For nearly four decades, the Scholars’ Convocation series has created a common educational experience shared by the entire Grinnell College community. Established in the late 1970s in response to the College’s move to an open curriculum, the accessible interdisciplinary nature of convocation offers an intellectual encounter that transcends disciplinary boundaries.
Scholars’ Convocations are arranged by a faculty committee. If you are planning or are interested in planning a Scholars’ Convocation, please see Scholars’ Convocation Proposals.
Scholars’ Convocation 2021–22
Unless otherwise indicated, Scholars’ Convocation lectures will be held in Joe Rosenfield ’25 Center, Room 101 at 11 a.m.
Sept. 2, 2021
Presidential Convocation: Anne Harris
Civic Trust: A Vision for Grinnell College
Webex link for Civic Trust (Online only; no lecture in Rosenfield Center)
Sept. 23, 2021
Scholars’ Convocation: Jarvis Givens
Humanities and Social Studies Center (HSSC) Room A1231
Zoom link for Jarvis Givens
Meeting ID: 867 4925 4864
Passcode: 430843
Sept. 30, 2021
Endowed Chair Ceremony
Herrick Chapel
Oct. 7, 2021
Scholars’ Convocation with Writers@Grinnell: John Garrison and Dustin Dixon
Nov. 4, 2021
Scholars’ Convocation with the Rosenfield Program: Lara Janson ’05
Nov. 11, 2021
Scholars’ Convocation: Chuck Connerly
HSSC A1231
Jan. 27, 2022 — Postponed
Scholars’ Convocation: Nicol Turner-Lee
Postponed to the 2022–23 school year
Feb. 10, 2022
Scholars’ Convocation: Grinnell Lecture
Feb. 24, 2022
Scholars’ Convocation: Professor Marty Baylor
March 3, 2022
Scholars’ Convocation: Jennifer Ho
(Online only; no lecture in Rosenfield Center)
March 10, 2022
Scholars’ Convocation: Greg Duncan
April 7, 2022
Scholars’ Convocation: Stephanie Jones
April 14, 2022
Scholars’ Convocation: Kaushik Basu, “The Changing Global Landscape: The Challenge and the Hope”
(online and in-person)
April 21, 2022
Scholars’ Convocation: Tim Eatman, “Beware the Shrinking Imagination”
(online and in-person)
April 28, 2022
Scholars’ Convocation: Sam Wineburg
“Historical Thinking in a Digital Age: Tool or Relic?”
(online and in-person, HSSC A1231)
Webex link for Sam Wineburg
Event number: 2624 353 0355
Event password: SWConvo2022
May 5, 2022
Scholars’ Convocation: Phi Beta Kappa
Herrick Chapel
All convocations are in person from 11 a.m.–noon in Rosenfield Center (JRC) Room 101 unless otherwise noted. Select convocations will also be available via Webex. Links will be available in the Campus Memo and in the announcement in GrinnellShare (login required).