New FGLI Lounge to be named as memorial for Dr. Michelle Rebelsky
December 18, 2025 — The new lounge for Grinnell’s First-Generation and Low-Income (FGLI) community has drawn in students this fall to study, play games, and build a sense of belonging on campus.
The space will soon have a new name with an inspirational FGLI story: the Dr. Michelle Rebelsky Memorial First Generation and Low-Income Lounge.
Dr. Michelle Rebelsky
Sam Rebelsky, a beloved Grinnell College computer science professor, and his sons recently made a gift to establish an FGLI Endowment Program Fund and name the lounge in memory of his wife, Dr. Michelle Rebelsky, who passed away last year. Michelle was an FGLI student at the University of Chicago who went on to have a successful career as a physician. The lounge’s new name will memorialize her and recognize her achievements.
The Rebelsky family are long-time supporters of FGLI students. Sam has taught at Grinnell since 1997 with a sensitivity to FGLI students’ unique challenges, gained from his relationship with Michelle. At one point, a student confided in him that it was difficult to pay $10 for a department T-shirt, so he told organizers he would cover the cost for any student who didn’t purchase one. Lunches out with his summer research students are always provided by him.
“I try to remember lessons from Michelle’s own life, the assumptions about what FGLI students are up against and what support they have,” he says. “It’s better to assume that no one can afford it than to think that everyone can.”
Maggie Bell ’17, left, associate director of the FGLI program at Grinnell College, is joined for a photo by professor Sam Rebelsky and his son, William ’17.
During the 2024-25 school year, the Grinnell College Alumni Council spearheaded a fundraising effort that resulted in more than $21,000 to renovate and furnish the lounge. Located inside the Joe Rosenfield ’25 Center, the lounge is designed to be a multipurpose space.
Studying is popular, and the space creates opportunities for students to do this in various ways; recently, three students listened to jazz music and practiced their French together on the giant white board. As far as socializing, a small group of first-year students gathers regularly and has worked its way through every game in the library.
Currently, 17 percent of the Grinnell population identifies as FGLI. As with any underrepresented group, especially when their identity is invisible, college can feel alienating and isolating. Dedicated space and programming increase retention and graduation rates for FGLI students and communicates they are valuable members of the community, says Maggie Bell ’17, associate director of the FGLI program at Grinnell College.
The Rebelskys’ gift will enhance programmatic offerings inside and outside the lounge. Historically, support for FGLI students focused on material needs, such as lending libraries. Grinnell leaders are now thinking more holistically. They are envisioning events for community building and leadership development and travel for FGLI students to attend speaker series or conferences.
The FGLI student Advisory Committee gathered for a group photo inside the lounge.
“This gift will definitely open up possibilities that beforehand wouldn’t fit in our program or structure,” Bell says.
Bell also plans to increase opportunities for a well-known impact practice: mentoring. Already, FGLI students receive feedback from faculty and staff about finances, academics, and more during monthly mentoring lunches. They also participate in frequent virtual alumni mentoring sessions.
“I would like to facilitate more structured alumni connections,” Bell says. “Many students are already thinking about their careers in their first year, and these relationships could support that.”
Michelle understood the obstacles that FGLI students must overcome. Struggling to communicate with parents about collegiate experiences and enduring slights from professors embedded in cultural assumptions were often part and parcel of being an FGLI student, Sam says. Increased financial responsibilities at school and home also means many students must work while attending college. Michelle had a graveyard security shift in college and spent 20 hours a week in a research lab for two years during medical school.
“Those challenges strengthened Michelle’s resolve and sense of purpose,” Sam says. She didn’t get into medical school the first time but went on to graduate with medical society honors. As the first long-term female physician in the town of Grinnell, she defended her right to nurse during meetings and spoke out about being called by her first name instead of her last as her male colleagues were. As a family physician, delivering babies made her the happiest: she helped birth more than 1,000 into the world.
A couple of the post-renovations spaces are shown in the Dr. Michelle Rebelsky Memorial First Generation and Low-Income Lounge.
Other Grinnell projects have also benefited from the Rebelskys’ support. To broaden participation in computing, they have funded conference attendance that supports the involvement of people in undeserved groups. They also have made gifts to help host on-campus events for women and people of color.
Sam hopes that having Michelle’s name on the lounge will prove aspirational for students. Bell thinks it will be.
“Students will see themselves reflected in Michelle’s experience and that’s powerful,” Bell says. “Hearing about someone doing things they couldn’t even imagine shows students what is possible for them.”
—by Kim Kobersmith