Spring Semester Message for Alumni, Parents and Families

Dear alumni, parents and families, 

As we anticipate students’ return, our campus has been digging out after two major winter storms, while also facing sub-zero temperatures for several days in a row. It’s enough to make you miss Iowa! I want to thank the College’s outstanding emergency response team that kept us informed and prepared to respond to hourly changes in the forecast. I am also grateful for the intrepid and hard-working team from facilities management, campus safety, and dining services.  They came to work in challenging conditions to take care of the approximately 50 students who stayed on campus over winter break.   

As I will be announcing to campus next week in my welcome message for the spring semester, a group of staff and faculty have gathered to share their expertise to create diverse opportunities for our community to learn about the histories, conflicts, and identities that are part of the war and crisis in Israel and Gaza.  They are finalizing a set of events that will model ways to be in dialogue even within tense issues, help build trust across different identities and opinions, and facilitate hard conversations. 

Finally, it is with great sadness that I share news of the death of Professor Emeritus Johanna Meehan on Monday, Jan. 8. Professor Meehan, who had been at Grinnell College since 1990, was the McCay-Casady Professor of Humanities and Professor of Philosophy for many years and served on the advisory board for the Center for Humanities. She had transitioned to senior faculty status last year. Professor Meehan was an eminent philosopher and beloved teacher whose loss will be deeply felt. I ask that you keep Johanna and her family and friends in your thoughts. Please know that further information about how the College and Professor Meehan’s colleagues and students will honor her and commemorate her work and presence will be forthcoming as these emerge. 

I wish every Grinnellian a happy new year as we go forth into 2024. 

Sincerely, 

Anne 

Anne F. Harris 
President