President News

President Harris joins a distinguished group of national leaders recognized for advancing institutional excellence and community impact.

Grinnell College has pledged $55,000 to support critical safety upgrades in the Emergency Department at UnityPoint Health. Grinnell Regional Medical Center (GRMC) is enhancing safety measures to ensure the well-being of both patients and team members. Recognizing that the Emergency Department (ED) is a fast-paced environment where situations can change quickly, GRMC has introduced new initiatives designed to reduce risk and create a safer, more supportive space for care

Grinnell College was recognized with a GrinnTogether Award at the Grinnell Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Celebration on March 4, honoring the College’s positive collaborations and exemplary work to make Grinnell a great place to live, learn, work, and play.

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Attorney and LGBTQ Advocate Chase Strangio ’04, DL ’18 Will Deliver the 2026 Grinnell College Commencement Address during ceremonies on May 18. Strangio, Holocaust survivor and humanitarian Sam Harris ’58, and high school teacher Valerie Schrag will be awarded honorary degrees during the ceremonies.

Beginning in fall 2026, newly admitted students who meet the requirements will receive the Iowa Dean’s Scholarship, which provides a renewable $50,000 annual merit-based award for all admitted residents and high school graduates from Iowa who have attained a 4.0+ weighted GPA in core academic classes or have succeeded in the most demanding curriculum offered by their schools. 

Grinnell College has been recognized with the 2024–25 Best of CASE District VI Award in the category of Special Events: In-Person (Multi-Day) for the dedication of Renfrow Hall. The honor, announced last week by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), highlights the collaborative work that made the September 2024 celebration a powerful tribute to community, legacy, and place.

The Wilson Center’s annual Pioneer Weekend pitch competition took place from Friday, September 26, to Sunday, September 28. The objective of Pioneer Weekend is to bring together student innovators to develop and pitch a business or nonprofit plan. It encourages hands-on experiences and helps develop skills critical to entrepreneurship. The top three teams also receive cash prizes.

Grinnell has been awarded a $400,000 grant from the National Science Foundation’s Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity (EPIIC) program [ITE-2519806]. This competitive program supports colleges and universities in building capacity to engage with external partners and contribute to the U.S. innovation economy by working in cohorts to address similar challenges and opportunities.

Four new members have been elected to the Grinnell College Board of Trustees.  All trustees are elected by the full board and serve a term of four years; each trustee is eligible for re-election for three additional consecutive, full terms.  

President Anne F. Harris recently began her year-long term of service as chair of the Board of Directors for the Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM). The Board of Directors collaborates with the ACM president on efforts to strengthen the member institutions and oversees policies, projects, studies, and activities.