Georgia Dentel’s work at Grinnell College was remembered fondly by many alumni, who wanted to honor her by creating a research fund for current students at Grinnell College. Despite Dentel’s large role in student life, there is yet to be any public-facing recognition of her. This website and future projects aim to rectify this. It started as a semester-long research project by Hayden Suarez-Davis ’25, under history professor Sarah Purcell. The project turned into a summer Mentored Advanced Project, adding on three new members: Bowen Wei ’25, Jackie Harris ’26, and Maya Albanese ’26. Research is expected to be on-going, with the current students continuing their work into Fall 2024.

The past summer, all four of us have been working on researching student life, Georgia’s life, and concert history at Grinnell. In addition, we have been conducting oral history interviews with alumni and people who knew Georgia. Our goal with these oral histories is to have them put in the college’s archive for future researchers.

Four people stand behind a table with various books and archival materials spread across it. Far left stands Hayden Davis in a red shirt, center left stands Maya Albanese in a purple shirt, center right stands Jackie Harris with a black t shirt and necklace, and far right stands Bowen Wei is a floral print black button-up. They stand in front of a wall with photos of Ackley hung up
The four student researchers at Ackley Heritage Center. From L to R: Hayden Suarez-Davis, Maya Albanese, Jackie Harris, and Bowen Wei.

In summer 2025, five more students continued the project work as a Mentored Advanced Project: Faye Henn ’26, Miles Brown ’26, Morgan Smith ’26, Ronald Taylor ’26,  and Samora Lumonya ’27.

More team information coming soon!

Five students smiling while standing in front of a screen with slides after their lightning talk.
The five student researchers at Summer Research @ Burling student Lightning Talks on July 24, 2025. (Photo by Justin Hayworth/Grinnell College). From L to R: Morgan Smith, Miles Brown, Ronald Taylor, Faye Henn, Samora Lumonya.