Grinnell College Board of Trustees Welcomes Three New Members
Jo Christine Miles, Scott D. Shepherd ’82, and Robert Quashie ’86 begin four-year terms on the Grinnell College Board of Trustees, bringing leadership and expertise from business, finance, and public service.
Grinnell College is pleased to welcome three new members to its Board of Trustees. Elected by the full Board, Jo Christine Miles, Scott D. Shepherd ’82, and Robert Quashie ’86 bring a wealth of leadership experience and diverse professional perspectives that will help advance the College's mission and strategic priorities. Each trustee will serve an initial four-year term and is eligible for re-election to three additional consecutive terms.
The role of the College’s trustees is to assure the mission of Grinnell College. Through their commitment to institutional stewardship and fiduciary responsibility, the trustees have positioned Grinnell to excel in its academic mission for positive change. The College’s excellence and its support are a testament to its trustees’ decisions, financial acumen, dedication, and faithful service.
The Board's newest members bring decades of experience leading organizations, serving communities, and advancing innovation. Meet the new trustees below.
Jo Christine Miles
Miles is director of the Principal Foundation and Principal Community Relations, where she leads the philanthropic investments and community initiatives of Principal Financial Group, a global leader in financial services.
Miles earned a master's degree in international affairs from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs. She began her career as a judicial law clerk for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York before joining the global law firm Dentons, where she became a partner after five years.
After 12 years at Denton, in 2017, Miles transitioned into philanthropy as a public policy fellow with Philanthropy New York, focusing on equitable and inclusive philanthropy, gender equity, health, and international grantmaking. Her work included advising organizations such as Rockefeller Philanthropic Advisors, the New York State Health Foundation, the Nathan Cummings Foundation, the New York Women's Foundation, and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
Miles and her husband, Everett Miles, vice president for Corporate Strategy and Development at Principal Financial Group, moved to Des Moines in 2019 with their two sons when Everett joined the company.
In her current role, Miles has been instrumental in strengthening Grinnell College's relationship with Principal, and to helping connect students with career opportunities. She also serves on the boards of the Des Moines Art Center and the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis.
Scott D. Shepherd ’82
Shepherd earned a Bachelor of Arts in religious studies from Grinnell College in 1982. Following graduation, he built a 35-year career with ONEOK and ONE Gas before retiring in 2017.
A dedicated volunteer leader, Shepherd served as president of the Grinnell College Alumni Leadership Council and currently serves as co-chair of the International Campaign Advisory Committee. He has also been an active member his reunion committee since graduation.
Shepherd and his wife, Laura '82, have long supported Grinnell students through both volunteer service and philanthropy. Each year, they help organize a nationwide alumni effort that provides a care package for every student, including two days on campus to help distribute the packages.
The Shepherds also host externship students in their home during Spring Break and continue to mentor young alumni. Their philanthropic support has helped advance several campus initiatives, including naming a room in the Humanities and Social Studies Center, establishing the Cleveherd Kitchen in the Hannah Alumni House, and, most recently, making a $1 million gift to support student health and wellness services at Grinnell. In recognition of their exceptional commitment to the Grinnell community, they received an Alumni Award in 2016.
Robert Quashie ’86
Quashie is a fractional chief operating officer and strategic advisor who provides executive-level operational leadership and strategic planning to mission-driven organizations. Drawing on more than two decades of experience, he partners with organizations to strengthen operations and advance long-term strategic goals.
After graduating from Grinnell College, Quashie began his career at Ketchum Public Relations, where he developed communications programs for nationally recognized lifestyle brands. He later led the engagement marketing practice at Burrell Communications, overseeing key client accounts that included Verizon, Toyota USA, and McDonald's.
From 2015 to 2025, Quashie held a series of leadership positions with the American Dental Association. Most recently, he served as chief operating officer, overseeing the association's membership and information technology divisions while leading its operations oversight management team.
A dedicated Grinnell volunteer, Quashie was an early supporter of the Kesho Scott Chair in African Diaspora Studies and has remained actively involved through reunion committees and the Grinnell Black Alumni Network. Most recently, he joined Dr. John Thabiti Willis for a Grinnell alumni event in Chicago. Beyond the College, Quashie has served on local school councils and with the National Association of Black Journalists.