Grinnell College Board of Trustees Chair Steps Down, New Chair Appointed

Sheryl Walter ’78 notified Grinnell College that she has resigned as chair of the Board of Trustees due to ongoing health concerns that preclude her from being able to devote the required time and attention to Board matters for the foreseeable future.  She will remain a member of the board.  The College is grateful to Sheryl for her service, her past and future contributions as a trustee, and her steadfast love for Grinnell College. 

 

As required by the by-laws of the Board of Trustees, the executive committee of the board appoints a trustee to serve the remainder of the term.  By unanimous vote, the Executive Committee has appointed Christina Cutlip ’83, previously vice chair, to serve as chair.  We thank her for her willingness to serve. We also thank the executive committee of the Board of Trustees and particularly the chair of Governance, Bruce Koff ‘75, for guiding this process. 

 

“I want to express my sincere appreciation to Sheryl.  I wish her well and thank her for the grace, care, and commitment she has brought to this work,” said Cutlip.  “I accept the Chair role with humility and a strong sense of responsibility.  I look forward to working closely with my fellow trustees in the months ahead as we continue to partner with our president, Dr. Anne F. Harris and her leadership team in fulfilling the College’s mission and guiding its future.” 

 

Cutlip is a retired senior executive, educator, and board leader with more than 35 years of experience in financial services, higher education, and leadership development. A former Senior Managing Director at TIAA, with prior roles at Fidelity Investments and SEI Investments, she is a Full Professor at the Jack Welch Management Institute, where she won the 2025 Professor of the Year award, and writes and speaks on financial wellness and leadership. Dr. Cutlip holds a BA in Economics from Grinnell College, an MBA from Regis University, and a PhD in Organizational Leadership from Northcentral University.  

 

In addition to her service on the Grinnell College Board of Trustees, she chairs the Almasi Collaborative Arts board and is a member of the Signature Theater, NYC, Board of Trustees.  She has served on several boards of national higher education associations, including the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) and the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U). She is a former appointee to the U.S. Department of Labor’s ERISA Advisory Council and a recipient of national recognition for leadership, service, and volunteerism.