Grace Donovan grew up in a small town in eastern Oregon.

She saw no future in the region, so—like many of her ambitious peers—she left to pursue education and start a career.

Now, as the executive director of a partnership between Eastern Oregon University and Wallowa Resources, she’s helping stop the “brain drain.”

“I see so many more possibilities here than I did when I was young,” Donovan says, “and I’m very excited to share that with other people.”