Susan Asselin, ’14, has dedicated her career to global service and international development, from teaching financial literacy in rural Senegal to managing federal partnerships that support Peace Corps programming across the globe.
Susan Asselin, right, listens as the father of her host family, Baaba Bilaly Fall explains his family history in a photo taken during an April visit to Thilogne, Senegal.
A first-generation college student, Asselin balanced work-study jobs and bartending while excelling as a double major in international studies and political science. At UWO, she found her calling on the Model United Nations team, learning the diplomacy, strategy and negotiation skills that would carry her from classrooms in Oshkosh to boardrooms in Washington, D.C.
This fall, the University honors Asselin with the Outstanding Young Alumni Award for her professional achievements, her leadership in the Peace Corps and her dedication to improving lives through sustainable development.
After graduating from UWO in 2014, Asselin earned her master’s degree from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, California. She then joined the Peace Corps and spent three years in northern Senegal. There, she taught financial management and business development classes, trained women entrepreneurs and ran computer literacy courses for students and teachers. She also managed scholarships that helped more than 50 middle school girls continue their education.
She described her years in Senegal as “life-changing,” noting that the experience of learning the Pulaar microlanguage and working alongside women and students made the country feel like a second home. She extended her service for a third year, she said, because the work was so meaningful and she wanted to continue supporting the community.
The “R” stamp on Susan Asselin’s hand is symbolic of finishing her Peace Corps service and becoming a returned volunteer.
When her service in Senegal ended, Asselin returned to the U.S. and began working at Peace Corps headquarters. Today, she serves as a program management analyst in its Office of Strategic Partnerships and Intergovernmental Affairs, helping to oversee relationships with agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Agency for International Development.
Asselin said she was eager to continue serving the Peace Corps mission in a new capacity and her responsibilities quickly grew in scope.
During the global pandemic, when all 7,000 Peace Corps volunteers were evacuated from around the world, she worked on closing out hundreds of disrupted grants and took a lead role in creating new training resources for staff. That experience, she said, confirmed for her the importance of adaptability and teamwork. In her current role, she manages federal partnerships that support education, environmental sustainability and community development efforts in more than 60 countries.
Asselin credits her education at UW Oshkosh for giving her the confidence and skills to thrive on the global stage.
“I couldn’t have imagined where that education would eventually take me, but it was all very worth it,” said Asselin, adding that nearly every success she’s had has been a direct result of her time at UW-Oshkosh and the mentors who guided her along the way.
She points to her years on the Model UN team and mentorship from the late Dr. Kenneth Grieb and political science professor Tracy Slagter as pivotal to her success.
“The MUN Team and Dr. Grieb’s leadership pushed all of us toward excellence,” Asselin said. “The skills I learned on the team—negotiation, diplomacy and strategy—are essential to everything I’ve come to do in my career.”
She also credited Slagter for inspiring her academic path.
The team gathers in St. Louis, Missouri, before a Model United Nations 2013 Conference. Pictured from left are then-UWO students Madeline Meis, Katie Keelan, Dr. Kenneth Grieb, Susan Asselin, Thomas Demailly and Alicia Spietz.
“I remember sitting down in Intro to Poli Sci and that first day of class, she promised by the end of the semester she would convince us to become political science majors. It worked!” Asselin said. “She contributed much of the foundation of my understanding of international relations. More than that, her passion and excitement in her field were inspiring and a positive influence on me throughout my time at UWO and beyond.”
Her nominators agree that Asselin’s time at UWO laid the foundation for a career defined by service and leadership.
Adam Wolf, ‘13, a fellow MUN member said of Asselin: “Her extraordinary contributions to global service and professional achievements demonstrate her dedication to creating meaningful change and embodying the values of UW-Oshkosh.”
Amber Lucero-Dwyer, Asselin’s supervisor at the Peace Corps, praised her clarity of purpose.
Susan Asselin teaches soap-making to members of a community women’s group in 2017 in Thilogne, Senegal.
“It is difficult to imagine a young professional who has more thoroughly demonstrated the clarity of purpose, adaptability and resourcefulness needed to align her life with her deeply held convictions,” Lucero-Dwyer said. “Because Susan’s values are grounded in public service and global development, we can be confident in knowing that her contributions to our country and world will not only benefit many, but will also inspire others.”
Chase Mitchell, a fellow Titan and friend who also works in Washington, D.C., reflected on her character.
“For Susan, it’s not surprising she ended up in this line of work,” Mitchell said. “Her passion for others and high level of empathy, combined with an amazing ability to muster positive energy even in arduous times, is at the core of who she is.”
Looking back, Asselin credits UWO with shaping the person she is today. Asselin said that throughout her career, whether teaching entrepreneurship in Senegal or managing partnerships in Washington, she’s carried forward the lessons of collaboration and purpose she first learned at UW-Oshkosh.
The University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh will celebrate the talents and successes of 11 alumni during Homecoming 2025 Oct. 17-18. Asselin is among five top graduates to receive the Outstanding Young Alumni Award for their professional and civic accomplishments within 15 years of receiving their degrees; five will receive the Distinguished Alumni Award for their accomplishments in their professional fields; and one will receive the Alumni Outstanding Service Award for making exemplary contributions to support UWO through volunteer efforts, energy, leadership and/or philanthropic donations.
The 2025 Alumni Awards Celebration will be held Friday, Oct. 17 at the Culver Family Welcome Center, with a reception at 5 p.m. followed by the dinner and program beginning at 6 p.m. Visit the Alumni Awards website for more information or watch via livestream.
Learn more:
Study Political Science at UWO
Study International Studies at UWO
UWO Model United Nations team continues outstanding run at national conference