Renfrow Hall Dedication Ceremony in downtown Grinnell, Iowa.

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Photo of Nina Kouchi
Campus & Community

Because of Grinnell, I had the confidence to explore new places. ... Grinnell made me more enthusiastic about getting out of my comfort zone and meeting new people. 

Photo of Nina Kouchi
Campus & Community

Because of Grinnell, I had the confidence to explore new places. ... Grinnell made me more enthusiastic about getting out of my comfort zone and meeting new people. 

  Alina Ihnatesku ’26, with her piece titled “WASTE TIME," which won the Best in Show award at the 2025 Bachelor of Arts Exhibition exhibit at the Grinnell College Museum of Art.
Academic Excellence

I’m passionate about the idea of creating work that lives outside traditional gallery settings — art and design that people encounter in their everyday lives, often without even realizing it at first. 

Alina Ihnatesku '26
  Alina Ihnatesku ’26, with her piece titled “WASTE TIME," which won the Best in Show award at the 2025 Bachelor of Arts Exhibition exhibit at the Grinnell College Museum of Art.
Academic Excellence

I’m passionate about the idea of creating work that lives outside traditional gallery settings — art and design that people encounter in their everyday lives, often without even realizing it at first. 

Alina Ihnatesku '26
  Alina Ihnatesku ’26, with her piece titled “WASTE TIME," which won the Best in Show award at the 2025 Bachelor of Arts Exhibition exhibit at the Grinnell College Museum of Art.
Academic Excellence

I’m passionate about the idea of creating work that lives outside traditional gallery settings — art and design that people encounter in their everyday lives, often without even realizing it at first. 

Alina Ihnatesku '26
  Alina Ihnatesku ’26, with her piece titled “WASTE TIME," which won the Best in Show award at the 2025 Bachelor of Arts Exhibition exhibit at the Grinnell College Museum of Art.
Academic Excellence

I’m passionate about the idea of creating work that lives outside traditional gallery settings — art and design that people encounter in their everyday lives, often without even realizing it at first. 

Alina Ihnatesku '26
Jonathon Andelson, Rosenfield Professor in Social Science
Academic Excellence

Our feeling was that if you are not connected to your place, you won’t take care of it. From this conversation emerged the idea of embracing our location and using it as a teaching and learning tool. 

Jon Andelson '70
Jonathon Andelson, Rosenfield Professor in Social Science
Academic Excellence

Our feeling was that if you are not connected to your place, you won’t take care of it. From this conversation emerged the idea of embracing our location and using it as a teaching and learning tool. 

Jon Andelson '70
Jonathon Andelson, Rosenfield Professor in Social Science
Academic Excellence

Our feeling was that if you are not connected to your place, you won’t take care of it. From this conversation emerged the idea of embracing our location and using it as a teaching and learning tool. 

Jon Andelson '70
Jonathon Andelson, Rosenfield Professor in Social Science
Academic Excellence

Our feeling was that if you are not connected to your place, you won’t take care of it. From this conversation emerged the idea of embracing our location and using it as a teaching and learning tool. 

Jon Andelson '70
Jonathon Andelson, Rosenfield Professor in Social Science
Academic Excellence

Our feeling was that if you are not connected to your place, you won’t take care of it. From this conversation emerged the idea of embracing our location and using it as a teaching and learning tool. 

Jon Andelson '70
Grinnell College Associate Professor Barry Driscoll
Global Grinnell

There's no substitute for the psychological impact of face-to-face interactions … The emotion in the workers’ voices and being in their spaces — that’s what sticks with you.

Barry Driscoll, Associate Professor
Grinnell College Associate Professor Barry Driscoll
Global Grinnell

There's no substitute for the psychological impact of face-to-face interactions … The emotion in the workers’ voices and being in their spaces — that’s what sticks with you.

Barry Driscoll, Associate Professor
Elizabeth Queatham
Campus & Community

Waterways in Iowa are stressed like never before, and the trusted repositories of environmental data are being eviscerated ... If we want to know what's going on, increasingly it's good if we can collect data ourselves.

Liz Queatham, Center for Prairie Studies
Elizabeth Queatham
Campus & Community

Waterways in Iowa are stressed like never before, and the trusted repositories of environmental data are being eviscerated ... If we want to know what's going on, increasingly it's good if we can collect data ourselves.

Liz Queatham, Center for Prairie Studies
Olivia Wang
Global Grinnell

Surfing has always been a part of my life throughout college, but the fellowship gave me the opportunity to pursue it beyond recreation.

Olivia Wang '25
Olivia Wang
Global Grinnell

Surfing has always been a part of my life throughout college, but the fellowship gave me the opportunity to pursue it beyond recreation.

Olivia Wang '25
Olivia Wang
Global Grinnell

Surfing has always been a part of my life throughout college, but the fellowship gave me the opportunity to pursue it beyond recreation.

Olivia Wang '25
Chikako stands outside and smiles at the viewer, while holding up two peace signs with their hands.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Meeting others who also work on the comfort women issue continuously ignites my passion to expand the network with more of those people who explore the same issue from various approaches.

Chikako Inoue '26
Chikako stands outside and smiles at the viewer, while holding up two peace signs with their hands.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Meeting others who also work on the comfort women issue continuously ignites my passion to expand the network with more of those people who explore the same issue from various approaches.

Chikako Inoue '26
Erik Genet ’26
Academic Excellence

The Goldwater Scholarship will provide me with newfound opportunities to not just seek answers, but crucially and critically propose pressing, thought-provoking questions for an ever-evolving world in need of each other’s gifts. 

EriK Genet '26
Erik Genet ’26
Academic Excellence

The Goldwater Scholarship will provide me with newfound opportunities to not just seek answers, but crucially and critically propose pressing, thought-provoking questions for an ever-evolving world in need of each other’s gifts. 

EriK Genet '26
Erik Genet ’26
Academic Excellence

The Goldwater Scholarship will provide me with newfound opportunities to not just seek answers, but crucially and critically propose pressing, thought-provoking questions for an ever-evolving world in need of each other’s gifts. 

EriK Genet '26
Monica Sanders, Grinnell's inaugural social innovator in residence
Campus & Community

Being the first in a new role comes with both responsibility and possibility. I see this residency as a chance to build a foundation that combines rigorous academic inquiry with hands-on, community-centered innovation. 

Monica Sanders
Nicholas Lampietti ’25
Global Grinnell

It's a story about ... seeking a greater understanding of existence. I hope this musical inspires audiences to reflect on their own journey and the shared human search for meaning. 

Nicholas Lampietti '25
Nicholas Lampietti ’25
Global Grinnell

It's a story about ... seeking a greater understanding of existence. I hope this musical inspires audiences to reflect on their own journey and the shared human search for meaning. 

Nicholas Lampietti '25
Laura Alvarez Ibanez standing in front of a river with cityscape in background
Campus & Community

I knew I wanted to … foster an environment that could promote a safe space for people to get to know each other, feel safe and most importantly, at home.

Laura Alvarez Ibanez '27
Laura Alvarez Ibanez standing in front of a river with cityscape in background
Campus & Community

I knew I wanted to … foster an environment that could promote a safe space for people to get to know each other, feel safe and most importantly, at home.

Laura Alvarez Ibanez '27
A woman smiles for a headshot

Your campus and classroom experience is going to challenge you to grow and expand your understanding of the world. But there is much that can be learned off campus, too.

Monique McLay Shore ’90
A woman smiles for a headshot

Students experience random acts of kindness around the town here, and there are myriad opportunities to participate and find a seat at the table as active and engaged citizens.

Delphina Baumann, founder of S.H.E. Counts
A man smiles for a headshot

Many of your fellow students become personally involved in a community, social, or educational endeavor off campus, which strengthens their college experience. I hope you will be part of this movement.

Dan Agnew, Mayor of Grinnell
A woman wears a pink button down shirt and stands in a river with a large butterfly net.

Our social environment affects how we study other organisms. We often use the animal world as justification or examples for how humans should be, which is dangerous.

Idelle Cooper ’01
A woman wears a pink button down shirt and stands in a river with a large butterfly net.

Our social environment affects how we study other organisms. We often use the animal world as justification or examples for how humans should be, which is dangerous.

Idelle Cooper ’01
Evan Griffith, wearing a sunhat, sits with a colleague under the shade of a small tree in Turkana, Kenya.

What is One Health? It’s “recognizing the interconnected relationships between human, animal, and environmental health and working together across those disciplines and sectors," says Griffith.

Evan Griffith ’15
Evan Griffith, wearing a sunhat, sits with a colleague under the shade of a small tree in Turkana, Kenya.

What is One Health? It’s “recognizing the interconnected relationships between human, animal, and environmental health and working together across those disciplines and sectors," says Griffith.

Evan Griffith ’15
A woman wearing a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources sweater stands in front of a lake and smiles at the camera.

Conservation work needs individuals who can foster a mindset of interconnectedness.

Sarah Strommen ’95
A woman wearing a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources sweater stands in front of a lake and smiles at the camera.

Conservation work needs individuals who can foster a mindset of interconnectedness.

Sarah Strommen ’95
A woman wearing a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources sweater stands in front of a lake and smiles at the camera.

Conservation work needs individuals who can foster a mindset of interconnectedness.

Sarah Strommen ’95
A woman assists a student in setting up a laboratory instrument for an experiment.

You never know where your life is going to take you. So be open to possibilities that might open up.

Carolyn Bosse
A woman assists a student in setting up a laboratory instrument for an experiment.

You never know where your life is going to take you. So be open to possibilities that might open up.

Carolyn Bosse
JoEllen Hoth and twelve other doctors in white scrubs stand on the front step of a hospital.

I really appreciate that I went to school in a time when I learned to relate to the patient, professionally, socially, and personally.

JoEllen Hoth ’62
JoEllen Hoth and twelve other doctors in white scrubs stand on the front step of a hospital.

I really appreciate that I went to school in a time when I learned to relate to the patient, professionally, socially, and personally.

JoEllen Hoth ’62
A woman smiles for a headshot

College is a moment of self-discovery, and as you make sense of who you are becoming through this new experience, our team works to co-create opportunities for you to reflect, connect, explore, engage, and strategize.

Vrinda Varia, Associate Chief Diversity Officer for Intercultural Student Life
A woman smiles for a headshot

The CRSSJ is for you whether you identify as religious or not; we hope this is a place for you to connect, explore big questions, and drink hot chocolate with friends.

Rabbi Sarah Brammer-Shlay, Dean of Religious Life and Chaplain/Rabbi
Autumn Wilke

Each year, the entering class is a highly qualified group of students that includes people with physical, psychological, and learning disabilities. We want you to know that Grinnell is committed to providing equal access and reasonable accommodations for our students with disabilities. We are happy to begin working with you on your access needs anytime.

Autumn Wilke, Associate Chief Diversity Officer for Disability Resources
A man smiles for a headshot

As you make your way as a young adult, there are many discoveries and choices that you'll make. My crew is eager to join you on your journey and can help you every step of the way.

Mark Peltz, Dean of the Center for Careers
Gabby Hernandez ’24

Our organization represents student voices to College faculty and administration, encourages student dialogue, and advocates for any other needs of the students.

A woman smiles for a headshot

Most services at SHAW are free for all students, and health insurance is not billed. If you have any questions or want to ask about specifics related to your health, feel free to reach out.

Alexis Steele, Manager of SHAW Operations
A woman smiles for a headshot

Although it’s voluntary to work with our office, we get to know more than half of the student body. We hope that will include you!

Joyce Stern, Dean of Student Success and Academic Advising
Dr. Landau stands in his lab and holds a petri dish. He is wearing glasses and a light purple button down shirt.

The experience of learning how to think scientifically can help develop a person's critical thinking skills. Scientific inquiry helps people differentiate between things that are real and things that are not real. 

Nathaniel Landau ’77
Caroline stands in front of the Pacific Ocean, with mountains in the background. She wears a black shirt and is smiling at the camera.

My work allows me to better see the connection between the research realm and the more human part of the world. In my current position, I am able to work towards making science more relevant for policy and decision making, and I find those goals to be a lot more tangible.

Caroline Graham ’16
Pascal Lafontant points to a computer screen, while a student follows his gesture. Both wear face masks. They are in his laboratory.

If you have taken a class with Professor Lafontant, you may have picked up on a sense of what he calls wonderment. Wonderment is a word that reflects his belief that the whole world of science is fascinating.

Cosette Rhoads ’23
Cassey stands under a blooming cherry blossom tree and holds her dog. She is wearing a denim dress and has her long hair down.

It’s a physician’s role to look beyond the analytics and think ‘What does this feel like to the patient and family? What does a longer wait time mean for future care?’

Cassey Koid ’11
Crys, a young person with curly short hair, wears a black shirt and smiles in front of a wooden background.

The best work that we can do for the environment, for nature and wildlife, and for each other, is get involved with the local communities because that is where the impact of our work can be seen.

Crys Moosman ’21
Crys, a young person with curly short hair, wears a black shirt and smiles in front of a wooden background.

The best work that we can do for the environment, for nature and wildlife, and for each other, is get involved with the local communities because that is where the impact of our work can be seen.

Crys Moosman ’21
Grinnell College square logo

She is a truth seeker and has an endless amount of energy to ensure her reporting is accurate, insightful, compassionate, and, if possible, connected to relatable historic events.

Teacher Reference for Finley Williams, 2021 Laurel Scholar
Curtis Walker

Whether I was devouring brisket or Egusi, I obtained knowledge through debates with my sisters, my moral compass through lessons from my parents, and wisdom by listening to elders who spoke at the table.

Curtis Walker, 2021 Laurel Scholar
Marquis Sullivan

I want to meet people from other places who can help me reach my goals and who I can help to reach theirs.

Marquis "Quis" Sullivan, 2021 Laurel Scholar
Grinnell College square logo

He is one of the greatest leaders our school has ever seen.

Teacher Reference for Julien Sims, 2021 Laurel Scholar
Kyla Pereles

Kyla is among the most capable and intellectually curious students I have ever had the opportunity to teach.

Teacher Reference for Kyla Pereles, 2021 Laurel Scholar
Toluwanimi Johnson

Tolu interacts with peers kindly, praising classmates for their presentations or arguments in class, and is someone who supports fellow students.

Teacher Reference for Tolu Johnson, 2021 Laurel Scholar
Terrance Dantzler

Since my freshman year, I’ve made it my priority to be in the front row of every class.

Terrance Dantzler, 2021 Laurel Scholar
Grinnell College square logo

She is one of the most perseverant students I have taught in my 15-year career. She’s an incredibly selfless human . . . who impresses and inspires me beyond belief.

Teacher Reference for Bem Asfaw, 2021 Laurel Scholar
Essi-Adokou headshot

Essi’s achievement reflects a work ethic unmatched by any current or former student.

Teacher Reference for Essi Adokou, 2021 Laurel Scholar
Aziza Mabrey-Wakefield headshot

Aziza sees injustice and she fights it with action and filmmaking. I admire her work.

Channel Turbides, Former Grinnell College Multicultural Program Specialist
Monica Chavez-Silva

The greater Grinnell community looks forward to the excitement and energy that students bring to our town each year. Grinnell is a town of many treasures, so we hope you’ll do some exploring and come to love the town of Grinnell as much as we do.

Monica Chavez-Silva
Joe Paglia

Many students come from very different backgrounds than my own, and it has been fascinating to hear about their lives and share about mine with them. Despite our differences, I’m always able to find wonderful similarities.

Joey Pagliai
Ashley Grundler

Many students say that taking a break from campus life to spend time with their mentee has been a highlight of their time in our community.

Ashley Grundler & Sandy Motta
Rita Mertens

The work toward achieving inclusion is never done; there is always progress to be made toward equity. We want you to be a contributing member of that progress and hope you’ll join this distinct community.

Rita Mertens
Deanna Shorb

The College is a religiously and spiritually diverse community, rich in personalities and filled with students, faculty, and staff who are eager to share their experiences and hear about yours.

Rev. Deanna Shorb
Willa Collins ’16 under the Golden Gate Bridge

I had no idea what four years in Iowa was going to be like, and that turned out to be perfect for me.

Willa Collins ’16, Law student
Vrishali Sinha ’19

That sense of social responsibility and really using your platform for good, which I very much learned at Grinnell, is something that [is] really important to me.

Vrishali Sinha ’19, Etsy Strategic Project Associate
Joe Beggs ’19 on TEDx stage

I got confidence, really, in my own skills, in my own ability to learn and to lead.

GENAssist chief executive officer, HIVE Medical chief executive officer
Courtney Carter ’21

I love that Grinnell allows me to pursue both my passions—physics and art. I appreciate the wealth of resources Grinnell provides its students, whether this has been in the form of cost-free art supplies or scientific conference funding. I hope to pursue a research career studying the formation history of our galaxy. My dream is to become one of the only 23 Black women to hold a Ph.D. in astronomy.

Courtney Carter ’21
Danielle Oberlander ’21

I am an active member in the Grinnell community. I have found my passion for social justice and being an advocate for people in need. During my four years, I have felt so much support and love, which have helped me blossom into the person I am today.

Danielle Oberlander ’21
Rick Johnson ’21

After two younger brothers saw my financial aid package they chose to come to Grinnell too. Your support has changed the lives of my family.

Rick Johnson ’21
Danny Carter ’22

I am taking every opportunity that I have been granted. I am on the football team and on my way toward a double major and a concentration. I have completed a MAP [Mentored Advanced Project] and look forward to future internships made possible by Grinnell. I would otherwise not be able to afford this education. I am so grateful for my time and experience thus far.

Danny Carter ’22
Allison Wong ’12 at the United Nations Foundation

Why would I go somewhere that doesn’t feel the way Grinnell feels? I knew I wanted to be in an intentional community — with individuals who were both focused on their academics and dedicated to creating a supportive environment.

Allison Wong ’12, Officer
Alexandra Odom ’16 in front of a tree with autumn leaves

There was a point that I was like ‘I love teaching, but I also really love research,’ and I didn’t realize that there was a career where I could kind of meld the two.

Alexandra Odom ’16, Ph.D. student in history
Sam Nakahira

Coming to Grinnell, seeing so many interesting people organizing and doing different things …, opened me to other ways of thinking and thinking I could do more [creative work].

Sam Nakahira ’19, Master of Fine Arts at the Center for Cartoon Studies
John Mohan

We have not only a common origin, but a common fate as well — death. That being the case, why can’t we be a little kinder to one another?

John M. Mohan, 1936-2003

Alvin Irby '07

I recently congratulated Scott Turley on his 20-year anniversary, and, of course, I asked him if my sweet potato pie is still in the dessert rotation at Grinnell.

Scott said, ‘We serve your pie recipe every Thanksgiving at the College. We never have leftover sweet potato pie.’

Sneha Saigal ’12 with her American host family on graduation day

If you’re an international student considering studying at Grinnell, a great way to feel at home quickly is to participate in Friends of International Students (FIS). FIS will pair you with an American host family and introduce you to life in Iowa.

Claire Branigan ‘11

My language skills ended up being one of my strongest, and most important, assets.

Erin Whalen ’12 talking with a student

I came to Grinnell as a biology major and had also thought about law school for social justice issues. Then I fell in love with anthropology.

Erin Whalen ’12
Professor Eckhart and student at CERA

Where the sciences are headed with research is exactly what’s embedded into classes at Grinnell. It starts from the very beginning with Intro to Biology, and continues as two or three authentic research projects for every class after that.

Vince Eckhart, Waldo S. Walker Professor of Biology
Leslie Delmenico at desk

Research is a huge component in the arts. It's what you perform, it's what you study, it's what you create scripts based upon. It’s what leads you to stages and shows well beyond Grinnell.

Lesley Delmenico, associate professor of theatre and dance
Lana Katai

I love that I go to a college where the only thing people care about is the quality of the character and the things that I bring to the table, not what I'm wearing, or how I sound, or how I look. At Grinnell, I feel free to be who I am.

Lana Katai ’21
Mithila Iyer

Grinnell was really the first place where I actually had the chance, or the self-awareness, to pursue something that was a little bit out of my comfort zone.

Mithila Iyer ’19
Nathan Calvin

I would definitely credit that experience with helping me to have a persuasive application and making me want to do this type of work.

Nathan Calvin ’18
Kaydi-Ann Newsome ’14 talking to another person while pointing at their laptop

We went through the fire, went through the ice, and I learned how to come out stronger. I’m a resilient Grinnellian.

Kaydi-Ann Newsome ’14

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Campus & Community
We invite you to a virtual visit (thumbnail)
This video is an introduction to our "Choose Your Virtual Visit Path" web page, where you can learn more about Grinnell from the comfort of your own home. Go to www.grinnell.edu/visit-path for more information.

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