From Small Town to Big Impact

Small Town, Big Impact: How USD Helped Grace DuVall Prepare for a Career in Public Service

For Grace DuVall ’24, the idea of college was both exciting and uncertain. Coming from a small town, she wasn’t sure what to expect or how to navigate the opportunities or challenges that lay ahead. At the University of South Dakota, new experiences and unexpected connections shaped her path, gradually guiding her toward a career in public service.

Raised near Chamberlain, a tight-knit agricultural community along the Missouri River, DuVall learned early what it meant to work hard, look out for others and dream big.

DuVall’s journey to USD was not straightforward. With the desire to study political science, foreign affairs and international studies in college, DuVall was worried the university would be too small and lack opportunities. Another concern she had was taking on loans and questioning whether she could justify the financial burden of college.  

Luckily, a conversation with Timothy Schorn, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Political Science, shifted her entire trajectory. That moment sparked confidence in her that would later guide her through college, her first job and toward the future she is still excited about building.

“If Dr. Tim Schorn had not been able to assure me of all the opportunities at USD, I don’t think I would have made it there,” DuVall said. “The scholarship support from USD also played a huge role in my decision, making it possible for me to pursue everything I needed right here.”

USD’s programs provided DuVall with structured support and hands-on experiences that helped her build momentum at a time when she was facing financial concerns and uncertainty about her future.

On campus, faculty members encouraged her to take on leadership roles and supervisors trusted her with work that pushed her out of her comfort zone. She also found a community of students who came from rural backgrounds and understood the challenges of forging a path in higher education.

Combined with her roles in student organizations and on-campus housing, DuVall graduated with a strong resume and landed her first job in a statewide public service position with the U.S. Department of Education’s TRIO Talent Search program. There, she helps middle and high school students navigate their education, explore careers and confidently pursue the college admissions and financial aid process. Despite her busy role, DuVall stays connected to both USD and her hometown. She volunteers when she can and meets with current students who ask for advice. When she talks to them, she often shares the lessons she learned early on.  

DuVall’s next chapter is taking shape, as she is dedicated to giving back the support that transformed her life, continuing her journey in education and student support. She is applying to USD’s master’s program in adult and higher education, a step she hopes will deepen her impact on students and potentially open the door to teaching, admissions work or even a future doctoral degree.

“Choosing USD was terrifying at first. I was scared it would feel small, like I’d be stuck in the same place with the same ideas,” DuVall said. “But it turned out to be the complete opposite. Every day brought something new, new people, new conversations, new possibilities. It showed me how much opportunity there really is when you’re willing to take the leap.”