Take the leap

Lillian Lesperance Solomonson, CAS ’26, has never been afraid to try something new. During her time at Oakland University, she took part in undergraduate research, study abroad programs and benefited from faculty mentorship. Her experience at OU gave her the confidence to serve with the Peace Corps in the Philippines.

“Don’t wait for things to come to you,” said Lesperance Solomonson, who earned her degree in biology. “I realized that if I wanted to do it, I had to do the work.”

When deciding to apply for the Peace Corps, Lesperance Solomonson said she realized many of her previous experiences had prepared her for the opportunity.

“It’s mostly what I've done before — intercultural exchange with work,” Lesperance Solomonson said.

After her sophomore year, Lesperance Solomonson participated in Oakland University’s Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) in biology, where she worked with Nicole Wagner, Ph.D., assistant professor of biological sciences at Oakland University, to study zooplankton population dynamics at Seven Ponds Nature Center. The experience allowed her to work alongside graduate students.

“It was so cool to interact with them and see what their life is like,” Lesperance Solomonson said.

Following SURP, she continued working in Wagner’s lab, assisting graduate students before completing her honors thesis on mussel reintroduction in the Clinton River. 

“I just wanted to go do something new,” Lesperance Solomonson said. “I felt unsure, but everyone was helpful and supportive, so I could do it.”

After her junior year, Lesperance Solomonson participated in a National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF REU) program in Massachusetts.

“It made me believe in myself,” Lesperance Solomon said.

That support was matched by Lesperance Solomon’s eagerness to learn and contribute in the lab.

“No matter what project Lillian was working on, she always jumped right in and made an effort to gain the background knowledge needed to contribute, not just to completing the experiments, but also to understanding and developing the underlying scientific ideas,” Wagner said.

In winter 2026, Lesperance Solomonson studied abroad in Alaska through Oakland. The day after arriving, she reached out to Jeffrey Muehlbauer, assistant professor and unit leader for fisheries science at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, about working in his research lab and began working there the following Monday. 

“Lillian is a passionate researcher with a bright future ahead of her. She is a dedicated worker as well, and a great presence in a group setting,” Muehlbauer said.

The cold call email impressed Muehlbauer and Lesperance Solomonson admitted she even impressed herself. 

“I was so amazed at myself,” Lesperance Solomonson said. “I had never just asked to do something.”

In addition to Alaska, Lesperance Solomonson also studied abroad in Costa Rica and Italy. She said each experience introduced her to new people and different perspectives.

“It was interesting to see people going out of the country for the first time and how different people adapt to a foreign land,” Lesperance Solomonson said of her experience in Costa Rica.

As she traveled to new places, she became more curious about the world around her. 

“For me, the more I travel, the more I'm curious about what other places are like,” Lesperance Solomonson said. “You see things that are like I didn't even know that existed, and I never would know, so now I'm curious about what else is out there.”

Lesperance Solomonson said those experiences also changed the way she viewed people and unfamiliar places.

“It is super helpful because going abroad and having time in new places makes you realize it’s just people,” Lesperance Solomonson said. “People are just people at the end of the day.”

Throughout her time at Oakland University, Lesperance Solomonson said the people around her played an important role in encouraging her to pursue new opportunities. She credited her parents as her biggest mentors and encouraged students to build relationships during their time at the university. 

“Engage with class, professors, classmates, just be there, actually there,” Lesperance Solomonson said. 

Reflecting on the experiences that shaped her journey from Oakland University to the Peace Corps, Lesperance offered one final piece of advice.

“Just do it, do it curiously, be patient, be kind, and be yourself,” Lesperance Solomonson said.