Feature Story
More Than Resources: Why Paysen Grandy Chose Southern Virginia University Over SCAD
In 2023, Paysen Grandy (’26) was studying illustration on a full scholarship at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), one of the top art institutions in the country. But as the year progressed, she began to realize she wanted something more from her college experience.
“I was growing a lot as an artist at SCAD, but not necessarily as a person,” Grandy said. “There were areas in my life that I felt were being ignored. All of us are well-rounded, and life needs balance. Socially, I felt neglected, and I just wanted a different experience out of college.”
During a trip home, her younger brother was invited to a soccer recruiting weekend at Southern Virginia University and asked her to make the drive with him from Tennessee. Grandy reluctantly agreed. While her brother spent the weekend with prospective teammates, she decided to explore SVU’s campus and eventually took an official tour that transformed her perspective.
As a military child who moved frequently growing up, Grandy had never experienced a close-knit community where everyone knew her name.
“I’d always wanted that small-town experience—I used to joke that I wanted to live in Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls because I’d never had that growing up,” Grandy said. “By the end of the weekend at SVU, I knew: this is the experience I’ve been wanting.”
While her brother ultimately chose another university, Grandy immersed herself in the SVU community. She joined the women’s lacrosse team, ran for student government, met her husband, Weston, and deepened her passion for illustration.
“At SCAD, I had more resources but fewer opportunities,” Grandy shared. “They gave me a lot of tools, but when 2,000 people enter a t-shirt contest, what are your chances? Here at SVU, I had fewer resources, but far more opportunities to legitimately impact my life and the people around me.”
Grandy saw that she could make a difference. She ran for student government specifically to launch a campus figure drawing club to help her peers refine their skills. She also served as a teaching assistant for one of the art professors, helping brainstorm assignments and curriculum as the illustration program expanded.
“Being able to do these things was so gratifying,” Grandy said. “It wasn’t just about having resources; it was using my talent for the good of other people. That’s something only a small school can give you.”
With a love of art focused on children’s media and publishing, Grandy discovered a passion for both writing and illustrating stories—creating joyful, whimsical worlds filled with frogs riding bicycles and giraffes winning races.
“My goal, especially in children’s illustration, is to amuse, exhilarate, and make people’s lives brighter,” said Grandy.
After graduating from SVU in 2026, Grandy joined the university’s admissions office while continuing to build her illustration career. For Grandy, staying at SVU is a way to help future students find the same kind of transformative experience she found.
“I knew the purpose of this place, and I felt so inspired here,” Grandy said. “Other people are actively looking for a place like this in their lives, and they deserve to know it exists. I got way more out of this experience than I ever expected—it became everything I wanted my college years to be.”