Forensic Psychology major Grayce Pierce ’25 has always been fascinated by what drives people to make the choices they do. That curiosity – sparked years ago by watching true-crime documentaries with her father – eventually led the Naples, N.Y., resident to Keuka College, where she has blended her interests in psychology and criminology into a clear sense of purpose.
“I’ve always been interested in criminology,” she said. “Then I learned more about forensic psychology, and I thought that was very interesting because it’s cool to learn about the minds of criminals and try to figure out what's really going on in their heads.”
That desire to understand, coupled with a willingness to help others, guided Grayce through her most recent Field Period® experience with the Yates County Probation Department, an internship that proved pivotal in shaping her career direction.
Working closely with probation officers, Grayce shadowed professionals who oversaw a wide range of cases, from juvenile offenders to DWI and drug court participants.
“Every day I worked with a different person,” she explained. “Each officer had a different system, so I got to see how they handled their cases. I also attended drug court every Wednesday, which was really interesting.”
Her placement came through a connection with adjunct professor and probation officer Brittany Heysler ’15 M'17, a Keuka College alumna who supervises Yates County’s drug court program. Under her mentorship, Grayce helped complete case notes and observed how court teams collaborated to support rehabilitation. She also accompanied officers on home visits and sat in on meetings at FLACRA, a Penn Yan-based addiction recovery agency.
“Going on the home visits gave me a broader perspective,” Grayce said. “I got to see where some of the people live and how their home life is outside of court. A lot of the kids had rough homes. It was kind of sad to see, but it definitely painted a bigger picture.”
The experience, she said, not only strengthened her communication skills but gave her more experience and perspective as she explores future careers.
I went into this Field Period trying to figure out what I truly want to do. And then I talked to my academic advisor, and she mentioned the probation office. It wasn’t something I ever really thought about doing before, but when I got into it, I really enjoyed it.
As she prepares to graduate early in December, Grayce plans to take a gap year to gain more hands-on experience – possibly as a caseworker in foster care or social services – before pursuing a master’s degree in forensic psychology or criminology.
Whichever path she takes, her time at Keuka College and her Field Period experiences have equipped her with insight, empathy, and confidence.
“These opportunities really open your eyes,” Grayce said. “I’ve always wanted to help people, so I’m hoping within this next year or so to work, get as much experience as possible, and determine exactly how I’ll do that.”
