2026 Alumni Awards
After considering nominations received from the Grinnell alumni community, the Grinnell College Alumni Council has selected 15 exceptional Grinnellians to receive the 2026 Alumni Awards.
The Alumni Award recognizes individuals who embody Grinnell College’s mission of lifetime learning and service. Nominated by their classmates and peers, recipients have distinguished themselves by their service to their careers, their community, and/or the College.
The 15 recipients will be celebrated May 30 during Alumni Assembly at Reunion 2026.
The 2026 Alumni Award recipients are:
- Robert C. Musser ’62
- Carolyn Canfield ’71
- Nancy Mills ’72
- Russell W. Damtoft ’76
- Robert Gehorsam ’76
- David Ten Eyck ’76
- Barb Cardell ’86
- Robert Quashie ’86
- Althea Ricketts ’86
- Christyne Lawson ’87
- Julia Gage ’96
- Marcos Ortega ’97
- Meredith Hellmer ’01
- Cassandra M.L. Miller ’16
- Langston Thomas ’20
Robert C. Musser ’62
Described by his classmates as a consummate Grinnellian, Robert C. Musser’s achievements, service, and generosity model the College’s mission of lifetime learning and service. After working in Nigeria for the Ford Foundation, Musser became an influential international business leader at Mobile Oil Corp, serving over the years as treasurer for the Europe and U.S. divisions, chief information officer, and controller. After joining Grinnell’s Board of Trustees in 1995, he helped integrate and advance the use of the newest technologies on campus. A Life Trustee since 2007, Musser has also served as class agent. A basketball standout, Musser is also a Grinnell Athletics Hall of Famer.
Carolyn Canfield ’71
A tireless and passionate patient care activist, Carolyn Canfield’s life and career have been shaped by a selfless, outward-looking concern for others. Devastated by the loss of her husband following a hospital stay, Canfield launched an additional career in her 60s that identified lapses in patient care due to communication silos between patients and institutional health care. Her insights have led health care groups to re-think how they provide patient care. Canfield’s voice on these issues has been heard worldwide as she lectures at international universities and medical conferences, along with teaching at the University of British Columbia.
Nancy Mills ’72
During her 36 years teaching chemistry at Trinity University, Nancy Mills had an enormous impact on science education. An expert in physical organic chemistry, Mills has published over 60 articles and made hundreds of presentations. She also built such a successful undergraduate research program that she received a prestigious national award for Research at an Undergraduate Institution in 2013 from the American Chemical Society. Her extensive service work has extended to the larger chemistry community where she has held many national committee and organizational leadership positions. Mills also is described as a veritable workhorse for her local League of Women Voters.
Russell Damtoft ’76
A professional peacemaker, Russ Damtoft was one of the pioneers for U.S. foreign policy efforts to help build the capacity of antitrust agencies abroad. Damtoft recently retired from a distinguished career at the Federal Trade Commission where he was associate director for the Office of International Affairs. In this role, he regulated competitive markets across the globe. By bringing a superb mix of theory and practice to the task, he has become a highly demanded advisor for countries attempting to strengthen their developing economies. Since 2014, he has helped Ukraine implement reforms aimed at improving economic performance and combating corruption.
Robert Gehorsam ’76
Robert Gehorsam is a connector of people, ideas, and opportunity. An exemplary mentor to scores of Grinnell students and alumni as well as start-ups and nonprofits, he has generously shared his experience. At Grinnell, this has included teaching a recent short course titled Entrepreneurship and Social Change and mentoring students through his service on the Wilson Center Advisory Board. During his tenure on Grinnell’s Alumni Council, Gehorsam served as president and helped modernize the Council’s structure and work, including the development of MentorGrinnell. He has also made substantial contributions to his profession in digital media, immersive technology, and educational transformation. A contributing author to The Carbon Almanac, Gehorsam is also helping shape groundbreaking discussions on the global movement to fight climate change.
David Ten Eyck ’76
As a lawyer and judge, David Ten Eyck brought not only a keen legal mind and unwavering integrity, but also a deep humanity. Early in his career, Ten Eyck was a legal aid attorney on the Leech Lake Reservation, assisting members of three tribal nations. Recognizing that laws were not always framed to promote justice for all, he sought and won election to the Minnesota State Senate. In 1999, he was appointed to the Minnesota State District Court where he established a specialized treatment court for individuals with addictions, DWI offenses, and mental health issues, helping them make life changes.
Barb Cardell ’86
Barb Cardell has built a powerful legacy as a national leader, advocate, and educator in the fight for the rights and dignity of people living with HIV. A long-time survivor of the HIV community,
Cardell’s work spans decades and includes transformative advocacy in HIV criminalization reform and community-based public health initiatives. Since 2011, they have co-chaired the US People Living with HIV Caucus. As the Positive Women’s Network-USA program director, Cardell developed leadership, advocacy, and policy training for women, trans, and gender diverse people living with HIV. With an extraordinary commitment to mentorship, they have nurtured countless advocates, helping emerging leaders find their voice.
Robert Quashie ’86
A bridge-builder and community-creator, Robet Quashie has an uncommon ability to explore potentially contentious topics in ways that bring people together. In 2000, Quashie established his own consulting practice often focusing on initiatives that served diverse populations, such as leading a strategic plan to rebrand the National Black MBA Association and supporting L’Oréal’s public relations outreach to the Black, Latine, and Asian American communities. Quashie later joined the American Dental Association, rising to chief operating officer in 2022. He also has served in numerous volunteer roles at the College, notably co-chairing Grinnell’s 2021 virtual Multicultural Reunion, nurturing relationships with alums and students during the depths of the pandemic.
Althea Ricketts ’86
Known for her positivity, compassion, intelligence, and action, Althea Ricketts is a leader in the audio/visual profession and in bringing Grinnellians together. She incorporates the values of sustainability and diversity, equity, and inclusion as the vice president of corporate initiatives at Shure – an audio products manufacturer. Ricketts has traveled the world as a respected ambassador in her field. She has volunteered for many industry, DEI, and sustainability boards and has mentored countless new professionals. Ricketts also served as co-chair for Grinnell’s 2023 Multicultural Reunion and helped engineer the launch of the Grinnell Black Alumni Network (GBAN).
Christyne Lawson ’87
With little fanfare and quiet humility, Christyne Lawson uses her healing powers in one of the most underserved parts of the country. Lawson left private practice in 2015 to become a family physician at the Detroit Community Health Connection. Her ability to relate to her patients provided invaluable insights into the cultural beliefs and fears they were experiencing regarding their medical care – viewpoints often rooted in past trauma or mistreatment. She began transforming the patient experience, building holistic practices and taking time to learn about her patients’ lives. As a result, patients now often regularly return and refer friends. Lawson also volunteers to teach medical students at Wayne State University.
Julia Gage ’96
In addition to being a researcher with high-impact scientific contributions, Julia Gage has demonstrated deep empathy and commitment to the countries, institutions, and communities she has worked with. A program director for the National Cancer Institute’s Center for Global Health, Gage is focused on translating discoveries regarding the natural history of HPV into improved screening and diagnosis for cervical precancer. Her findings have been widely published, and the research has helped countless women with limited medical and social resources domestically and abroad. In 2022, Gage was awarded the Hubert H. Humphrey Award for Service to America for her work with vulnerable populations.
Marcos Ortega ’97
Throughout his esteemed academic career, Marcos Ortega has made a profound commitment to fostering inclusivity and lifting up students from underrepresented backgrounds. An associate professor and director of integrated education at the Woody L. Hunt School of Dental Medicine in El Paso, Ortega collaborates on dual-credit programs with local high schools, aiming to provide students with early exposure to biotechnology and health professions. He also has established and led programs and student organizations aimed at increasing the participation of underrepresented groups in STEM fields. In addition, Ortega has made significant strides in his research for developing therapeutic strategies against viral infections.
Meredith Hellmer ’01
Meredith Hellmer has given tangible support to countless people going through some
of the hardest times of their lives. A clinical social worker at Cleveland’s largest public hospital, Hellmer provides her patients with emotional and practical support. Her caseload includes clients from the Cuyahoga County Corrections Center. In 2006, she began volunteering to register incarcerated individuals to vote, which has resulted in thousands of new voters. Along the way, she became a community leader, building a network of volunteers and eventually serving as president of Northeast Ohio Voter Advocates where she has extended voter registration efforts to food banks, public services organizations, and churches.
Pioneer Awards
The Alumni Council also selected two Pioneer Award recipients. The Pioneer Award is a distinctive Alumni Award, which recognizes noteworthy alumni who have graduated from Grinnell College within the past ten years. Honorees offer inspiration as models for their demonstrated commitment to the values and mission of Grinnell in such a short time.
Cassandra Miller ’16
Cassie Miller is deeply committed to addressing the climate threats in her home state of New Mexico through rigorous research and tireless service. Miller is finishing up her Ph.D. in plant-fungal desert ecology at the University of New Mexico. Her research seeks to understand desert ecosystem resilience to climate-induced changes in temperature and precipitation regimens. She also serves on the Central New Mexico Regional Climate Planning Taskforce, collaborating with a wide array of stakeholders to address climate challenges. As a proud Latina scientist, Miller has also made it a priority to support future generations of women of color in STEM.
Langston Thomas ’20
Motivated by the belief that equity must guide institutional design and public policy, Langston Thomas is confronting complex problems to strengthen vulnerable communities. Currently pursuing his Ph.D. in urban studies at Georgia State University, his research is developing a
strategic blueprint for community empowerment that seeks to understand systemic
inequalities in democratic nations. Turning ideas into action, Thomas founded Democratic Systems, Inc., an innovative nonprofit focused on targeting the roots of systemic inequalities and empowering sustainable solutions. Thomas also has taken on a leadership role in the Grinnell Black Alumni Network (GBAN) serving as co-chair of the Student Engagement Committee.
— by Jeremy Shapiro
For your information:
Nominations for future Alumni Awards are accepted at any time, though nominees are only considered when their class is celebrating a Reunion year. To nominate a fellow Grinnellian, visit the Alumni Awards page and complete the nomination form.
To read more alumni news, check out our news archive and like the Alumni & Friends Facebook page.