Grand View University Visits U.S. Embassy in Denmark

June 18, 2025

A group of Grand View University students and faculty recently had the unique opportunity to visit the U.S. Embassy in the Kingdom of Denmark, continuing a tradition of cultural exchange and honoring the university’s Danish-American roots.

The visit included study tour co-directors Dr. Cathy Beck-Cross, Associate Professor of Social Work, and Megan Thibodeau, Social Work Professor, along with Grand View students engaged in an international learning experience. They were joined by Phillip Assis, Public Diplomacy Officer at the embassy, and Bruce Bro, Co-founder and President of the National Foundation for Danish America.

A representative from the U.S. Embassy remarked on the visit, “We had the pleasure of welcoming a group of students and teachers from Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa. The university has its roots in the history of Danish immigrants and was founded by Danish immigrants in 1896. It’s fantastic to see the Danish-American connections live on through education and exchange.”

Grand View University’s founding in 1896 by Danish immigrants has long shaped its values and mission. The visit to the U.S. Embassy serves as a meaningful reminder of the connections between Denmark and the United States, particularly through education, heritage, and cross-cultural understanding.