SPEAKING FOR THE STUDENT BODY. Isabelle Shepard (left) and Tia Beirne (right) are fourth-year students who will assume the roles of student body president and vice president, respectively, at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire this fall. Both currently serve on various commissions through student senate, where students ideate and enact solutions to improve campus life. (Submitted photo)

Last spring, Isabelle Shepard and Tia Beirne were elected as the new student body president and vice president, respectively, at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire for the 2026-2027 term.

Shepard (referred to as "IS" in the Q&A), a fourth-year student, is currently majoring in finance and accounting with a minor in actuarial science. Beirne (referred to as "TB"), also a fourth-year student, will graduate with a major in special elementary education, with aspirations to become a teacher. Through both of their experiences on and off campus, each has learned how to advocate for all types of students – a skill they both said will only be improved upon during the next academic year.

The duo hope to offer some insider knowledge of life on campus at UW-Eau Claire and the broader city in this Q&A.

V1: Why did you choose the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire?

TB: "I chose UWEC because it allowed me the opportunity to partake all of my interests.  I am able to run competitively on a team and be involved with hobbies like student government. I enjoy the small class sizes and the strong relationships students have with their professors."

IS: "I originally chose UWEC because it had a good program for the major I had chosen at the time. I decided to stay at UWEC – even after changing my major – because of all the opportunities I had to get involved on campus which allowed me to meet a lot of different people who have positively impacted my life and experience on this campus."

V1: What makes Eau Claire and the wider Chippewa Valley a great place to learn and live?

IS + TB: "Being a student in Eau Claire is so great, because there are many ways that you can get involved within the community. There are great walking trails when you need a break from studying, and there are always fun activities downtown to partake in. Campus events like the homecoming parade or Viennese Ball are a must-see, where you really get to feel the community connection and support. Whether you are a first-year student or soon-to-be graduating, our community is super welcoming and helps make Eau Claire feel more like home to students."

V1: How do you think UWEC impacts our broader community city-wide, or how can it do so?

IS + TB: "Eau Claire needs its college students to function. Many businesses around the area rely on college students not only as their employees but also as customers. People come to college here from all over, bringing unique perspectives to the community. Through our partnerships, the community benefits from the knowledge students bring with them and the time they volunteer. Many majors offer different opportunities for students to become involved with the community if they choose to be. Beyond that, the university and community have worked together for a long time to foster the connections we have today."

The UW-Eau Claire homecoming parade, pictured.

The Blugold Marching Band at UW-Eau Claire, pictured.

V1: What are some strengths of the student body at UWEC?

IS + TB: "Our student body is very involved and vocal. This past year, students have been more involved on campus than we've seen during our time here – and we only see that number growing. Through our nearly 200 student organizations, club sports, athletic teams, or the Blugold Marching Band, there is no shortage of ways for students to become involved here. There are many opportunities for students and staff to take and receive feedback which is necessary in helping our university grow and evolve.

Students are good advocates for what they would like to see change on campus and it is the job of student senate to listen and work to make those changes happen."

V1: What are some challenges students, faculty and staff at UWEC currently experience? How might you address them in the upcoming academic year?

IS + TB: "We believe that students are not aware of all of the resources they have available to them here on campus. We think that by providing more awareness of where their student dollars are going, they may be able to see all that is offered to them and actually take advantage of those resources in order to best help them during their time spent here as a student. Given the geographical layout of our campus, it is hard to talk about challenges without also touching on accessibility. This is an issue that is recognized by students, staff and faculty, each year.

We are hoping to work more this year to improve factors that make accessibility an issue on campus since it is a reoccurring issue. While some issues are beyond our control, we hope to continue to bring attention to topics that are important to students – through working with our (senate) commission directors – to voice student concerns and advocate by writing legislation to make the changes happen."

"Given the geographical layout of our campus, it is hard to talk about challenges without also touching on accessibility. This is an issue that is recognized by students, staff and faculty, each year." –Isabelle Shepard and Tia Beirne, UW-Eau Claire

V1: For incoming first-year students, what is your advice for navigating or succeeding in college?

IS + TB: "Find your people and get into a routine. The great part of college is the new freedom you are granted. Getting into a good routine right away helps when classes start to pick up. Your routine may look different than your roommates, as long as it works for you is all that matters. Find people that you enjoy being around. It may take some time, maybe even a year or two, but you will find your crowd. Keeping your dorm door open for those first couple of weeks, participating in welcome week events and joining a student organization are all great ways to meet new people. When school gets hard, it is important that you have people in your corner that you can lean on when you need it."

The annual Viennese Ball at UW-Eau Claire, hosted in the Davies Student Center on campus.

V1: What’s the best-kept secret on campus?

IS + TB: "As student body president and vice president, we know where our mascot Blu the Blugold lives. If you ever want to say hi to Blu, stop by one of our UWEC senate events or reach out to our mascot coordinator to have Blu show up to one of your campus events."

V1: How might your degree paths influence how you bring about new ideas at the university?

IS: "I am majoring in finance and accounting with a minor in actuarial science. Within my major, I’ve learned to interpret numbers, budgets and patterns. These interpretations have helped me get better at identifying inefficiencies and with my focus on upholding accountability while searching for solutions to those inefficiencies. There are always going to be issues to resolve or areas to improve on campus, especially with new students coming to UWEC each year with new thoughts and opinions.

I’ve found that the most successful way to solve inefficiencies on campus is to have accountability involved when addressing an issue and then being very transparent when working to find and implement a solution. This is something I plan to utilize this year when bringing new ideas to the university."

TB: "I am majoring in special elementary education with hopes to become a teacher. Throughout my program and the classes I take, I have learned a lot about how to advocate for all learners, even those differently than myself. I think this perspective helps when it comes to bringing new ideas to the university because it shows how you get the best results through working together, listening to others and taking everyone's thoughts into consideration. Understanding that there is a shared common goal of bettering the university and doing my part to make that happen."

V1: Where do you see the roles of student body president and vice president influencing campus culture?

IS + TB: "We oversee nine commissions and three committees which look into improving subjects that affect many of our students at UWEC everyday such as academics, student organizations, off campus housing, health and wellness, and equity in student matters. One of our big goals this year is to work from the ground up, working to improve student senate will allow us to have a better positive impact on students at UWEC.

By working on changes at the organizational level, we can better help support our board in working to implement those big ideas they have to get things done which will benefit the student body. We hope we can lead by example and show the student body that student senate wants to listen to their ideas and make the changes happen."

"We hope we can lead by example and show the student body that student senate wants to listen to their ideas and make the changes happen."–Isabelle Shepard and Tia Beirne, UW-Eau Claire

View ongoing updates and announcements announcements from Isabelle Shepard and Tia Beirne – through their new roles at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire – via social media (@shepard.beirne.uwec). Visit uwec.edu to learn more about the university's student government and its functions on campus.