Development and Alumni Relations News

Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith visited Grinnell College this past weekend as part of Renfrow Hall Dedication Weekend. Take a look at her weekend and other exciting events through this photo series.

On Sept. 28, Grinnell College will dedicate Renfrow Hall to Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith ’37, DHL ’19, and her inspiring life of achievement, service, and generosity. The ceremony will celebrate not only the opening of this unique space but will also honor the remarkable legacy of Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith.

As a Grinnell College student, Frederick Morgan Taylor 1926 sang first tenor with Glee Club; stared in a play, “The Goal;” studied English and business administration, and was known for dancing the best Charleston on campus. He also was the fastest hurdler in the world.

Grinnell alum Sarah Jolie ’87 has always hung her Black Lives Matter and Pride flag on her front porch – and continued to do so despite the persistence of a chronic vandal.

Renovations are underway to the Hannah Alumni House, 1527 Broad St., thanks to a $1 million gift made by Mary Emily Hannah ’58, DL ’82.

On July 14, Grinnell’s first Black woman graduate, Edith Renfrow Smith ’37, will mark her 110th birthday — an amazing milestone in a life of achievement, service, and generosity.

Princess Joseph ’25, an independent studies major from St. Lucia, was honored for her leadership and community engagement both on campus and in the broader Grinnell community.

Jill Petsel, director of major gifts in Development and Alumni Relations, discusses family, life in Grinnell, and the "trip of a lifetime."

At Omni Ecosystems in Chicago, Michael Davenport ’92 is leading the movement to create green roofs that prioritize biodiversity.

During the pandemic, Brian Smith ’94 made it his mission to support his fellow clergy as they lived with the reality of COVID, which kept them from physically being with their congregants.