Walking down Park Street, one cannot help but notice the inviting charm of a 1960s ranch house nestled amid the greenery. This cozy residence is home to President Anne Harris, her husband, Michael “Mac” Mackenzie, professor of art history, a fluffy bulldog named May, and Holly, the sleepiest cat you’ll ever meet.
“I really want people, when they come here, to feel cherished — so embraced, surrounded, cared for,” Harris said.
The house has served as the official residence for Grinnell College presidents since it was built in 1961. Harris and Mackenzie have done the most to bring back its original character, including furniture belonging to the decade.
“Usually presidents come in and do hundreds of thousands of dollars of renovations. And we’ve always moved into homes that were already built, so we didn’t do any renovations here,” Harris said.
As Mackenzie opened the door, the warmth of the home unfolded: a hallway with a coat hanger, curated art and semi-open spaces.
“What’s interesting is that this is all public, and then there’s a private part of the house,” Harris said.
Harris was referring to how one side of the house is used for public entertaining, like annual dinners for honorary degree nominees, and the other side features bedrooms, the couple’s studies and a family living room.
To the right of the hallway sits a monstera plant that has been with the couple since Harris took on the presidency on July 14, 2020.
The living room feels like a Pinterest dream, with pink and green couches that would make any 20-something swoon. A cozy fireplace anchors the space, surrounded by shelves brimming with books — a recurring theme in every room for the book-loving couple.
“This is where people gather. It took about two years after we moved in for people to come over because of the pandemic and restrictions,” said Harris, “My husband, Mac, who teaches in the art history department, chose all the furniture. I just came in with a color scheme.”
Behind a rolling door off the living room is a snug sitting area, home to the oldest piece of furniture the couple owns –– a long, low cigar table.
“It belonged to Anne’s father when he was a bachelor living in New York in the early 1960s,” Mackenzie said.
Hanging nearby is a stained-glass artwork that features Herrick Chapel and three dates pivotal to Harris’s presidency: her announcement of the shift to online learning in 2020, her acceptance as President and her formal inauguration.
The dining room is classic, with a wooden table and chairs to seat ten. A vintage two-level drink cart and other pieces inherited from Harris’ father add a personal touch.
In the kitchen, aesthetic meets function. An old French table with 1940s chairs stands as a witness to countless conversations and college plans.
“A lot of fundraising and philanthropy planning happens here,” Harris said, gesturing to the space.
Behind the kitchen island, there are alphabetized spices, a cutting board crafted by one of their children, a fridge with Thanksgiving leftovers and a cooktop.
To the left of the entryway is the private wing. Fiction books line one side of the hallway, while two doors lead to a guest room and their son’s bedroom. At the end of the hall is Harris and Mackenzie’s bedroom, where a poster above a set of white drawers offers daily inspiration: “Be sturdy and full of hope.”
“It’s what I look at, kind of the last thing every morning before I leave to go to campus, and I love walking to campus,” Harris said.
Across the room is Harris’ study, filled with treasures: Iowa-themed books, Octavia Butler novels and a Swiss-made table passed down through her family. On display at a small table is the couple’s 15th wedding anniversary
gift, a copy of the Oxford English Dictionary.
Downstairs, a family living room beckons with board games, a mini kitchen and floor-to-ceiling shelves holding their children’s book collection. Harris’s current personal project — a deep dive into her father’s life — is spread across a small table.
The final stop is Mackenzie’s study, where dim yellow lighting, lush plants and a small chair coated in May’s fur create a serene workspace.
“Some of these presidents’ homes are huge, grand receiving homes,” Harris said. “This is bigger than any house we’ve ever lived in, but it’s still my favorite. I just want to have a bunch of students here.”
