Meet our Board of Directors

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Mark A. Berry is the associate vice president of communications and marketing at Grinnell College. Mark moved to Grinnell in January 2025 from Southern California, where he lived for

11 years, working in the fields of higher education and the performing arts. Prior to serving as associate vice president of marketing and communications at California Lutheran University, Mark was the chief marketing officer for the Los Angeles Master Chorale from 2018 to 2021, where he oversaw all marketing functions, from ticket sales to public relations. He moved to Los Angeles from New York in 2014 to take the role of vice president of communications at the

Colburn School. 

Prior to arriving in LA, Mark was the executive director of communications at the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music. He has also worked at Carnegie Hall, the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, and the classical record label Naxos, where he served as its US publicist.

A bass player and amateur chorister, Mark holds a Ph.D. in music history from Stony Brook University.

Roger taught vocal music for 38 years with 30 years in the Grinnell Community Schools and retired in 2021. Roger also co-directed the GHS biennial musical theater productions. Roger’s students and groups received many honors including all state recognitions, superior ratings at festivals, and invitations to perform for state and local events.

Roger served in numerous leadership positions at the local, state, and national level including Trainer for the National Board for Teachers, President of the Iowa Choral Directors Association, Advisory Board Member of the Iowa High School Music Association, President of the Grinnell Area Arts Council, and Member of the GHS Building Improvement Team. He has presented at state, regional, and national conferences of the American Choral Directors Association, the National Association for Music Education, and the Iowa School Board Association. He was a founding member of Iowa Comprehensive Musicianship Project and led demonstration rehearsals and classes for the Drake Summer Music Institute. Roger received a Yale Distinguished Music Educator Award for outstanding service to music education in public schools, and was awarded the Weston Noble Award from his alma mater, Luther College, for excellence in choral music education. He is currently working part time in the education department at Grinnell College as a Lecturer, Field Placement and Licensure Officer. 

Roger looks forward to the Grinnell School of Music coming to fruition to serve our community by expanding the arts education opportunities found in our area. 

Theresa moved to Grinnell with her family in 1989 after purchasing Pagliai's Pizza from then owner Sam Pagliai. Upon her retirement from the restaurant, she moved around the corner to Main Street to work part-time at RE/MAX Partners Realty. Being part of the downtown community for over 35 years has given her a front row seat to witness the many ways community members contribute to making greater Grinnell a great place to live and work.

In the Fall of 2019, Theresa purchased the building that now houses the Grinnell School of Music. Originally, she collaborated with her son Joey to start an auxiliary space for Pagliai's Pizza, but the pandemic occurred and plans changed. This presented an opportunity for Erin Bustin and her dream to create a creative space for children and adults alike to share in her love of music education. While Theresa is most assuredly the least musical board member, she brings her enthusiasm and business experience to the board and is honored to be part of this exciting and vital community project.

John Rommereim is Blanche Johnson Professor of Music at Grinnell College, where he conducts the Grinnell Singers and the Grinnell Oratorio Society and teaches composition. He has pursued a varied career as composer, conductor, vocalist, and keyboardist.  His music has been performed across the United States and internationally, and is published by Walton Music, Oxford University Press, earthsongs, Alry Publications, and Roger Dean Publishing.  The New York Times praised the “richly expressive” character of his extended song for voice and piano, Into the Still Hollow.  His works written in collaboration with flutist Claudia Anderson have been performed at National Flute Association conventions, and internationally by the ZAWA flute duet. 

In the early part of his career, he pursued an interest in Russian music, and he completed a translation of Pavel Chesnokov’s seminal treatise, The Choir and How to Direct It, published by Musica Russica. He also was active as a harpsichordist, and founded the Baroque Orchestra of Iowa, an early music ensemble that brought some of the country’s finest early music specialists to the state.  In recent years, he has conducted the Lyra Baroque Orchestra in biennial choral-orchestral concerts with the Grinnell Singers. 

He is pleased to be able to participate in this vital project that is sure to improve the quality of life in all the corners of our community, for young and for old. 

 Maura Strassberg is a life-long French horn player who recently finished a thirty-year career as a Professor of Contracts, Sales and Legal Ethics at Drake University Law School. Prior to teaching aspiring lawyers, she received a graduate degree in philosophy, clerked for a federal appellate judge, and practiced law in Boston, Massachusetts. She has served on and chaired for numerous Iowa non-profit organizations, including Domestic Violence Alternatives, the Galaxy, Iowa Pride Network and One Iowa. Although not a professional musician, music has always been a very important part of her life. One of her earliest musical memories is of getting to play many different instruments in a musical exploration class for young children. Since then, she has played the bugle, piano, trumpet, fife, French horn and valve-trombone. Whenever it has been possible, she has enjoyed the incomparable experience of making music with others in a band or orchestra, including the Boston Lawyer’s Orchestra, the Grinnell College Symphonic Band and the Grinnell Community Band. More recently, she has joined the Grinnell Oratorio Society and is enjoying the very different challenges and pleasures of singing in a choir. Her children played piano and were singers and instrumental players in the Grinnell choir and band programs. She strongly supports the mission of the Grinnell School of Music to provide music exploration, education and community for both children and adults. A community with music at its heart cannot fail to thrive!  

Lesley directed the Grinnell College Museum of Art for 23 years, until her retirement in 2022. Under her leadership, she established the Museum as a vibrant source for regional, national and international art, and as an effective partner in art education for the campus and community, She brings her expertise as a museum administrator and community partner to the Grinnell School of Music. Lesley has served on boards from the Chamber of Commerce to the Grinnell Area Arts Council and now leads the Iowa Cultural Coalition, advocating for public funding for the arts. Music and music education have always been part of her life and the life of her two children, raised in Grinnell. From her varied experience, Lesley knows that investing in the arts is central to Grinnell’s vitality: from its economic impact keeping local dollars in our community and creating jobs for artists and arts professionals, to the many benefits of arts education for children and adults alike. She is excited to build a School of Music that will expand the experience and joy of music for everyone. 

Dakota Chandler moved to Grinnell from Chicago in the summer of 2025, and has delighted in getting to know her new community. A lifelong lover of music, Dakota grew up taking piano lessons and dabbled in dance. She played the

trumpet from middle school until her freshman year of college at the University of Pennsylvania, participating in both marching, concert, and jazz bands.

Dakota spent her 20s working in entertainment in Los Angeles, doing marketing for companies like Warner Bros. Pictures, Hulu, and Disney.

She currently works for a financial tech company called Greenlight.

Some of Dakota's favorite memories are making music with others, and she's excited to join the Grinnell School of Music board to provide community members with the opportunity to create their own fond music memories.

Meg Grout is a Manager of U.S. Partner Services in the financial services industry, where she brings a strong focus on risk management, operational integrity, and partner experience. In her role, she works at the intersection of people, process, and compliance—strengthening controls, streamlining operations, and ensuring risks are thoughtfully identified and managed while delivering consistent, highquality service. Meg’s leadership philosophy is grounded in trust, accountability, and continuous improvement. She believes strong outcomes are driven by empowered teams who understand both the why and the how behind their work. Meg leads with transparency and empathy while maintaining high standards for

execution, ethics, and decisionmaking. She values collaboration and clear communication and is particularly effective at balancing regulatory responsibility with practical, scalable solutions.

Outside of work, Meg is a wife and mother of three. Her husband, Phil, is a Director at

HyVee, and his role brought their family to Grinnell, Iowa—now the place they proudly

call home. Deeply connected to her community, Meg is a passionate supporter of the

arts, with the Grinnell School of Music holding special importance to her and her family.

These commitments shape her leadership style, reinforcing the values of service,

discipline, and investing in others.

Bill Smith was born and raised in Grinnell. After attending the University of Iowa and Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, I returned to Grinnell in 1982. I was employed at Smith Funeral Home as a fourth generation family business which with began with my great grandfather in 1907. I retired in on December 31, 2022.  My two sons, along with my nephew, continue operating and owning this family business aimed at serving families in the Poweshiek County area.

My wife, Sally, and I have three adult children and five grandchildren living in or around the Grinnell area. I enjoy my time with my family, golfing, gardening, and traveling to national parks throughout the US. I’ve always had love for music and attending live concerts. I am fortunate to have seen the Grateful Dead in concert over 30 times. I look forward to serving on the Grinnell School of Music Board and fostering the love of music in our community.

Jennifer Weinman is an artist, photographer, business owner, and lifelong advocate for the arts who has called Grinnell home since 2008. She and her husband, Jerod, moved to Grinnell when he joined the faculty at Grinnell College.

Originally from the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, Jen developed a love for both visual and performing arts at an early age.  She participated extensively in wind ensemble and pep band on the clarinet, and taught herself to play piano during middle school when lessons weren’t financially feasible. 

Jen attended Colby College, where she majored in studio art with a concentration in oil painting while remaining active in music and dance.  She was part of Colby Dance Theater, and took her first private music lessons as a college student, exploring classical guitar, voice lessons, and finally fulfilling her dream of taking piano lessons.

Today, she is the owner of Jennifer Weinman Photography, a studio based in Grinnell specializing in wedding photography and artistic portraiture. She serves clients throughout Iowa and travels internationally for destination weddings. Her background in music, painting, and dance strongly influences her artistic style, with an emphasis on composition, emotion, movement, and timeless imagery.  

Music and the arts remain central to family life in the Weinman household.  Jen continues to serve through music at church, currently playing piano and keyboard.  Her oldest son started piano in kindergarten after coming home from church and playing songs by ear!  Her husband Jerod also brings a deep appreciation for music and the arts to their family. Over the years, he has been involved in several rock bands, recorded three albums, and spent a decade as a college radio DJ.  Together, Jen and Jerod have built a home where creativity, music, curiosity, and the arts are celebrated and encouraged daily.

Jen believes the arts are essential in helping young people develop confidence, empathy, discipline, and self-expression. She is honored to serve on the board of the Grinnell School of Music and support its mission of fostering a lifelong love of music while creating meaningful opportunities for students and families to experience the transformative impact of the arts.