By Tim Schmitt, Sep 29, 2025
When Tristan Davis ’25 first visited Grinnell College, it was the small classes and close faculty relationships that drew him in. But what he found in his four years as a student extended well beyond the classroom: a deep connection to the community, an opportunity to engage in meaningful local work, and, ultimately, the inspiration to pursue a graduate degree abroad in the growing field of environmental humanities.
Originally from San Bruno, California, Davis, a sociology major, found a second home in Grinnell, one rooted in shared labor, local food systems, and mutual care.
Davis’s journey into community-engaged work began the summer after his second year, when he decided to stay in town and work at Grinnell Farm to Table, a local food initiative that connects producers with consumers through an online market and supports low-income households with donated produce.
That summer internship became a turning point. What began as a summer internship soon developed into a service leadership work-study position supported by the Center for Careers, Life, and Service, allowing him to continue contributing to the organization in a more sustained and intentional way.
