Student Government Association

The Academic and Student Affairs Committee supports student success and advocates for academic policy change. Members of the committee address student concerns and lead initiatives that educate students about academic affairs. Along with discussing student inquiries, members of the council gather feedback from the student body. The council uses suggestions and students' experiences to guide the Student Senate's policy recommendations to other shared governance organizations.

Director: Sierra Bakke
Email: sga.student-acad-affairs@uwrf.edu

The Finance Committee holds significant power on campus through their oversight of student segregated fees. The committee reviews the budget proposals from campus entities such as Textbook Services, Residence Life and Counseling Services, and forwards their recommendations to the chancellor. This gives members of the committee the unique opportunity to advocate for the expenditure of students’ segregated fees. The Finance Committee also allocates money to Recognized Student Organizations (RSOs).

Director: Lauren Neff
Email: sga.finance@uwrf.edu
 

The Judicial Committee is comprised of the Chief Justice, Senior Associate Justice, Senate Associate Justices and At-Large Associate Justices. These members are tasked with settling all disputes arising within SGA in accordance with not only the SGA Bylaws, but also all UWRF and Universities of Wisconsin policies. This committee has direct oversight of the Executive Branch and Election Commission and annually reviews all governing documents. 

Director: Caleb Wiener
Email: sga.judicial@uwrf.edu 

The purpose of the SGA Executive Board is to advise the SGA President and SGA Vice President on all business relating to UWRF and the SGA. Executive Branch members shall carry out all tasks and responsibilities delegated by the SGA President and SGA Vice President.

• President: Maddie Nelson, sga.president@uwrf.edu
• Executive Director: Olivia Clark, sga@uwrf.edu
• Chief Justice: Caleb Wiener, sga.judicial@uwrf.edu
• Public Relations Director: Zoey Haugen, sga.pr@uwrf.edu
• Vice President: Dodge Sampair, sga.vicepresident@uwrf.edu
• Finance Director: Lauren Neff, sga.finance@uwrf.edu
• Academic and Student Affairs Director: Sierra Bakke, sga.stdnt-acad-affairs@uwrf.edu
• Legislative Affairs Director: Gavin Peterson, sga.legislativeaffairs@uwrf.edu

Hello Falcons! My name is Olivia Clark and I am a second year English Education major here at UWRF. Currently, I serve as the Student Government Associate 88th Session Executive Director. As Executive Director, I serve as a touchpoint between senators and directors, as well as directors and our advisors. Most of my position revolves around ensuring every senate member has what they need to be successful and successfully accomplish their initiatives. Additionally, it is my responsibility to receive student feedback emails, bringing the concerns of the student body to our executive board and general senate meetings. 

In my time serving on SGA, I have been involved in a variety of initiatives, all of which prioritize and promote the voice of students. Last fall, I ensured the students were active in the decision making process here at UWRF by organizing and filling student representative seats on Faculty Senate committees that range from retention to faculty compensation and everything in between. Currently, I serve on the General Education and University Requirements Faculty Senate Committee as a student representative. In this committee, I voice student concerns and work with faculty across campus to ensure UWRF’s general education requirements meet the needs of all students. 

My current initiative is to provide a platform for student advocacy advertising SGA missions and providing outreach to prospective senators. This initiative has led me to partner with a variety of campus departments to ensure all UWRF students are represented, heard, and supported. In my efforts I have learned that what makes SGA impactful is its members; senators who represent their peers are imperative to SGA’s mission. It is my desire to continue to hone these skills by collaborating with administration, expanding student resources, and ensuring your needs remain at the heart of Student Government priorities.

After two uninterrupted terms on the Senate-first as a CE BAH Senator and this past year as the Vice President-I have decided to seek election for SGA President. I spent my first year in the Senate on various committees, including Finance and ASAC. Approving club creation and working extensively with club funding, both committees gave me excellent insight into what support our clubs on campus need, up to and including the expansion of club funding. I believe, with the help of my VP Brayden Haynes, we can set forth a livelier campus and bring a well-awaited return to true student life. With the goal of providing thousands back to the students, rather than watching campus life disappear to inflation and fees climb ever higher, we seek to reinvest seg fees back where they can be used best-club funding for unique opportunities or expanding into larger campuswide events if students desire. At the end of the day, we are paid employees (every director role+ Pres. & VP get stipends increasing with responsibility in line with listed bylaws). It is our job to make sure you see improvement when costs go up and have clearly communicated explanations when cuts are made; there must be transparency from top to bottom. Above all, we need a strong communicator in the presidential role as we transition into this strategic plan. Let's make sure the next one serves students first. Vote Sampair-Haynes 26-27 "From Students, for Students"

Hello everyone, my name is Zoey. Currently I am in my second year at UWRF with a major in Biology Education and serve as the Public Relations Director of the Student Government Association. I was also the Vice President Elect for the Residence Hall Association prior to its restructure. My time in these roles has shown me the importance of advocating for change to make a better UWRF for all students. 

As a Biology Education major, I take classes in every college, forming connections across campus. I believe this gives me a unique perspective in my ability to connect with and advocate for the entire student body, regardless of the college they are a part of. Additionally, as a first-generation student I understand the struggles many of us face and strive to support students at all points in their college careers. 

I am running for Vice President because education has always been important to me, particularly when it comes to representing those around me. From both a student and prospective educator’s perspective, I believe that every student should be afforded the best possible educational experience, particularly in higher education, which starts with student-faculty collaboration, communication, and understanding. If elected, I want to push initiatives that encourage this type of collaboration in the interest of every student feeling adequate levels of support in and out of their coursework. Whether it be collaborating with administration, strategizing for student resources, or crafting resolutions to make change, I can assure you that as your Vice President I will amplify the voices of UWRF’s student body.

 Throughout my first two semesters here on campus, I have seen a host of issues that pertain to the student body. I then created the UWRF YDSA as a means to solve these issues through collective action and democracy, and now I am aiming to use SGA as a way, with my partner Dodge Sampair, to bring about the change on campus that we all wish to see. We wish to bring quality of life changes, ease of access, and general well being increases, from the students, by the students.

My name is Gavin, and I am thrilled to be running for your Student Government Vice President. This past year, I've worked with fellow students and faculty members to improve campus life, and ensure that students needs are being met in all aspects around campus. From traveling to Madison to speak with the state legislatures to attending meetings with faculty, I promoted student needs and desires for the campus. I love to represent the students, and I am excited to continue doing that next year.

Hello, my name is Josie Bailey, and I’m a sophomore in senior standing at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls studying Agriculture Education. I plan to graduate in the spring of 2027.  I’m currently involved in several organizations including Student Government Association, Alpha Tau Alpha (the honorary agriculture education fraternity), Agriculture Education Society, and Collegiate Farm Bureau. Being part of these groups has helped me meet a lot of different people across campus and understand how important it is for students to feel like they have a voice.

If I continue serving on the SGA board, my goal is to help make sure students feel included and represented. Everyone at UWRF comes from different backgrounds and has different experiences, and I think it’s important that those perspectives are heard. I want to help connect students with student government and make it easier for people to share their ideas or concerns about campus.

Hi everyone! My name is Aine, and I’m a junior majoring in criminology. I have really enjoyed serving on SGA this year and would love to do it again next year. Being part of SGA has shown me how important it is for students to have someone who listens to their ideas and concerns. If elected, I want to continue representing students by being approachable, hearing different perspectives, and helping make sure student voices are included in campus decisions. My goal is to help make our campus a place where students feel heard, supported, and involved.

I am a conservation major as well as a Sustainability Representative in the UWRF Office of Sustainability. My role in the Office makes me a great candidate because I am highly informed and up to date on campus sustainability initiatives. My passion for sustainability is evident in my involvement in various organizations and my lifestyle. I will bring a sustainability perspective to SGA that benefits students and the community.

I have been a part of SGA for the last 2 years and have really enjoyed being a part of making a difference around campus. I am a part of CAFES and really enjoy taking on leadership positions in order to help fellow students on campus. I am looking forward to hopefully being selected to participate in SGA for another year.

I am a non-traditional transfer student who is very interested in becoming a part of student government. I am a future educator wanting to specialize in Special Education, where I believe I will learn a lot by holding a position in the Student Government Association.

As a non-traditional student I have a lot of life experience that would allow me to be able to advocate for students in the DRC, First Generation Students, or CEBAH. I am a member of TRIO SSS, I am a member of the LGBTQIA+ Community, and I am a strong advocate for mental health. I am looking forward to serving UWRF students! Thank you :)

My name is Maddie Fourness, and I’m currently a third-year student at UW-River Falls double majoring in Ecology & Organismal Biology, and Spanish. I am the current Counseling senator on campus, and would love to continue that. Ways I have and will continue to represent out student body is by being a bridge between our students and faculty, and one of my ongoing goals is to improve outreach, and foster stronger community connections across campus. I plan to collaborate with many other departments as well to support students mental health and wellbeing. I believe I can make more change as I go into my 4th and final year on campus, now knowing more about SGA now and what all I can do.

My name is Ben Harris, and I am a Finance major at UW-River Falls and captain of the men’s soccer team. Originally from England, I came to UWRF as an international student-athlete, which has given me a unique perspective on both the international and athletic communities on campus.

I am a student athlete on the women's soccer team and I want to be a positive advocate for other student athletes!

None provided.

As the current CAS Senator, I intend to focus on quality-of-life issues for CAS and the campus as a whole. Working with the current session of SGA has been informative and the work has started to make positive and lasting change here at UWRF. I make it my mission on SGA to get the best deal for students attending CAS and UWRF.

Hello! I am currently a sophomore studying art education! I long to help ALL majors in CEBAH feel more connected! #CEBAHSTRONG!

Hello! I am a transfer student to River Falls Majoring in Physics & General Science Education. As a retired Sergeant of Marines, I am committed to the well-being of the Military Students on Campus.  I am involved with the campus radio station WRFW 88.7 as well as Falcon Felines. Some of the things that I am passionate about are Mental Health awareness, Substance Abuse Treatment, and especially reducing the stigma surrounding Mental Health Awareness. 

My name is Alex Zimmerman and I am junior studying Agriculture Business. I am a proud member and officer of Alpha Gamma Rho.