Wilson Center for Innovation & Leadership - Grinnell College

05/05/2026

Looking for a Grinnell short course for Fall '26?
Check out WIL-201: Entrepreneurship and Social Change, taught by Robert Gehorsam, advisor to early-stage companies and non-profits and a contributing author to The Carbon Almanac.
Multiple guests will share their own journeys in entrepreneurial social action with different types of organizations addressing big problems like climate change, inequality, health, education, and good government.
This short course meets Sept. 1 to Oct. 1.
Find more information in the Grinnell College schedule of courses: https://www.grinnell.edu/about/leadership/offices-services/registrar

04/20/2026

Stew Makerspace staff will help answer your clothing repair questions and get you started mending your favorite clothing! In honor of Earth Week, they are holding a FREE clothing repair workshop, 4:30-7:30 pm on Thursday, April 23.
Sign up here:
https://grinnellarts.app.neoncrm.com/nx/portal/neonevents/events?path=%2Fportal%2Fevents%2F42419

04/16/2026

We welcome Kartik Sheth '93 back to Grinnell this week! Dr. Sheth is an internationally recognized astrophysicist, executive leader, and science policy strategist with senior experience across NASA, the White House Office of Management & Budget (OMB), and the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy (OSTP).

Policy talk on Thursday, April 16 - more info at https://events.grinnell.edu/event/39013-event-with-kartik-sheth-93

Life and career talk on Friday, April 17 - more info at https://events.grinnell.edu/event/39563-alumni-life-career-talk

Talks and Kartik's visit are co-sponsored by Physics, Policy Studies, Rosenfield Program, and Wilson Center.

Kartik Sheth ’93, science policy strategist and astrophysicist

04/08/2026

Peter Marsho talks about his life and career on Friday, April 10, at 2:30 pm in HSSC S3325. (Humanities and Social Studies Center is at 1226 Park St.)
Born and raised in Grinnell, Peter received his DDS from the University of Iowa College of Dentistry in 2017 and has been practicing dentistry in Grinnell since then. While at Grinnell College, Peter was involved in golf, GTones, and was on the SEPC for the Biology department. Now, Peter enjoys spending time with his
family - wife, Taylor, is the Director/ Lead teacher of the GC preschool, two sons (Rory 5 and Archie 3), and they are expecting another very soon!

04/01/2026

Join us for this week's Learning from Alumni speaker on Friday, April 3, 2026, at 2:30 pm, when Miranda Paley talks about her life and career journey. Location: Humanities and Social Studies Center, 1226 Park St., Room S3325.

Dr. Miranda Paley is an expert in chemistry, biology and their burgeoning interface. She has worked as a science communicator and project management professional in industry and government with an emphasis on bringing teams together to complete critical projects that marry science, technology, policy to answer society’s emerging challenges.

Miranda grew up in Denver Colorado, attending Denver School of the Arts as a creative writing major prior to coming to Grinnell and taking a somewhat hard left turn into the sciences, graduating as a biochem major. After college, she got her PhD in chemistry from the University of California, Irvine with a dissertation focused on building new tools for non invasive live animal imaging using organic chemistry and molecular biology. She loves reading, running, cooking and biking. Fun fact: she did a community run on her prospie weekend in poorly fitting shoes. Prof. Levandoski’s wife gave her a band-aid and that moment was about when she decided to attend Grinnell.

03/17/2026

Join us March 27 at 2:30 pm in HSSC S3325 (1226 Park St.) for life and career story from alumnus José Mendez!
José grew up in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, California, and graduated from Grinnell College with a B.A. in Political Science and History. After college, he taught elementary school science and social studies in Idaho. Seeking to align interests in education and policy, José earned his Master’s in Public Administration at Idaho State University in 2025. Today, he is the art teacher at Mountain View Middle School in Blackfoot, Idaho.
José enjoys drawing, cooking, and creating three-dimensional sculptures that he incorporates into his love of all things pop culture. He has had art pieces displayed at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the The Idaho Falls National Exhibition at the Willard Arts Center.

02/26/2026

Join us Feb. 27 at 2:30 pm in HSSC S3325 (1226 Park St.) for life and career stories from alumni Abby Copeman Petig and Evan Petig!

Abby, a Grinnell native, has spent all of her career in the early care and education field – first as a teacher aide in the infant and toddler classrooms at the Grinnell Community Daycare Center, and (three graduate programs later) now as the Research Director for the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment at University of California, Berkeley.

Evan grew up in Wisconsin and Minnesota. At Grinnell, he played football and rugby, and delivered pizzas. Evan’s professional career, while anchored in finance, has spanned real estate, operations, and hospitality, all of which he leverages as owner/operator of The Grinnellian Bed & Breakfast located next-door to Grinnell College.

Abby’s and Evan’s paths didn’t cross (much) when they were students at Grinnell, but they met at a basketball game in Darby Gym in 2011 and started building a life together soon after. After owning and renovating several properties (both personal and investment), their latest entrepreneurial adventure is purchasing the only remaining B&B in Grinnell with the goal of creating a unique space for comfort, connection, and community.

02/13/2026

Alumni talk today! John Wepking studied Russian and religious studies at Grinnell then earned a master's in Urban Planning. He and his wife now own a 1,000-acre organic farm and grain mill in Wisconsin. Their focus is on creating direct grain markets, helping farmers grow profitably, improving land stewardship, and diversifying crops.
2:30 pm in room S3325 of the Humanities and Social Studies Center (HSSC), 1226 Park St.

02/09/2026

Ready to ensure all voices at the table are included? Learn and practice a structured, multi-round, guided dialogue to build consensus, in this student workshop titled "The Art of Building Consensus."
Because, in every group or leadership role, you'll have to navigate through competing ideas. Ultimately, you must move forward together!
February 12 at Noon with Jose Cerecedo Lopez of Elon University. Lunch provided! Grinnell College students, register here: https://grinnell.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5pytsKcNm9eGLTo

02/06/2026

Welcome Scott Shepherd on Feb. 6 as the Learning from Alumni guest speaker! 2:30 pm in HSSC S3325.

Scott Shepherd will share the journey of his and his wife's lives, from their meeting at Grinnell (in Norris Hall) to staying active in their community after retirement to giving back to Grinnell College student experience and everything in between.

Learning from Alumni talks are supported by the Donald and Winifred Wilson Center for Innovation and Leadership.