Dr. Rachelle Loven grew up in small towns in North Dakota and Minnesota where she graduated from Rothsay High School. With a $100 PTA scholarship in hand, she completed her A.A. at Fergus Falls Community College and later finished her B.S. at Bemidji State University.
After completing her elementary education degree with specializations in art, math and early childhood, she started her professional career in Evansville, Ind., directing a church daycare. From there she taught K-8 in a country school in Burton, Neb., and 1st - 3rd grade in Wilmot, S.D. In 1980, she found her way to Sioux Falls to teach K-3 at Christian Center Elementary. While in Sioux Falls, she completed her M.Ed. in Reading Education at Sioux Falls College.
After teaching at North Central University in Minneapolis, Rachelle returned to Sioux Falls to become a part of the faculty at USF in 1987. In 1990, she completed her Ed.D. at USD in Curriculum and Instruction.