Why One Indiana University Southeast Student Chose to Stay in Southern Indiana After Graduation

Courtesy of Ysa Koch

Ysa Koch moved from Guilford, Indiana, to the Southern Indiana region for college in 2019 and fell in love – twice. First with the region, which is known for its friendly communities and welcoming small-town charm, and second with her now-husband, Garrison, a Southern Indiana native. 

Live and Learn

Koch, who graduated from Indiana University Southeast (IU Southeast) in New Albany, represents the more than 3,750 undergraduate and graduate students from 70 Indiana counties, 33 states and 37 countries enrolled at IU Southeast each year. The university offers a large and diverse menu of academic programs and maintains a close-knit campus atmosphere, both of which attract local and nonlocal students. 

“Coming from a small town, I knew I never wanted to be at a big school or in a city, but I loved how IU Southeast was so close to everything,” Koch says. “Still, it kept the small-town feel by staying outside the city, which was great for me.” 

Koch, who grew up playing softball, was recruited to play at the collegiate level. When it came time to choose a college, IU Southeast was a natural choice. 

“The coach took us on a tour of the campus, and I remember being overwhelmed with excitement. The coach looked at me and said, ‘You just really want to come here, don’t you?’ And it kind of clicked for me, making me realize that wow, I really do like this place,” she says. 

IU Southeast

Ready for Work

In addition to being a standout on the softball field, Koch says she’s prepared to be a standout in her career field, thanks to her college experience. She graduated in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience with a minor in chemistry on a pre-physician assistant track. The university’s focus on career readiness and hands-on learning opportunities helps ensure that a high percentage of its graduates are employed or pursuing further education soon after graduation . 

“The people at IU Southeast are just top tier,” she says. “My professors would sit with us and ask us about our career goals, giving advice and encouraging us to chase our dreams, and the advisers would help us map our classes to meet our specific career goals.” 

Justin Sicking

Koch says choosing Southern Indiana for college was easy and choosing a place to settle after graduation was equally as simple. She says besides affordability, the region offers a variety of job opportunities for young professionals. 

“My husband is from here. He actually graduated from Floyd Central High School in Floyds Knobs. Once I graduated from IU Southeast, I wanted to take a year off school, but I had truly grown to love the community. Plus, my husband already had a great job at Dana Inc., so we decided to stay in the area,” she says. “We have a great group of friends that we wouldn’t trade for anything, but even beyond them, I just truly enjoy the people here. It’s a great place to be while you are still trying to figure out what life has in store for you.” 

Though still in her year off, Koch is working as a nursing assistant at Norton Clark Hospital. 

Justin Sicking

Tons of Fun

Koch says she and her husband take advantage of all the region has to offer, including cultural attractions, like area museums, festivals and arts scenes, as well as outdoor recreation opportunities, like hiking and biking trails along the Ohio River, scenic parks and sporting events. 

“Big Four Bridge is a great area, and I love being able to just be in that little atmosphere in downtown Jeffersonville. We love taking our dogs to Falls of the Ohio State Park and Mt. St. Francis. Right after, we always head to Berry Twist to grab ice cream and pup cups. My personal favorite things to do are pumpkin picking or strawberry picking at Huber’s Orchard & Winery or going to the Harvest Homecoming festival in the fall,” she says. 

Koch also loves the growing restaurant scene in Southern Indiana. 

“I ate at Puerto Vallarta Restaurant a lot in college – and still do. We also love Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux in Clarksville. Another hidden gem is Yamato, and we recently discovered Harry’s Taphouse & Kitchen. There are so many places to go at any given time; it’s really hard to get bored.”