Kopelmans address questions often asked by fellow parents
September 09, 2024 — Robin Cook Kopelman ’95 and Todd Kopelman ’96 recently helped move their son, Julian Kopelman ’28, into his residence hall at Grinnell College.
It’s a routine they have become quite familiar with during their own time in Grinnell and their oldest son’s time on campus. Quinn Kopelman ’23 is now in law school at the University of Pennsylvania.
Robin and Todd have been involved in numerous family and alumni events, serving as chairs of the Grinnell College Parents and Families Leadership Council and hosting the Iowa City summer picnic.
The Kopelmans gather for a group photo. Pictured left to right are Johanna, Quinn, Robin, Todd, Julian and Hank.
The Kopelmans met while on campus. Todd, a psychology major at Grinnell, went on to get his Master of Social Work and then a Ph.D. in psychology. Robin majored in biology and then studied medicine at Iowa. She became a perinatal psychiatrist and women’s mental health specialist, then joined a private practice in 2019. Todd was a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Iowa before leaving in 2023 to join a private practice.
To help families get better acquainted with Grinnell, Robin and Todd answered five questions that are commonly asked by parents of new Grinnell College students.
Q: How can I still be a part of my child’s life from afar?
A: There are so many way parents stay connected to their children during the college years and what works varies from child to child and family to family. When Todd and I were at Grinnell, I always called home right when I arrived while Todd would check in a few months later. We didn’t love our families any differently, but we definitely had different styles! We are so lucky to live in a time when it is easier than ever to stay connected. Texting regularly and setting regular times to video call has worked well for us and our college (and now law school) students.
Living in Iowa City, we were lucky to be able to visit for sporting events, Family Weekend, and an occasional random drop-ins. If life allows for that, it’s wonderful, but there are also opportunities to keep tabs on Grinnell activities from afar through social media, livestreams, and college publications. These can be great conversation starters. We do have a non-Grinnellian college student as well, and staying in touch does look a little different with her. In the end, we love being informed about our college kids lives, but also want them living successfully and independently, so we stay in touch on their terms.
Q: What are your suggestions for need-to-try food in Grinnell area?
A: We love going to Grin City Bakery when we have the chance to visit. The donuts are amazing!
Along with many other families, we really truly love the longtime classic Rube’s Steakhouse (and have since our own college years!) It’s a fun place to go if you enjoy a good grill-your-own experience. And yes, there are yummy options for vegetarians! It’s located in Montour, which is about 20 miles outside of Grinnell.
Do not miss these other two Grinnell institutions: 1. Dari Barn – fun ice cream dishes and so much more. 2. Pagliais Pizza – the pizza is great, and you must have the cheese bread!
Need coffee? Saints Rest is the excellent “go to.” Want an inexpensive Midwestern cafe experience? Try Frontier!
And finally, in recent years we’ve added Maria’s Fresh Mex and Hometown Heroes to our casual rotation and have enjoyed many nicer meals at Prairie Canary. Also, we’ve heard great things about the new Indian restaurant, I-80 Dhaba, and can’t wait to try it!
Todd Kopelman ’96, left, and Robin Cook Kopelman ’95 have enjoyed biking the trail from Grinnell to Rock Creek State Park.
Q: Being in nature is important to many families – can you recommend local areas for exploration?
A: Grinnell has a number of options nearby for getting outdoors that can fit into a quick visit or be a part of your college student’s life. A jaunt around Arbor Lake (alone or as part of a longer outing on one of the paved trails in town) or a visit to Grinnell College’s CERA or the Jacob Krumm Preserve are all lovely. In recent years we’ve especially enjoyed biking the paved trail on the west side of town to and from Rock Creek State Park. It’s an awesome and, perhaps unexpectedly, hilly workout! If you have more time, enjoy one of Iowa’s many other state parks. We have some hidden gems!
Q: If my child needs resources at some point (academic assistance, physical or mental health, etc.) where should I point them?
A: Professors are highly accessible and want to help. If students have specific questions about class materials, encourage them to either drop-in during their professor’s scheduled office hours or email them. We definitely have encouraged our college students to communicate with their professors and access all available resources. Time and again, we’ve been especially impressed by the support from the Center for Careers, Life, and Services – a resource that didn’t exist when we were at Grinnell.
Drop-in and more regular tutoring are also available to students across many subject areas. If a student is interested in academic assistance, encourage them to contact the Academic Advising office (641-269-3713) who can put them in touch with tutoring in areas including writing, the humanities, math, psychology, data analysis, statistics, and languages.
Student Health and Wellness (SHAW) provides services for both physical and mental health needs. Students can call to schedule an appointment (641-269-3230), access the electronic health portal, or drop by their office at The Forum during business hours. Medical staff at SHAW can provide evaluation and treatment of a variety of illnesses and injuries but are not appropriate for true medical emergencies (for those students should call 911). SHAW also provides mental health services as well as partnering with THRIVE Campus to help connect students with licensed mental health providers in their state who accept their insurance.
As healthcare professionals in Iowa, we know this state can be a challenging place to find certain resources, but Iowa’s support of telehealth and telemedicine services, paired with Grinnell’s support in finding virtual and in-person resources, can help students access the care they need.
Q: What are some Grinnell traditions or events that should I learn about?
A: There are many wonderful longstanding Grinnell traditions you’ll hear about from your student over the years - relays, waltz (winter and spring), Titular Head, and Harris Parties (some of which started when we were at Grinnell, like disco!) There are also newer ones we loved hearing about, like block party.
We’ve also established some family-specific Grinnell traditions. In the fall, we’ve picked pumpkins at Uncle Bill’s with our student and the whole family. It’s a bit cheesy but such fun! We follow that up with a trip to Rube’s. It’s a family holiday we plan to continue for as long as we can.
— by Jeremy Shapiro