Welcome and Welcome Back!

Dear Grinnellians,

It is so good to see you and welcome you – or welcome you back – to campus!

I want to extend a special welcome to the class of 2028. It has been a true pleasure to meet you at IPOP, GSP, PCPOP, and during NSO. We are so happy that you are here! I know that Grinnell’s dedicated student leaders, faculty, and staff have worked together to provide an outstanding orientation for you, and I am thankful for their work.  

To our new faculty and staff members, thank you for being part of Grinnell! You’re here because you share our commitment to the mission of liberal arts education and to our amazing students. We welcome your expertise and contributions! As we begin the fall semester, I especially want to welcome Jerry Seaman who is serving as interim dean of the college and vice president for academic affairs. His deep experience in academic leadership is a welcome partnership as we begin a period of discernment and consultation to articulate what we seek in academic leadership; evaluate whether the structures we operate under best serve our academic mission; and define the changes to which we, as a community, are committed. I want to recognize Elaine Marzluff, who is beginning the first year of a two-year commitment as chair of the faculty – her second time to serve in this leadership. I am also pleased to welcome Robert Willey, co-chair of Staff Council, and Kyla Miller ’25, in her role as SGA President to the Senior Leadership team.

Thank you to everyone who attended the second annual Grinnell College Colloquium yesterday: thank you for your questions and presence; and many thanks to our presenters! This is the second year that we are holding these gatherings to engage with you and with topics of importance to Grinnell. If you were not able to attend in person, or if you wish to refer to the information and links shared in the sessions, you can view the videos of yesterday’s sessions on the 2024 Grinnell Senior Leadership GrinnellShare site, where you will also find the PowerPoint presentations. 

• College Finances: the FY25 Budget and “Towards a Sustainable Future”
• Classroom, Campus, Title VI, Iowa 216.9 and Iowa 216F
• The 2024 Election: Planning, Participation, and Perseverance

Throughout the year, the Senior Leadership GrinnellShare site will be a place where you can find agendas, meeting summaries, and other information about the work of the senior leadership team with the campus community.

At Scholars’ Convocation, TODAY from 11 a.m. to noon in JRC101, I will provide an update on the first year of Knowledge into Action – Grinnell’s strategic plan – and introduce the priority actions that will be the focus in our second year of implementation. We’ll celebrate the work of colleagues and the positive impact of the strategic plan with cupcakes, stickers, and a preview of some of the exciting things planned for this year. We will also share a link to the video of the event for those who are unable to attend. 

Like every year, Grinnell College will be host to meaningful conversations and powerful ideas. As you explore them and empower them, I want to share with you one of the wishes that I shared with first-year students at our Welcome Ceremony last Friday: that in this significant year, you are able to take the time to learn about someone’s ideas, challenges, or family; that you can give grace for contradictions, or struggles, or mistakes. And that just as much as you give time and grace to build trustful talk, you are also able to give yourself time and grace to trust yourself. May you find delight in learning together; may you savor your good moments: let them give you solace and renewal for the tough ones and let them energize and connect you to each other.

So, as we celebrate our return and our renewed practice of research, deliberation, and collaboration: Bemvindo! Dobrodošli! Velkommen! Nĭhǎo! Karibu! Bienvenidas! Здравствуйте! Yokoso! Hoan nghenh! Svaagat! Bienvenue! Baruch aba! Xush Kelibsiz! Vanakkam! Selamat datang! In dozens of languages from close to home and around the world: welcome to Grinnell College!

Warmly,

Anne F. Harris 

President