Volunteer Spotlight: Nancy Ying '95
Feb 15, 2018 — Nancy Ying ’95 fundamentally enjoys interacting with Grinnellians because they are passionate, kind, and fun to be around.
That’s why Nancy goes out of her way to make time to visit Grinnellians, make new relationships, keep in touch with classmates, and plan engaging events. She is the co-coordinator along with Luzat Khandkar ’07 of the Grinnell-in-Chicago Regional Network, which plans alumni events in Chicago. She also serves as a Class Agent with John Wanninger ’95.
Nancy Ying '95
“Being involved as a volunteer in more than one way helps me stay active within the Grinnell community,” she says. “I enjoy having intersecting opportunities to talk about Grinnell and planning events that bring alumni together.”
Nancy was born in Taiwan, immigrated to Edison, New Jersey, in elementary school, and had planned to be an engineer. But that changed thanks to an event meeting with another Nancy who has a great volunteering track record. Nancy Schmulbach Maly ’61, a former Grinnell College admissions representative and Alumni Council president, encouraged her to apply and fly to Iowa for a visit.
“I loved the classes, people, and campus,” Nancy says. “Having no course requirements was a liberating concept.”
Nancy studied economics at Grinnell. Today she lives in Evanston and works for IBM Watson Health. That job aligns well with her Chicago co-coordinator role since she can use her project management skills to coordinate events and bring the group’s vision to light. Nancy also has had numerous other Grinnell volunteer roles over the past two decades. The list includes serving on Alumni Council, hosting summer picnics, joining the Wilson Planning Committee, and serving as an admission representative.
Nancy says she deeply appreciates the education she received at Grinnell. It was one of the best and most pivotal decisions, and she is motivated to volunteer to support the College and grow alumni connections.
One of her favorite Grinnell events was in 2016 at the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art where Ross Elfline ’95 presented a lecture.
“The MCA event was such a fun and educational evening combining the expertise of my classmate Ross, the art of Kerry James Marshall, and the alumni community in Chicago,” she says.
Grinnell alumni pose for a group photo after listening to a presentation by Chase Strangio '04, ACLU staff attorney, at the 2017 Chicago Humanities Festival.
Nancy encourages her fellow Grinnellians to volunteer. Her advice is for alumni to figure out how their own talents can best contribute to the College. She says it’s very rewarding when volunteers’ events, vision, and ideas come to fruition.
—by Jeremy Shapiro
For you information:
Nancy is one of many volunteers serving as leaders on Grinnell’s Regional Networks. Learn more about the networks and how to get involved.