Name
Conner Stanfield
Major
Sociology & Theatre and Dance
Hometown
Albuquerque, NM
I was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I was drawn to Grinnell by the close-knit, supportive community, the strong academics, and generous financial aid.
After four years, I'm proud to be a part of the community that drew me to Grinnell in the first place!
Obligatory sign photos in the desert and the prairie.
Shortly after arriving to campus, I auditioned for Grinnell Singers and different a cappella groups. Although I was incredibly nervous at first, these groups became valuable sources of community and helped me meet some of my best friends at Grinnell.
This photo is from my first-year Singers retreat at the Conard Environmental Research Area (CERA). We spent the day getting to know each other, rehearsing our music, and enjoying the beauty of the prairie.
During my second year, G-Tones sang at the wedding of Professor Justin Thomas and Jen Jacobsen, my future boss at Student Health and Wellness (SHAW). It was a magical moment that proved how interconnected Grinnell’s community is.
A selfie from after a Con Brio concert at Hotel Grinnell. Thanks, Student Government Association (SGA), for the matching sweaters!
Green Light
My first solo with Con Brio, performing one of my favorite songs, "Green Light" by Lorde!
Working on a show with the theatre and dance department was always a highlight of my semester! My growth as a theater-maker is one of the things I am most proud of from my time at Grinnell.
The summer between my second and third year, I traveled to Taipei, Taiwan with Professor Craig Quintero to do a Mentored Advanced Project (MAP) in experimental theatre.
(L): Ximending, one of the commercial centers of Taipei. Full of huge billboards, clothing stores and bubble tea. (R): Guandu Temple on the outskirts of Taipei. This temple complex was huge and one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen.
While in Taipei, I worked with three other Grinnell students and a group of Taiwanese theatre artists to devise a performance for an audience of one. We spent every night rehearsing and every day either building the set or exploring Taipei. Food is very inexpensive in Taipei, so we made sure to eat well!
(L): My MAP group outside the National Taiwan University of the Arts, where we performed our piece. (C): Me in the middle of our performance. My next scene was in a three-piece suit, which I had about three minutes to change into! (R): Taiwan's National Theatre. A representative from the National Theatre watched our performance (and loved it!)
During my third year, I studied abroad with Grinnell-in-London, which offered a great opportunity for me to explore both sociology and theatre in a brand-new city!
I finished off my time at Grinnell with another MAP of my own, staging a virtual performance of “The International Stud” by Harvey Fierstein with my housemates. I was also an alternate for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Madrid. But I know that no matter where I end up in the world, I'll always have a strong community of friends who I love to accidentally match with.
Post-Grad
Working as a senior interviewer to me was so meaningful that I decided to come back to Grinnell and work full time as an admission counselor. I love taking what I’ve learned as a sociology major at Grinnell to advocate for more equitable admission practices and make Grinnell an even more welcoming place.
One of the biggest perks of my job is getting to reconnect with my Grinnell friends around the country — whether in Portland, the Twin Cities, Chicago, Boston, or more — during my recruitment travel. Plus, thanks to my double major in theatre and dance, I know how to balance creative projects alongside all these adult responsibilities (my Halloween costume last year went off!). Though the world of college admission is rapidly changing, I know that Grinnell has equipped me to successfully fight for what I believe in, and I hope to continue building community and growing into a leader in this field for years to come.
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