Melissa Paulsen

Melissa Paulsen is Professor of the Practice at the University of Notre Dame's Keough School of Global Affairs. She serves as Administrative Director of the Master of Global Affairs program's Integration Lab (i-Lab) and co-director of the Keough School's social entrepreneurship and innovation minor. Paulsen leads the Entrepreneurship and Education Division at the Pulte Institute for Global Development, developing interdisciplinary development programs.

Education:

• Master’s in Nonprofit Administration, University of Notre Dame
• Bachelor’s in English and Philosophy, Assumption College

Research Focus: Her work centers on social entrepreneurship, human-centered design for global development, business-driven solutions for poverty alleviation, and experiential learning models. She emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and community-centered approaches.

Awards:

• University of Notre Dame Presidential Achievement Award (2023)

Program Leadership: She directs the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders (YALI), manages the Microventuring Certificate Program for low-income entrepreneurs, and oversees the social entrepreneurship minor curriculum. Previously, she was Assistant Director at the Mendoza College of Business Gigot Center for Entrepreneurial Studies.