Student Profile: Ryan Ausman, MPP Class of 2025

Ryan Ausman, MPP Class of 2025, brings 15 years of contract management in international development to his Harris experience—as well as a breadth of lived experiences.

"I was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and lived in the Caribbean on St. Kitts until I was 12 or 13,” Ausman said. “I also was very fortunate to experience international travel at a young age, and I think that early exposure to other cultures definitely influenced subsequent decisions and interests.”

One key decision occurred after Ausman earned his bachelor of science in commerce & business administration from the University of Alabama. “I was looking for an opportunity to learn another language and something where I could pivot to working in an international context.”

The Peace Corps, Ausman said, checked those boxes. “I served in the Peace Corps in Peru for two years, and it was a transformative experience. It broadened my horizons, got me out of my comfort zone, and solidified my interest in international development.” 

Ausman’s Peace Corps experience also attuned him to inequities in the developing world, which inspired him to hone his skills further so he could give back with the greatest impact. “Since I had learned Spanish fairly well at that point, I decided to improve my Spanish and my economic development and entrepreneurship skills by pursuing my MBA in International Business at the EGADE business school at Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico.”

After graduating from Tecnológico de Monterrey, Ausman worked in contract management for a defense company before securing a position as a foreign service officer with USAID, where his interests in contract management and international development solidified. “I have come to appreciate the impact contract management can have in fostering successful outcomes. We not only oversee the fiscal and compliance responsibility of our own organization but also the subcontractors to ensure funds are being spent the way they're supposed to be. Having those  checks in place improves the project and its impact.” 

Doing work that has an impact, Ausman said, has continued to motivate him over the past 15 years. “Whether it's helping one person, a program, or an entire country, having that kind of impact is what satisfies me.”

Even with his breadth of experience, Ausman continually seeks to expand and enrich his skill sets—and the Master of Public Policy (MPP) program at Harris, he said, was a great opportunity to do just that. “Obviously, I knew the University of Chicago had a great reputation, but Harris Public Policy had two unique assets that sealed the deal for me: First, the way the MPP is structured, I can specialize in international policy and development—all while gaining the economic focus UChicago is known for. Second, The Pearson Institute and faculty members like James Robinson. I had read Professor Robinson’s Why Nations Fail, and it resonated with my experiences, informed some of my ideas and approaches, and changed some of my preconceptions as well. Having the opportunity to further my international policy skills with experts like Professor Robinson is an incredible opportunity.”

As for plans after Harris, Ausman said, “I want to continue as an international development practitioner—perhaps moving into a higher-level executive level role at an NGO.”