06/01/2026
Every Grinnell journey is shaped by experiences that matter. Today, we’re highlighting Maya Albanese as she reflects on her time at Grinnell that helped guide her path! 🎓❤️
Name: Maya Albanese
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Major/Concentration: History major with an American Studies concentration
"Just recently (Tuesday, May 5th), I opened an exhibit at the Grinnell Historical Museum, "Artists, Collectors and Scholars: The Women of Grinnell College's Early Biological Sciences." It is my American Studies capstone. This exhibit is the culmination of all the work I've done at Grinnell College. I have worked in Grinnell College Special Collections and Archives for five semesters, which inspired the subject matter of this exhibit. In the summer of 2024, I was a student researcher for Professor Purcell's MAP, "Georgia Dentel and Grinnell Concerts History," where I wrote the biography of Georgia Dentel, which sparked my interest in women's history and provided foundational research skills that I used for this exhibit. Finally, last summer, I participated in the Historic Deerfield Summer Fellowship program, which I got into with the help of CLS advisor Destini Ross. My final research paper there focused on women botanical illustrators in the nineteenth century, combining science history and women's history. All of this experience culminated in this exhibit, which I hope will open the door to more student curation at the Grinnell Historical Museum. I am incredibly grateful to Grinnell College for providing me with these experiences and for allowing me to delve deep into my interests throughout my four years."
Thank you for sharing, Maya, and we wish you all the best!
[Image description: A photo of Maya Albanese standing in front of a presentation]