2024-25 Alumni Council Committees and Task Forces
Alumni Awards
Purpose: Encourage nominations and select recipients of the annual Alumni Awards (presented each year at Reunion) and the Alumni Senior Awards (presented each year at Commencement to two students).
2024-25 Members
Bernard Jackson ’86, chair
Mairéad O’Grady ’10
Ken Schofield ’71
Anne Stein Velma ’84
Membership Development
Purpose: Coordinate Council membership development, including activities which promote member education, training, and connections. Manage the interview and election process for new members in the spring.
2024-25 Members
Kate Goddard ’91, chair
Ed Atkins ’66
Jennifer Beinart ’06
Maggie Bian ’09
Becky Reetz Neal ’65
Philanthropy Task Force
Purpose: Work with annual giving leadership to advocate for alumni giving to Grinnell and help create a culture of philanthropy among Grinnell alumni.
2024-25 Members
Dawn Helsing Wolters ’87, chair
Grisel Hernandez ’17
David Kurzman ’96
Ben Vaughn ’15
Career Exploration Task Force
Purpose: In concert with DAR and ODEI, complete a needs assessment and devise strategy in support of a DEI training curriculum and resource library for Grinnell College volunteers.
2024-25 Members
Jeremy Youde ’99, chair
Suha Gillani ’16
Shelley Aggeler Harper ’87
Anton Jones ’02
Vivek Venugopal ’01
Dialogue Across Difference Task Force
Purpose: Partner with DAR and ODEI to frame a virtual learning series focused on communicating across difference, strengthening relationships, and working through disagreement towards reconciliation and common ground. Build community by creating space for alumni to engage with each other, as well as campus audiences, when there are passionate disagreements.
2024-25 Members
Jeremy Youde ’99, chair
Suha Gillani ’16
Shelley Aggeler Harper ’87
Anton Jones ’02
Vivek Venugopal ’01
Alumni Engagement with Academia Task Force
Purpose: Focused efforts to improve Council's digital marketing including development of content for social media platforms, sharing of information with Class Agents, and coordinating an annual event at Reunion.
2024-25 Members
Atavia Whitfield ’06, chair
Robert Gehorsam ’76