Hometown
Wisconsin Rapids, WI
Undergraduate education
B.A. in political science and public administration with an emphasis on policy analysis at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point
Expected graduation date
May 2027
Policy interests
State and Local Government Relations
Why La Follette?
I was introduced to the La Follette School through my current role at the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, which invested in a scholarship in the name of my predecessor, Curt Witynski. What set the program apart for me was its location — a short commute from work and home, the small class size, and its recognition as a renowned public policy school. Further, La Follette School alumni are serving in critical roles at all levels of government. I’m pleased to see the La Follette School placing a growing emphasis on local government, which is the most prevalent and directly interacted, form of governance.
The La Follette Community
I’ve encountered numerous alumni and faculty members who have spoken very highly of the La Follette School’s program. Specifically, the opportunities both on and off campus, high-caliber speakers, guest lecturers, and the strength of the cohort model for community.
Current job outside La Follette
I currently work for the League of Wisconsin Municipalities as Chief Operating Officer (August 2022–present). My role involves member engagement, supporting learning and training for Wisconsin’s city and village officials, and serving as a resource for Wisconsin’s 607 cities and villages. I was drawn to the League because it has served as a fixture for Wisconsin’s municipalities since its founding in 1898. The organization has a history of various connections with the University of Wisconsin System and maintains active relationships with the La Follette School, Law School, University of Wisconsin–Extension, and UniverCity Year Alliance, to name a few.
Wisconsin Idea
The Wisconsin Idea is synonymous with the work of the League — working on behalf of communities both large and small — and my past public service. I am excited to continue a career aimed at improving the lives of Wisconsin’s citizens, whether they are local officials or in a broader public policy context.
Career prior to La Follette
I served as the full-time mayor of my hometown, Wisconsin Rapids, from 2012 to 2020. I then served as the appointed City Administrator of Rhinelander from 2020 to 2022, until I started with the League of Wisconsin Municipalities.
What advice would you give to prospective La Follette students?
I encourage prospective La Follette School students to reach out to current faculty and students to hear more about their experience and consider how this program may fit with their professional and personal goals. Beyond the decision to attend the La Follette School, consider a career in local government! The impact is immediate, the challenges are real, and the work is deeply motivating and inspiring. Few arenas offer such a direct connection between sound policy and tangible community outcomes.
What has been your most challenging experience at La Follette?
As a student returning to campus after a 14-year break, the adjustment has been real! The challenges ranged from simply getting around campus and the consumption of information to be tested on later, to the rigor of quantitative courses in economics and statistics, which have been very challenging at times! Thankfully, I’ve found peer support, tutors, and advising resources to be immensely valuable.
Has La Follette changed the way you interpret public policy?
I have found the courses thus far to be impactful to the way I view public policy. The application of my undergraduate education and life experience thus far has been in governance, public administration, and municipal operations. The La Follette experience is expanding that foundation by equipping me with analytical frameworks to assess complex policy challenges more critically and systematically. The courses have strengthened my ability to evaluate alternatives, quantify impacts, and anticipate unintended consequences. I have become more adept at asking not just what a policy seeks to achieve, but how and why it produces particular outcomes. Through case studies and class discussions, I have gained a better understanding of how political institutions, stakeholder interests, and administrative capacity interact to shape outcomes.
What are your interests outside public policy?
I am passionate about being outdoors in every Wisconsin season — boating, biking, running, snowboarding, hunting, and more!
Local Government Eat & Greet
To highlight the La Follette School’s Fall 2025 Eat & Greet networking series, we are featuring students with impressive careers in their respective fields. For our October event, Zach Vruwink showcases La Follette students’ drive and determination to positively impact their environments and individual local governments. The Local Government Eat & Greet will take place on October 24 at Steenbock’s on Orchard in the Discovery Building. These events are supported by the Ascendium Education Group.