Emma Stefanacci ’22, content fellow in the Office of Communications and Marketing, tells us about her passion for science and for telling the stories of Grinnellians.

As summer draws to a close, anticipation builds for the arrival of the Class of 2029 and the start of another year of discovery and connection. Grinnell College opens its doors to the Class of 2029 — 421 students whose stories, talents, and ambitions will shape our community in the years ahead.

Held on Friday mornings from 9:00–10:00 a.m. throughout the academic year—with Thursday sessions during Board of Trustees weeks—each gathering features a different campus guest and offers community members a welcoming opportunity to connect over coffee.

Grinnell in the summer is a vibrant mix of quiet beauty and meaningful engagement.

Meet Kirsten Koester, head coach for the women’s soccer team, who came to Grinnell with a passion for the sport rooted in her own experience as an athlete. Who thinks that family is everything and that the community of Grinnell has also provided them with friends who feel like family.

After more than 30 years of Too Many String Band, learn about the genesis of the beloved group, their song selections, and the connection with the town of Grinnell and the campus community.

From library play areas to farm-fresh food boxes and after-school art carts — the impact of Grinnell College’s Spring 2025 Community Mini-Grants is beginning to take shape. This year, the College has awarded $30,248 in grant funding to six local organizations whose projects aim to enhance quality of life, expand access to food and childcare, and strengthen the foundations of nonprofit work in the Grinnell area.

Meet Tilly Woodward - as curator of Academic and Community Outreach with the Grinnell College Museum of Art (GCMoA), Woodward finds her days highly varied, deeply involved with the community, and always packed full. Over the past year, she has planned and facilitated 451 classes and events for people of all ages in collaboration with 39 community partners, 13 campus departments, and 35 individual faculty members.

This summer, 12 Iowa National Service Corps (INSC) members are leading the way in empowering local youth through a unique blend of learning, creativity, and community connection. As part of the Grinnell Education Partnership’s Summer Learning Collaborative, these young leaders are dedicating their summer to combating summer learning loss and building meaningful relationships with children across the Grinnell area. 

The museum’s relocation and transformation mark a new era for the organization, which has served the community for over 70 years. Originally established in 1952 by four local women’s clubs, the museum first opened in a small space above Cunningham Drug Store on Fourth Avenue. The McMurray House will remain open as well and new space will be in addition to the prior museum.