Campus Connection

Gov. Evers appoints UWL sophomore Olivia Woodmansee

UW-La Crosse sophomore Olivia Woodmansee has been appointed to the UW System Board of Regents by Gov. Tony Evers. Woodmansee, from New Glarus, is majoring in mathematics and English with a writing & rhetoric emphasis and a minor in legal studies. Her appointment must be approved by the state senate.

Here are three questions for the new Regent:

Do you have any previous government/board experience from high school or on campus?

In high school, I served as president on the state executive board of the Wisconsin Family Career & Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). More recently, I have served as chair of the Segregated University Fee Allocation Committee (SUFAC) for the UWL Student Association in addition to being a student senator for the College of Science and Health. As a student senator, initiatives that I have speared include convening an ad hoc committee increasing the awareness of sustainable actions on campus, as well bridging the gap between administration and students when it comes to student fees.

What are the important issues you see before the board?

I have recognized a lack of holistic student representation among my predecessors that I hope to improve upon. Additionally, as the board recognized in their April meeting, access to mental health services is a major concern for students and I will continue to advocate on behalf of funding for increased capacity. Furthermore, the restructuring has left a gap in communication and understanding between two-year branch campuses and four-year campuses. I want to ensure that real-time impacts on students are brought to light in front of the board to ensure that amongst making decisions for future students, current student situations should also be considered.

What do you hope to bring to the board?

I’m excited for the opportunity to be a voice for student concerns across the state and to ensure that each UW campus is recognized for their individualized needs, whether it be about the cost of tuition considering the rising expenses of living or the quality of the environments in which we are learning. I aim to connect with as many campuses as possible throughout my appointment to ensure I’m including students of all backgrounds.