Equitable opportunities
April 08, 2025 — Michael Kahn ’74 was a student at Grinnell College at the beginning of the transition to an individualized curriculum. The opportunity to delve, hands-on, into a variety of subjects and disciplines was formative in his eclectic career path, from high tech engineering to financial services leadership roles. The majority of his employment was at TIAA financial services, where he served as a transformational leader in many of the company’s key business initiatives.
“I was able to explore things I was curious about at Grinnell, like world music and electronic music composition,” Kahn says. “It was a true liberal arts education that prepared me to experience the world from many different perspectives.”
Michael ’74 and
Virgina Munger Kahn ’76
For the last 25 years, Kahn has prioritized creating experiential opportunities for other Grinnellians. The latest example is a $1 million addition to a planned gift Michael and his wife, Virginia Munger Kahn ’76, originally established in 2017. The Michael Kahn ’74 and Virginia Munger Kahn ’76 Endowed Fund for High Impact Experiences is designed to prepare students to lead purposeful and impactful lives and careers. The fund – which the Kahns will continue to support throughout their lifetimes – will help fund study abroad experiences, internships and externships, research opportunities, and professional development conferences.
The Kahns applaud Grinnell’s work to provide access to higher education for all students through financial aid and academic support. They learned, however, that high impact experiences often were a missing piece for economically disadvantaged students and those from historically marginalized groups who have a much lower participation rate in these career-advancing practices. They were inspired to support the College’s efforts to make such opportunities a high priority.
“While we have equitable access, Grinnell is now also focused on providing equitable opportunities,” Kahn says. “These high impact experiences can really change a graduate’s readiness for their life post-Grinnell.”
The ambition to facilitate these opportunities for Grinnell students began when a student reached out to inquire about an internship possibility. That initial connection bore much fruit; Kahn went on to connect 45 students with summer internship opportunities at TIAA over the years.
Kahn actively mentored the students, talking with them about interviewing skills, setting up lunches with other professionals, and giving them an introduction to the world of finance at an altruistic company that aligns with Grinnell’s values. Even after their internships, he continued to share conversations about the investment field and potential career changes.
Michael Kahn ’74 has prioritized creating experiential opportunities for Grinnellians.
Working with summer interns got Kahn engaged with the present life of the College. He was so impressed with the economics majors with whom he worked that he enthusiastically said yes when asked to serve on Grinnell’s Board of Trustees in 2015. Kahn has been the board’s chair since 2021.
One of his first projects as a trustee was chairing a fossil fuel divestment and climate change task force, in response to student requests. Drawing upon his professional experience, he facilitated the group through expert panels open to the entire campus as they explored how to positively impact climate change. The model they pioneered of how to engage in civil discourse on complex social issues in a way that is transparent, inclusive, and thorough, has since been replicated by the board in other situations.
Rekindling his involvement with Grinnell led to elevated giving toward new efforts at the school. Michael and Virginia have supported the Pioneer Fund and have funded internships through the Center for Careers, Life, and Service (CLS). In addition, the Kahn family helped establish the Sustainability Student Research Fund that awards MAP funds to students interested in environmental research. They also have supported Renfrow Hall, Grinnell’s new downtown residence hall.
“I am so proud of my college and its high priority on access for a richly diverse student body who graduate equipped to have a positive impact on the world, no matter their chosen professions,” he says. “It is gratifying to leave a legacy to help sustain this truly special institution.”
—by Kim Kobersmith