For most Grinnell College students, their time in town lasts only four years. After graduation, many move on to big cities, graduate school or jobs across the country. But some alums choose to stay, drawn by the sense of community, opportunity and connection they’ve built beyond the campus. Veronica Ruse `19 and Jordan Scheibel `10 are among the alums who have chosen to stay, forging careers and community connections beyond their student years.
Return to Roots
For Ruse, staying in Grinnell wasn’t her original plan. After earning a degree in philosophy and political science, she moved back to Nashville, Tennessee, where her parents lived. But the reality of city life quickly made her reconsider.
“Nashville is incredibly expensive,” Ruse said. “I wasn’t making much money, so I couldn’t afford my own place and had to live with my parents. The traffic was terrible — an hour to get to work, an hour to get back — and I hated living in the suburbs, where you have to drive everywhere.”
One of Ruse’s mentors, the late Professor Johanna Meehan, sent her a job posting for a post-baccalaureate position in the Academic Advising Department at Grinnell College. As a first-generation college student herself, Ruse had always been passionate about supporting students who faced similar challenges adjusting to college. The job seemed like a perfect fit.
“When the opportunity came up, I thought, ‘Yes, please,’” Ruse said. “I wasn’t happy in Nashville, and I missed Grinnell. So I decided to come back.”
After two years in Academic Advising, she transitioned into a role at Drake Community Library, where she now works in local history and archives.
“I love that I still get to collaborate with the College while also engaging with the broader community,” Ruse said. “Grinnell provides this mix of small-town charm and intellectual vibrancy that you don’t get everywhere.”
Growing a Future in Grinnell
Scheibel’s journey to staying in Grinnell began with a seed — literally. As a student, he got involved with the student garden and was part of Eco House, a project house focused on sustainability. These experiences planted the idea that agriculture could be more than just an interest — it could be a career.
“I grew up in a rural place, but farming wasn’t part of my life — it had disappeared,” Scheibel said. “Coming to Grinnell, I was fascinated by how much land was still actively farmed.”
Scheibel took a part-time job at Grinnell Heritage Farm while finishing his last semester early. After graduation, that role soon turned into a full-time position, and within a few years, he was ready to launch his own farm.
(Rihaan Bhansali)
Through a connection with a Grinnell resident who had farmland available, Scheibel started Middle Way Farm in 2013. At first, it was just a small plot, a third of an acre, grown in partnership with an artist residency program. But the name he chose for the farm, inspired by a Buddhist principle of balance, reflected a broader vision for the life he was building.
“The Middle Way is about finding balance, not rejecting one extreme or the other, but integrating them,” Scheibel said. “For me, that applied not just to farming, but to figuring out how to make a sustainable life here.”
Over time, Middle Way Farm has become a staple of Grinnell’s local food scene, supplying fresh produce to the community through Farm to Table and McNally’s Foods. Even after stepping back from full-time farming in 2023, Scheibel continues to operate the farm on a smaller scale, balancing it with other work.
Why Stay?
For both Ruse and Scheibel, staying in Grinnell has been less about settling and more about discovering opportunities they hadn’t expected.
“There’s this idea that staying in Grinnell means getting stuck,” Ruse said. “But for me, it’s meant stability, opportunity and a real sense of belonging.”
One of the biggest factors for both alumni has been the unique balance Grinnell offers — the intellectual and cultural resources of a college town combined with the affordability and community of a small town.
“I love the balance I have here,” Scheibel said. “I live in town, but I can be out on the farm in minutes. I get to have a sense of community while also having space.”
Ruse points to the town’s growing opportunities and resources.
“Grinnell isn’t stagnant — it’s evolving,” she said. “We have a new museum opening, new apartments being built, and the College is always bringing in speakers and events that the community can participate in. There’s a lot happening here.”
Advice for Current Students
For students who view Grinnell as just a temporary stop, Ruse and Scheibel encourage them to explore beyond the campus bubble.
“Try to actually live here,” Ruse said. “Go to events, work in town, get to know people outside of campus. It makes your experience so much richer.”
Scheibel agrees. “I always think it’s beneficial for students to spend at least one summer here,” he said. “It’s a totally different experience when you’re not in school, and it gives you a chance to see Grinnell in a new way.”
While staying in Grinnell permanently isn’t for everyone, they both believe it’s worth considering — at least for a little while.
“You don’t have to stay forever,” Scheibel said. “But if you do, you might just find that Grinnell has more to offer than you ever expected.”
