Megan Olsem on Finding Her Voice

Published Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Megan Olsem, on the cover of FOCUS magazine's Winter 2026 edition

When Megan Olsem was named SMSU’s Homecoming Queen this fall, the cheers weren’t just for a crown, they were for young woman of resilience, courage, and transformation. A junior social work major from Jackson, Minnesota, Megan has faced more challenges in her 21 years than most people encounter in a lifetime: 32 surgeries, childhood cancer, an unstable homelife, and years of navigating life in a wheelchair. But at Southwest Minnesota State University, she found something she never had before, a supportive family, a community that listens, a platform to lead, and the confidence to speak up for others.

Choosing SMSU and the Path to Social Work
Megan’s decision to attend SMSU was rooted in her dream of becoming a child life specialist—a goal inspired by her own experiences as a patient. “I’ve had 32 surgeries and spent so much of my life in hospitals,” she says. “I always had child life specialists, but none of them really knew what I’d been through personally. I wanted to be that person for someone else.”
When she learned that social work could open doors to hospital-based roles and advocacy work, the choice was clear. “Social work gives you options,” Megan explains. “You can work in hospitals, schools, counseling—anywhere. And honestly, I didn’t want to be a teacher,” she adds with a laugh. “Social work felt right.”
Her counselor introduced her to SMSU, and after meeting with admissions staff, Megan knew she’d found her place. “I thought college would be inaccessible,” she admits. “But SMSU showed me that I could belong here.”
Finding Community and Confidence
Megan’s first year wasn’t easy, but programs like Mustang Pathway helped her adjust. “It gave me a family,” she says. “People who understood what I was going through.”
She also found unexpected community as the manager for SMSU’s wheelchair basketball team. “I didn’t know anything about basketball,” Megan laughs. “But I wanted to be part of something. The team gave me that sense of belonging.”
Campus jobs—from the post office to traffic services—helped Megan connect with faculty, staff, and students. “Working in the post office was the best,” she says. “I got to know everyone. It’s crazy—I can walk into any building now and people know me.”

Advocacy and Leadership: A Voice for Accessibility
Megan’s advocacy journey began with a painful moment: being called a slur just weeks into her freshman year. “I told Public Safety, and they actually did something,” she recalls. “That was new for me. It showed me that SMSU listens.”
That experience sparked a passion for change. Megan organized accessibility tours, met with administrators, and eventually ran for Student Senate. “Honestly, I did it as a joke at first,” she says. “But I realized student government is a big deal here. If I wanted a voice, that was the way.”
Her first Senate meeting set the tone. “I came in with a list of accessibility issues,” Megan says. “Bathrooms, elevators, doorways—you name it. People were shocked. They had no idea.”
Since then, Megan has become a leading voice for inclusion. She presents to first-year students about disability awareness, helps
shape proposals for future campus renovations, and advocates for mental health support tailored to students with disabilities.
“I’m not doing this for me,” she emphasizes. “I know changes won’t happen overnight. I’m doing it for the students who come after me.”
With support from her Student Association President, Sheridyn Runs After, she and a fellow student, Bella Angell, hosted a campus accessibility tour for administrators and staff. The 90-minute tour showed firsthand what it’s like for students in wheelchairs. She did this by asking each participant, including the interim president, Dr. David P. Jones, to spend time in the wheelchair navigating doors and bathroom stalls.
“The work that Megan is doing to advocate for students in wheelchairs is both eye-opening and inspiring. It’s helping me and other administrators to inform important decisions regarding the immediate needs and future goals for our facilities,” said Dr. Jones. “Without her voice, we wouldn’t be able to identify what we can change now and what needs to change to make our campus more accessible going forward. We know it’s a work in progress, but we wouldn’t have seen the most pressing needs without her speaking up. I’m proud of her for doing it.”

Recognition and Impact
This fall, Megan was crowned Homecoming Queen, it was a moment that symbolized her growing influence on campus.
“It was surreal,” she says. “But it’s not about the crown. It’s about showing that students with disabilities belong in leadership roles.”
Her advocacy has already shaped SMSU’s future. Accessibility concerns she raised are informing proposals for a Rural Health
and Wellness Center, HEAPR project, and campus renovations. “I know it’s not for me,” Megan says. “Even if I don’t see the changes, I know they’re coming.”

The Social Work Program: Learning and Growing
Megan credits SMSU’s social work faculty for helping her discover her voice. “My professors like Jim Smalley, and Amber Kinner-Alahakoon, they’re amazing,” she says. “They don’t sugarcoat things. They tell you the truth, and that’s what I love.”
The program has also helped Megan process her own experiences. “When we talk about trauma, I realize things I went through were traumatic,” she says. “I didn’t know that. I just thought they were normal.”
Looking ahead, Megan will graduate in spring 2027. She hopes to pursue a master’s degree in social work at SMSU and work in accessibility and counseling services. “There’s no one in counseling who really understands what it’s like to be disabled,” she says. “I want to change that.”

A Message of Resilience
Megan’s journey from a childhood marked by surgeries, bullying, and instability to becoming a campus leader is nothing short of inspiring. “Moving to Marshall changed my life,” she says. “I can be myself here. I don’t have to quiet who I am.”
When asked what advice she would give to her 17-year-old self, she didn’t hesitate a second: “Don’t give up. What’s coming is way more exciting than what you’re going through now. You’re going to be okay, and you’re going to make a difference. What’s coming is so much better.”