Center for Careers, Life, and Service News

Teresa Whiteman is no stranger to the finance and insurance industry, with positions at organizations such as Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Insurance Company and Medica Health Insurance Company under her belt. Now, Whiteman has ”the best job ever” — advising Grinnell students as they explore careers in investment banking, entrepreneurship, insurance, consulting, corporate functions, and related fields as Grinnell College’s Director of Business and Finance Career Community.

Dakota Chandler’s career has taken her from the mailroom at Creative Artists Agency to Warner Bros. Pictures and Hulu, with stops in fintech and home furnishings along the way. Now, she’s bringing that experience to Grinnell College as the leader of the Arts, Media, and Communications Career Community in the Center for Careers, Life, and Service (CLS).

“Sounds of Collective Motion” brings Grinnell students and community members together.

For Sebastian Mrotzek ’28, addressing hunger means thinking about both what a community needs today and what could make that need less common tomorrow.

An economics major at Grinnell College, Mrotzek spent the summer working with local organizations focused on food access as part of the College’s Summer of Service program. His experience has taken him from stocking the community fridge at Drake Community Library and helping with community meals to volunteering with organizations working throughout Grinnell and Poweshiek County.

We are excited to welcome Antionette Priscilla Carroll, our 2026 Social Innovator in Residence, who began her residency at Grinnell this week and will be with us through Oct. 22. During the weeks ahead, Antionette will engage with students, faculty, staff, and community members through a residency centered on trust, equity, design, and the relationships that help people and communities create meaningful change.

For Roland Swank ‘29 a summer internship with the Iowa Faith & Climate Network offered an opportunity to explore a question sparked by attending one of the organization’s conferences: What does Islam say about caring for the environment?

As a summer intern with the Grinnell Area Arts Council (GAAC), Pruszinski's work spans nearly every aspect of the organization—from youth arts education and public programming to nonprofit administration and communications. The experience is helping her grow as an educator while offering a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to keep a community arts organization thriving.

This summer, Grinnell College is investing more than $1.2 million to ensure students can pursue meaningful research, internships, and community-engaged learning experiences that prepare them for lives of purpose and impact.

This summer that passion evolved through her volunteer work with Grinnell’s Civic Education & Innovation (CEI) Summer of Service program with the Grinnell Fire Department and regional emergency response organizations. Rather than focusing solely on emergency response, the position introduces Trujillo to the many agencies working together to strengthen public health, emergency preparedness, and community safety throughout Poweshiek County.

Physics student Christine Ko ’28 gains hands-on experience with advanced scientific instrumentation through a summer internship at the University of Iowa.