, the Institute for Global Engagement, faculty and others to develop ways to amplify Grinnell’s global character and programs and, separately, to explore curricular innovations around majors, concentrations and, potentially, minors. (Catalyst)

Sustainable Enrollment

Dean Ruth Feingold and Joe Bagnoli, Vice President of Enrollment, lead the launch of Grinnell Global Gateway, a pilot, study away program for spring-start first-year students offered through the Institute for Global Engagement. In addition, a working group will evaluate Grinnell’s market position and make recommendations on ways to strengthen student recruitment, college programs, parent messaging, and affordability. (Catalyst and Equity).

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Financial Sustainability

Several leaders, including Bernadine Douglas, Vice President for Development and Alumni Affairs and President Anne F. Harris will work in partnership with trustees, alumni and other Grinnellians to promote annual giving to the Pioneer Fund and to support the College’s ambitious long-term philanthropic goals. Germaine Gross, Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer, and Brad Lindberg, Associate Vice President of Institutional Initiatives, will continue leading efforts to reduce dependency on unrestricted funds provided by the endowment. (Catalyst and Equity).

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Student Success and Retention

JC Lopez, Vice President for Student Affairs, will lead collaborative work across constituent groups on ways to enhance students’ residential experience, providing continuity with innovations already undertaken related to the first-year experience. Dean Ruth Feingold will also lead a team focused on experiential learning including MAPS, internships, study away, and community-engaged learning. (Belonging and Catalyst )

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Civic Innovation and Community

Monica Chavez-Silva, Vice President of Community Partnerships, Planning, and Research, will extend the Better Together initiative in concert with those working on Grinnell’s EPIIC grant (Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity). President Anne F. Harris will take a leadership role in creating and sustaining college visibility at the local, state, and national levels and engage in advocacy on behalf of the College on Capitol Hill and through national organizations. (Shared Goals and Belonging)

2025–26 Actions

Faculty Workload

Led by Dean Ruth Feingold and the Dean’s Office in coordination with Executive Council and in discussion with faculty to identify policies and practices that rebalance faculty workload and allow for meaningful work. (Catalyst)

Environmental Studies | CERA | Climate Change

Led by Peter Jacobson, Chair of Environmental Studies and Faculty Director of CERA, to further structure and deepen Grinnell’s educational commitment to environmental stewardship. (Shared Goals)

Culture of Recognition

Led by Assistant Vice President for Corporate, Foundation, and Government Relations Susan Ferrari and the Office of Corporate, Foundation, and Government Relations to examine practices campus-wide that celebrate contributions to our campus and community. (Catalyst)

Sustainable Enrollment and Equitable Access

Facilitated by Joe Bagnoli, Vice President for Enrollment and Dean of Admission and Financial Aid, and Brad Lindberg, Associate Vice President of Institutional Initiatives and Enrollment, to convene campus partners and governing groups toward better supporting sustainable enrollment, equitable access, and student success. (Equity)

2024–25 Actions

Developing Staff Leadership

Led by Bailey Asberry, Director of Human Resources and Professional Development, along with Staff Council representatives Gina Donovan, Learning Management System Administrator, and Robert Willey, Campus Safety Shift Supervisor, this work was initiated in 2024–25 in order to develop a leadership program for new and current staff members that enhances leadership skills, experiences, and cross-divisional and community knowledge. (Catalyst)

Athletic Culture and Identity

Led by Holly Roepke, Director of Athletics and Chair of the Department of Physical Education, Athletics, and Recreation, JC Lopez, Vice President of Student Affairs, Myrna Hernández, Chief of Staff and Vice President of Administration, and Ben Cooprider, Deputy Director of Athletics, this working group was initiated in 2024–25 to identify high-impact practices across Physical Education, Athletics, and Recreation to support experiential learning and community vitality. (Belonging)

Cultural Centers

This effort, led by Marc Reed, Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, and JC Lopez, Vice President of Student Affairs, is focused on developing a plan and timeline for investments and programming in cultural centers along with defining pathways through which those offerings can influence institutional policy and practice. (Equity)

Equitable Interventions

This effort, led by Marc Reed, Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, and Jana Grimes, Vice President for Human Resources, identified and presented a timeline for interventions to attract and retain diverse faculty and staff candidates. This work included cultural/climate assessment with CPPR to shape recruitment and retention efforts. The partnership of the Dean’s Office and Executive Council has been involved for faculty recruiting and retention, and that of HR/ODEI and Staff Council for staff recruiting and retention. (Equity)

Mapping Community Partnerships

Initiated in 2024–25 under the collaborative leadership of Graham Miller, Director of Strategic Research, Susan Sanning, Associate Dean and Director of Civic Education and Innovation, and Jessica Stewart, Senior Associate Director of Alumni and Donor Relations, this initiative seeks to reflect on and expand the ways we foster community partnerships on multiple scales. (Shared Goals)

Spring 2024 Actions

Supporting High-Impact Practices

Led by Graham Miller, Director of Strategic Research, this work was initiated in 2023–24 to research ways to integrate high-impact practices (HIPs) with College-wide learning outcomes to assist with student developmental planning, advising, and institutional equity. (Catalyst)

Enhancing Academic Advising

The Academic Advising Quality Initiative, led by Joyce Stern, Dean for Student Success and Academic Advising and Andrea Tracy, Associate Dean for Student Academic Life, was initiated in 2023–24 to focus on the Higher Learning Commission Quality Initiative for advising as a first step in evaluating our institutional understanding of academic advising. (Catalyst)

Diversity in Admissions

Led by Sarah Fischer, Assistant Vice President of Admission, this work was initiated in 2023–24 to respond to the Supreme Court’s decision banning race-conscious admissions, with the goal of recruiting and retaining a diverse, well-qualified student body. (Catalyst)

Reinventing the Residential Experience

Led by JC Lopez, Vice President of Student Affairs, and the Division of Student Affairs, this work was initiated in 2024–25 to reinvent a residential experience and student programming to build community, develop self-understanding, and establish collaborative relationships across difference. (Belonging)

Reduce Endowment Dependency

The Reduce Endowment Dependence (RED) Initiative, initiated in 2023–24 and led by Germaine Gross, Vice President for Finance and Treasurer of the College, focused on identifying long-term ways to reduce Grinnell’s dependence on the endowment to fund the operating budget. (Equity)

Aligning Educational Excellence with Technology

Initiated in 2023–24 and led by Jonathan Colby, Chief Information Officer, and Myrna Hernández, Chief of Staff and Vice President of Administration, this initiative seeks to build a shared understanding among campus constituents and leadership regarding compatibility of data and cybersecurity and the academic mission of the College. (Equity)

Community-building through Renfrow Hall

Initiated in 2023–24 and led by Monica Chavez-Silva, Vice President of Community Engagement and Strategic Planning, JC Lopez, Vice President of Student Affairs, and Mark Peltz, the Daniel and Patricia Jipp Finkelman Dean of Careers, Life, and Service, this group supports community-building and dialogue, with Renfrow Hall as a focus and inspiration, and the Katherine Howell Weingart ’61 Civic Innovation Pavilion as a place to gather. (Shared Goals)

Past Updates