William Rudeseal, Student Government Association president and Masters student at the College at Wise, and Taylor Cochran, student member of the College Board and fourth-year Wise student, announced their endorsement for Micah Andrews, third-year College student and Student Council presidential candidate Wednesday.
Cochran said it was important to her to express support due to the two campuses' close working relationship, and she is unsure of the last time, if ever, a SGA at Wise representative endorsed a U.Va. Student Council presidential candidate.
SGA at Wise is not an official endorsement organization registered with the University Board of Elections, according to UBE’s website, meaning the endorsement is solely on behalf of Rudeseal and Cochran.
According to the release, Andrews will best uphold the relationship between the two campuses and their student self-governing bodies.
“We have full confidence in [Andrews’] ability to continue carrying forward the cooperation agreement between U.Va. Student Council and U.Va. Wise SGA, and to build upon the progress we have made together,” the release by Rudeseal and Cochran read. “That partnership must remain active, intentional and student-centered.”
In addition, the release said that Andrews is the ideal candidate for improving transfer relations for students who transition their enrollment from the College at Wise to the University’s Main Campus. The Year in Wise program allows Virginia residents waitlisted for the College of Arts and Sciences to spend one year at the College at Wise before transferring their enrollment to Grounds for their remaining three years. Students who complete 30 transferable credits while earning at least a 3.0 grade point average are guaranteed transfer without a new application after their first year spent at the College at Wise.
“[Andrews] recognizes the importance of improving transfer relations between our campuses so that students experience a seamless and supported transition within the broader U.Va. community,” the release read.
Rudeseal expanded on this point in an email statement to The Cavalier Daily, saying that Andrews has become a “fierce advocate” for improving the transfer experience for Year in Wise students by listening to transfer student voices throughout the transition process.
“[Andrews] and I agree that our student governments should do everything we can to help ensure students are successful in their transition from Wise to Grounds, and bringing attention to the process is the first step,” Rudeseal said.
This past November, Andrews and other Council representatives took a trip to the College at Wise as part of an expanding effort to strengthen ties between the institutions. In a Student Council meeting, representatives reported coming away from the visit with new goals to expand January term exchange opportunities, assist the College at Wise in developing its student self-governance structure and improve the transition for Year in Wise students. According to Rudeseal, Andrews demonstrated her focus for strengthening bonds with the College at Wise during and since the visit.
“From the moment [Andrews] came to visit Wise … her genuine curiosity and love for U.Va. Wise and Southwest Virginia was evident,” Rudeseal said in an email statement to The Cavalier Daily. “She was immediately focused on how U.Va. Student Council could support U.Va. Wise SGA and vice versa. Her willingness to collaborate left an impression on me.”
Cochran said in an email statement to The Cavalier Daily that Andrews also demonstrated her commitment to the College at Wise when Wise SGA representatives visited Charlottesville last Spring. According to Cochran, Andrews jumped into conversations and demonstrated a commitment to Year in Wise transfer students.
“[Andrews] joined the conversation [with Wise students] immediately, wanting to help both the students and the [Year In Wise] program,” Cochran said in the email statement. “No matter what kind of student you are or where you come from, she wants to help, and that is evident.”
Andrews currently serves as Student Council’s Chief of Support and Access Services. She is a member of the “Our U.Va.” Student Council presidential ticket, which emphasizes pillars of expanding accessible services to all University students and striving for independence from the federal government.
At the Student Council presidential debate co-hosted by The Cavalier Daily and the University Board of Elections, Andrews emphasized strengthening ties with the College at Wise. Namely, she said that these ties could be leveraged to lobby for a student voting member on the University’s Board of Visitors.
Over fourth-year College student Clay Dickerson’s term as Council president that began March 30, 2025 and will end March 30, 2026, the two campuses have strengthened their connection. The partnership culminated in a memorandum Oct. 20 that frames both schools’ commitments to upholding student self-governance and a sustainable line of communication between campuses.
To continue this momentum between schools, the release by Cochran and Rudeseal recommends Andrews for her thoughtful leadership and understanding that strong institutions are built on collaboration.
“U.Va. needs a [Student Council] president who can lead boldly while building bridges,” the release read. “Micah Andrews is that leader.”
Student voting for Student Council president, among other positions within Student Council, University Judiciary Committee and Honor Committee, will be open Tuesday to Thursday.
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