Appointed the state director of USDA Rural Development South Dakota by President Joe Biden, Alumna Nikki Gronli’s (BS ‘96, Design Communications) diverse career journey has included working in design and advertising for music labels, pizza brands, and tech companies, before taking a pivotal shift toward public service. As state director, Gronli has over 70 programs under her purview and orchestrates a team of 31 specialists dedicated to fostering rural prosperity. In this interview, Gronli talks about her career path, her commitment to lifelong learning, and shares advice for students.
How did you become the state director of USDA Rural Development South Dakota?
After graduating from the University of Minnesota in 1996, I spent time in the music industry working for K-tel Records designing a wide variety of album covers and promotional pieces to support sales. It was fun and rewarding but the music industry was about to take a drastic turn away from cassettes and CDs. I then pivoted my design skills to the advertising industry. I worked on brands such as Schwan’s, Tony’s, and Red Barron Pizza, HR materials for Target, and even a dog food brand.
In 2001, I returned to my home state of South Dakota for an opportunity with a Sioux Falls ad agency. By 2003, I was with the state’s largest agency, Lawrence and Schiller. When opportunities arose to take on writing and creative strategy work I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and always said, “Yes.” Any time I could learn something new I embraced the opportunity.
I spent some time with the Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce which exposed me to the nuts and bolts of economic development and local and state government. Through this position, I became hooked on learning about government processes and policy and that has remained with me to this day. Then a new opportunity came my way, marketing specialist with SDN Communications, a broadband and tech company in Sioux Falls. Again, this was a completely new area for me but handling communications, overseeing large industry and educational events, and our ad agency was an exciting new challenge. SDN presented me with more opportunities like Leadership South Dakota, taking the Mini MBA Executive Course at St. Thomas, and becoming an industry advisory board member for Dakota State University’s Cybersecurity program.
Outside of work, I became more involved in local politics. I was a founding member of Leaders Engaged and Determined (LEAD) South Dakota, a grassroots organization that trains candidates to run for office. I ran an unsuccessful county commission campaign back in 2018 but in the end, it opened numerous doors for me, such as being elected to vice chair of the South Dakota Democratic Party.
In March of 2022, I was honored to be appointed the state director of USDA Rural Development South Dakota by President Joe Biden.
What does your work entail?
USDA Rural Development is the economic development division of the United States Department of Agriculture. We support rural prosperity by investing in modern infrastructure. We help rural South Dakotans buy affordable housing. We partner with municipalities to build or improve essential community facilities such as hospitals, libraries, and schools. We also help eligible businesses and manufacturers expand or improve, and we support energy programs that finance renewable systems for agriculture and industry. Our focus is on supporting and building strong, vibrant rural communities.
One of the most important things I do is outreach to some of the most distressed areas of rural South Dakota and look for ways to improve their economy and daily lives through our over 70 programs of Rural Development. Just a couple of examples of recent projects include a grant for a mobile clinic that will serve the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe and a hospital renovation in Bennett County. Another exciting program that is gaining momentum helps businesses and ag producers who want to switch to more sustainable energy sources such as solar or geothermal.
What lessons learned during your time at the University have you found most useful in your career?
The University of Minnesota taught me to embrace being a lifelong learner and to accept change is a constant. I was in college when the internet and websites were in their infancy. Everything was about to change and I approached it all with curiosity. That has allowed me to adapt and grow. My professors encouraged us to experiment, have constructive conversations about our work, and dream big. I’m forever grateful. As you can see from my career path, embracing new skills and knowledge has led me to this life-changing position. I learned to have a growth mindset during my time at the U.
What are the most challenging and most rewarding parts of your job?
The most challenging part is juggling the variety of demands on my time. I’m responsible for managing staff; providing service to our partners and customers; and working with my team on marketing, promotion, and events. We’re also taking on some of our state’s biggest issues. In 2022 that included several natural disasters that impacted communities and homes. We have a housing shortage that we are working jointly with numerous public and private entities to solve. South Dakota has some of the most impoverished counties in the nation. But, overcoming these challenges, and thinking creatively about how to solve these issues is the most rewarding part of the job. When we get to break ground on a new mental health facility or we get to be at the grand opening of a new senior center it makes the hard work all worth it. I love positively impacting my home state and the people who live here.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to current students?
The best advice I can give is to engage with your professors and your classmates. When you are working on a project don’t be afraid to bounce ideas off those around you. Design, art direction, and creative strategy are all about clear communication. The best way to make sure your communication is clear is by taking in feedback and striving to make your project better. Accepting feedback and not taking it personally will benefit you in your career and make you a top-notch professional. Don’t be afraid of constructive criticism. Make it the fuel that takes you to the top.
Max Dickson (he/him) earned a Master of Landscape Architecture and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Minnesota in 2019. After graduation, Dickson moved to Philadelphia to work with OLIN, an internationally awarded landscape architecture and urban design firm. At OLIN, Dickson’s work has focused on district-scale urban spaces, and leading the emergent research initiative through OLIN Labs called PrideScapes, an exploration of LGBTQ+ landscapes and people within the field of landscape architecture.
Sara Lopez (BS ’12, Apparel Design) wants you to stop and think about your clothing. Profiled in outlets like Vogue, Elle, and W Magazine, Lopez's work considers clothing's purpose in society and what its modern use says about our world. Her label, A--Company, deconstructs one piece of clothing at a time through the lens of critical theory and queer studies to create something entirely new. In this interview, Lopez talks about the experiences that shaped her work, her design approach, and shares advice for current design students.
A recipient of the 2023 U40 Alumni Leader Award, Patrick Puckett has been a longstanding advocate for the University of Minnesota, the College of Design, and the important connections design students make that lead to future career success. After graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, Puckett carved out a path in user experience (UX) design. In this interview, Puckett talks about his current work as an experience designer, the skills it takes to be successful in the field, and shares advice for current design students.
