Alumni Council Spring 2025 Summary

The Alumni Council gathered on campus Thursday, April 3 through Saturday, April 5 for its spring meeting. President Scott Shepherd ’82 presided over the meeting, which was attended by 22 members of the Council. 

A group photo of the Alumni Council while wearing various fun masks.
Alumni Council members celebrate the end of a productive and fun weekend by masking up. We appreciate all of these “masked crusaders” for Grinnell! 

The following is a summary of the meeting:

  • In concert with the Grinfluencers, the Council hosted a fun and successful “etiquette dinner” on Thursday evening, attended by over 60 students;
  • The Council heard from a panel of student affairs staff to learn about the new G-CORE program, changes and growth in Student Support and Advocacy, the expansion of services in Student Health and Wellness (SHAW) and specific updates on First-Generation, Low Income (FGLI) student programming, resources, and advocacy. The Philanthropy Task Force of the Council led a spring fundraising effort securing over $21,000 in resources to help remodel a campus space to be a new FGLI student lounge;
  • Adam Laug, avp for development, led a session providing training and dialogue regarding the upcoming Campaign to continue to advance and uplift the Council’s important leadership role in philanthropy at the College;
  • The Council met with Karen Edwards, dean of international student affairs and exchange visitors, for an informal lunch conversation about the ways Grinnell is providing support for international students at this time of upheaval in higher education and at the federal level; 
  • President Anne F. Harris joined the Council for a lengthy discussion on several key topics:
    • The College’s legislative strategy at the state and federal level within a civic education approach focused on rights and legislation. She discussed the campus forums and scenario planning groups in place to bring students, faculty, and staff together to work on shared understanding and within our system of shared governance.
    • Updates from the winter Board of Trustees’ meetings regarding the College’s strategies for financial sustainability while maintaining our commitment to the need-blind admission policy
    • The athletic identity project underway to consider and recommend a new athletic visual identity for Pioneer Athletics. 
  • Joe Bagnoli, vp for enrollment, presented to the Council to discuss the newly admitted class of 2029 and the remarkable achievement of forming a class that meets Grinnell’s mission and commitments in this time of uncertainty for higher education; 
  • The Awards Committee selected the 2025 recipients of the Alumni Senior Awards and finalized plans for Alumni Assembly, which will take place on Saturday, May 31 from 4:30-5:45 p.m. in Herrick Chapel. The event will include the presentation of the 2025 Alumni Awards.
  • The Dialogue Across Difference Task Force presented a final overview and marketing plan for a new virtual event series to kick off in fall 2025 exploring [America’s Place in the World];
  • The Career Exploration Task Force celebrated its work to help recruit 97 student externship experiences held over spring break, debriefed the program, and met with staff from the Center for Careers, Life and Service (CLS) to consider continued collaborative projects for next year;
  • The Philanthropy Task force celebrated its work securing $21,500 for the First-Gen Low-Income (FGLI) Community Space, toured the designated space with Student Affairs staff, and discussed stewardship strategies,
  • The Membership Development Committee oversaw the election of two new members to Council: Bob Eckardt ’73 and David Calvert ’75.  
  • Suha Gillani ’16 was elected as the next President-Elect of the Alumni Council.
  • The Council concluded its meetings by celebrating and recognizing its two departing members – Robert Gehorsam ’76 and Bernard Jackson ’86. 
Bernard Jackson ’86 and Robert Gehorsam ’76
This was the final Alumni Council meeting for Bernard Jackson ’86, left, and Robert Gehorsam ’76, who both served a year as Council president.

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. Our thanks for your continued interest in the work of the Council.

Warm regards,

Scott Shepherd ’82, Alumni Council President 
Jayn Bailey Chaney ’05, Assistant Vice President of Alumni and Donor Relations