Get to Know our Students
The best way to understand a campus is to see the students who are living there. Our student interns are just a sample of the Grinnell population—take a look at what experiences they have had so far during their Grinnell careers.
Senior Interviewers
Want to ask a question of a specific senior interviewer listed below? Send an email to admission@grinnell.edu with your question and the name or names of the students you want to ask it to, and our current students will be happy to answer!
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Nolan Boggess
Hometown: Des Moines, IA
Major(s)/Concentration(s): Theatre & Dance
Extracurriculars: Theatre & Dance productions, Theatre & Dance SEPC, Student Musical Theatre, Infinite Coincidence (long form improv), Queer Mentorship Program
Research: Studied the history of the liberal arts in Spain, Italy, and Mexico through the Global Learning Program; performed in a Theatre & Dance MAP in Taiwan; directed two musical theatre productions as research; and conducted research in Performance Studies and Anthropology through seminars
Off-Campus Study: Global Learning Program in Italy, Spain, and Mexico (Spring 2016) and Grinnell In London (Fall 2018)
Why I love Grinnell: Being from Iowa, I could not imagine there could be a place like Grinnell College. Every student here is from a completely different background than me, which has allowed me to learn new perspective and make friends from all over the world. Even though we come from all over the map, everyone here is a true Grinnellian with a desire to learn, connect, and explore. All of this creates an incredible, interconnected school in the midst of corn and more corn.
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Alyssa DeBella
Hometown: Addison, VT
Major(s)/Concentration(s): Religious Studies/Political Science/Peace and Conflict Studies Concentration
Extracurriculars: Religious Studies SEPC member, Peace and Conflict Studies Committee member, EcoHouse resident, volunteer at Iowa Farm Sanctuary
Research: Asylum Protection Center in Belgrade, Serbia (Fall 2017), Public Opinion and Political Behavior seminar (Spring 2018)
Off-Campus Study: Peace and Conflict Studies in Serbia, Bosnia, - Herzegovina, and Kosovo (Fall 2017)
Why I love Grinnell: I love the individually advised curriculum at Grinnell because it led me to discover my passion for Religious Studies and Political Science, and how the study of Peace and Conflict connects them. I have felt holistically supported at Grinnell through academic advising, career exploration, graduate school searches, intentional residential communities, the alumni network, and the engaged student body. I’m excited to share what I’ve learned at Grinnell with the world!
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Lucie Duffy
Hometown: Westwood, MA
Major(s)/Concentration(s): Biology
Extracurriculars: Captain of the Grinnell Women’s Ultimate Frisbee team, KDIC radio show co-host, and member of the Minority Association of Pre-med Students. I am also a big supporter of theatre, dance, and music performances on campus.
Research: Through the Mentored Advanced Project (MAP) Program, I am researching the effects of oxidative stress on damselflies with a Biology professor. I have had the opportunity to travel to Canada, Michigan, and Hawaii to do field work for this project!
Off-Campus Study: I spent a semester during my third year in Copenhagen, Denmark. I lived with a wonderful host family and studied Medical Practice and Policy. While in Denmark I traveled with my classes to Poland and Germany to observe their medical systems, and visited friends from Grinnell all across Europe.
Why I love Grinnell: I love Grinnell because it is a community of people who love to learn. Grinnellians pursue their passions wholeheartedly and share their experiences and knowledge with one another to create a collaborative learning environment. Coming from the East Coast I did not know what to expect from my four years in Iowa, but I have found the greatest community of supportive friends, teammates, and faculty that make the Midwest feel like home.
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Pieter Hansen
Hometown: Columbus, OH
Major(s)/Concentration(s): Political Science, Global Development Studies Concentration
Extracurriculars: Co-Captain of Men's Cross Country Team, Track and Field, Political Science SEPC, Wellness Lounge
Research: I've researched many facets of development in the Philippines through Political Science and GDS courses, and plan on conducting a future MAP on creative class migrants from the Philippines and their relationship to Philippine development and citizenship.
Off-Campus Study: Prague, Czech Republic in Spring 2018
Why I love Grinnell: I love Grinnell because everyone here deeply cares about something. Regardless of whether it's a class, an obscure hobby, a philosophical argument, or something in the D-Hall, anyone you talk to will have something that gets them excited. In turn, I love that Grinnell gives you the freedom and resources to pursue that interest wholeheartedly.
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Leah Harris
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Major(s)/Concentration(s): Psychology & Anthropology
Extracurriculars: Dance Ensemble, KDIC radio show
Research: In my psychology classes, we've conducted semester-long research projects on fellow Grinnell students and community members to examine any social behaviors, trends, biases, etc.
Off-Campus Study: Semester in Madrid during the Spring of 2018.
Why I love Grinnell: It's rare to see students competing against one another in class. Rather, the academic focus tends to be on tackling course content and engaging others in conversation to learn. People tend to be supportive of each other here, and I really appreciate that aspect of Grinnell.
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Gwen Holtzman
Hometown: Las Cruces, NM
Major(s)/Concentration(s): Chemistry and Spanish
Extracurriculars: Women's soccer, Women's track and field, Peer Educator, SAM (student athlete mentor)
Research: The summer after my second year I did a MAP with a professor in the chemistry dept. synthesizing florescent organic compounds that could be used to detect the presence of harmful biological molecules.
Off-Campus Study: An intensive summer language program in Buenos Aires, Argentina, funded by our Global Learning Engagement Program!
Why I love Grinnell: Hands down best part about Grinnell is the people. Grinnell is such a close knit community which really allows you to feel at home, no matter where or how far away your actual hometown is. You babysit your professor's kids on the weekend, or walk their dogs, or even go have dinner at their house! It's relationships like these that truly allow you to feel comfortable going in to talk to a professor during office hours or after a test you know didn't go well. The community is what has allowed me to succeed academically in such an intense and challenging environment.
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Mithila Iyer
Hometown: Chennai, India
Major(s)/Concentration(s): Economics and French
Extracurriculars: My hobbies include theatre and dance! I'm also involved with student government and have served with SASO (South Asian Student Organization . Additionally, I am also a member of student educational policy committees for both my majors.
Research: I will be taking a seminar in Economic Development this fall, which I am incredibly excited for! I will also be doing a French MAP with Professor Gwenola Caradec on feminist post-colonial literature, for which I will be traveling to Montréal, Canada this August!
Off-Campus Study: I studied abroad in Paris, France during the fall of 2017. It was unbelievable, and definitely influenced my decision to declare a French major. I can't wait to return and see my host family and friends!
Why I love Grinnell: I love Grinnell not just because of Dari Barn walks with friends and great academic stimulation, but because it showed me that it is possible for something completely out of your comfort zone to become one of your biggest strengths. I am at complete ease in small town Iowa and bustling Chennai, and have grown in both of them - they have both become home.
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Hanna Kessel
Hometown: Cave Creek, AZ
Major(s)/Concentration(s): English and Gender Women and Sexuality Studies with a concentration in Global Development Studies
Extracurriculars: Varsity track and basketball, Student Athlete Mentor, Queer Mentor, Service Learning Work Study intern for the Adopt a Grandparent program, SHAW driver, Grinnell in Prison program research assistant, Queer Athletes and Allies
Research: Last summer I did a research based internship in Chicago where I worked at a refugee resettlement facility and studied how housing patterns can be a representation of social structures
Off-Campus Study: Course embedded travel to Cuba last semester with a class that was focused on art and architecture in the revolution
Why I love Grinnell: I love that even though I am 1,500 miles from home, I have found a family that loves me and a community that gives me the tools to excel in anything I put my mind to in Grinnell.
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Bryce Lew
Hometown: Pasadena, CA
Major(s)/Concentration(s): Economics and Psychology
Extracurriculars: Class Ambassador, Student Alumni Council, host of a KDIC radio show (every Friday night at 7!), Office of Communications
Research: I have participated in various psychology and data-based research projects involving risk-taking behavior, developmental psychology, and alcohol usage in first-year students.
Off-Campus Study: I studied abroad at the Danish Institute for Study Abroad, Copenhagen during the Fall of 2017!
Why I love Grinnell: Grinnell offers so many opportunities for students to take advantage of and grow from. I have participated in countless committees because I reached out and expressed interest. I was able to take part because the school wants to back your curiosities and growth as a student and budding professional. There is so much support here for students to succeed and I am grateful for the opportunities that I have had.
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Nicolette Musachio
Hometown: Saint Paul, MN
Major(s)/Concentration(s): Anthropology Major/ Linguistics Concentration
Extracurriculars: I teach Italian courses for ALSO (Alternative Language Study Option), cook for Shabbat through Chalutzim, and love rollerblading!
Off-Campus Study: . I studied abroad in Milan, Italy
Why I love Grinnell: Because through friendships, coursework, and off-campus opportunities, Grinnell has expanded my mind and my world.
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Sophia Stern
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Major(s)/Concentration(s): History & Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies
Extracurriculars: Grinnell Monologues, after school art and literacy volunteer educator, theater, pub quiz
Research: Iowa Township Project, history researcher and class developer, Masculinity and American Literature seminar, American Indian History seminar, Dramaturgy MAP alcohol usage in first-year students.
Off-Campus Study: . IES Amsterdam
Why I love Grinnell: The people! From students to staff, faculty to local business owners, the people make Grinnell home
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Megan Tcheng
Hometown: Pasadena, CA
Major(s)/Concentration(s): English with a Concentration in Neuroscience
Extracurriculars: Coordinator of TEDxGrinnell College, member of the English Department’s Student Education Policy Committee (SEPC) and a student employee with the Office of Communications’ Collaborative Communications team.
Research: Over the course of this school year, I’ll be working with Professor Erik Simpson from the English Department on a research project concerning the use of dialect in 18th-19th century songs.
Off-Campus Study: I spent the Fall semester of my 3rd year studying the public healthcare system in Costa Rica, building up my Spanish fluency…. and gorging on all the arroz con pollo I could get my hands on.
Why I love Grinnell: The limitless number of events and speakers hosted on Grinnell’s campus. Where else can you have access to award-winning poets, presidential candidates, free concerts, and everything all between – all nestled among the cornfields of Iowa!
Multicultural Interns
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Gilberto A. Perez '21
Hometown: Hanover Park, IL
Major(s)/Concentration(s): Intended Spanish and Sociology major, Latin American Studies Concentration
Extracurriculars: Men’s Varsity Soccer, Student Organization of Latinx, QuestBridge
Why I love Grinnell: Grinnell has allowed to become a part of a community with brilliant, open-minded individuals. Grinnell has also provided spaces in which I can express my interests inside and beyond the classroom.
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Cinthia Romo '21
Hometown: Born in Jalisco, Mexico. Raised in Kansas City, KS
Major(s)/Concentration(s): Intended Sociology/French Major
Extracurriculars: Student Organization of Latinx (SOL), Student Government, Grinnell Advocates, Peer Connections Pre-Orientation Program (PCPOP)
Why I love Grinnell: I love Grinnell mostly because of the people. It has let me meet so many amazing people that have similar goals and aspirations.
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Erica Satchell '21
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Major(s)/Concentration(s): Intended Biology Major
Extracurriculars: Concerned Black Students communications coordinator, Chemistry tutor, SGA senator, diversity presenter at LSAMP conference, and a big sister for Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Why I love Grinnell: Grinnell provides many opportunities for students of completely different backgrounds to succeed in a positive environment. The Grinnell experience is truly one of a kind and allows for students to be themselves unapologetically.
Overnight Host Coordinators
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Malcolm Davis '21
Hometown: Berea, KY
Major(s)/Concentration(s): Intended Political Science/Theatre
Extracurriculars: Intramural Basketball, member of CBS, Actor, Poet
Why I love Grinnell: I love Grinnell because it is a great place to hone one's artistic practices and explore academic discourse.
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Maya Dru '21
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Major(s)/Concentration(s): Sociology major and Policy Studies concentration
Extracurriculars: Farm House, Chalutzim, Infinite Coincidence Long Form Improv
Why I love Grinnell: I love the community around learning. Everyone — the students and faculty — are so deeply passionate about learning. I feel really lucky to stay up late talking about the theory of artifact preservation with my friends.
International Intern
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Arunima Fatehpuria '21
Hometown: Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Major(s)/Concentration(s): Intended Psychology and Mathematics
Extracurriculars: Social Coordinator of International Student Organization, Rosenfield Program Committee Member, Grinnell Advocates, Assistant Stage Manager for Image of an Unknown Young Woman (Spring 2018)
Why I love Grinnell: I love the amazing community Grinnell fosters among its students. At Grinnell you can be whoever you want to be and still be accepted. You will always find others who share your passion, whether it be debating or fighting with foam swords!