Sarah Moschenross Named Associate Vice President for Student Affairs at Grinnell College

Sarah Moschenross, dean of students at Grinnell since 2015, is being promoted to associate vice president for student affairs at the College beginning this summer. As a member of the senior leadership team, Moschenross will oversee all aspects of student affairs including the dean of students, campus safety, international student affairs, intercultural affairs, religious life, residence life, student activities, student assistance, student health and counseling services, and wellness.

“Sarah brings to the position a wealth of knowledge and experience with respect to student engagement, inclusivity, and well-being,” said Mike Latham, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the College. “As a member of the Grinnell College community, Sarah has demonstrated the capacity to work across departments in integrating the curricular and co-curricular experiences of students and to promote belonging and inclusivity for students on and off campus. I look forward to the leadership she will bring to the Division of Student Affairs.”

Immediately prior to Grinnell, Moschenross was director of the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. In that role, she mentored, advised, advocated for, and counseled underrepresented, low-income, and first generation college students. Moschenross has taught in college classrooms on privilege and leadership, social change movements, intersectional feminism, and introduction to the liberal arts. She has also worked in academic advising, community service and service-learning programming, residence life, and career counseling.

Additionally, Moschenross has presented on topics related to the experiences of women in higher education, social justice allyship, difficult dialogues, and on various panels on higher education leadership. She has served the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) as the State of Iowa liaison for the Standing Committee for Women and on the directorate board of the Commission for Social Justice Educators. She is president-elect of the Iowa Student Personnel Association (ISPA).

A native of Iowa, Moschenross received her B.S. from Iowa State University in child and family services and her M.A. from the University of Iowa in student development in post-secondary education. Prior to her employment at Knox, Moschenross was a career counselor, residence director, and director of community service and outreach programs at Coe College in Cedar Rapids from 2001-2006.

Moschenross replaces Andrea Conner, who will become vice president and dean of students at Lake Forest College in July. “Grinnell College wishes to thank Andrea Conner for her professionalism in ensuring a smooth transition within Student Affairs and for her transformative contributions to Grinnell over the past several years,” said Latham. “We greatly appreciate Andrea’s efforts toward making strategic investments in intercultural affairs, Campus Safety, and SHACS, as well as her work in creating a more seamless learning environment in and out of the classroom through the Task Force on Residential Learning.”

A national search for Moschenross’ successor as dean of students will begin immediately, Latham said.