Meet Collin McNamara

Hello! My name is Collin McNamara, and I grew up in Central Wisconsin, where I actively participated in various community events during my time in school. Raised with values of respect and hard work, I faced several challenges throughout my education, but I was fortunate to receive support and guidance from individuals who helped me grow. From an early age, my parents instilled in me the importance of serving the community. My father served as a volunteer firefighter, while my mother dedicated her time to various groups like the Lionesses, all aimed at improving our community.

During my high school years, I discovered my passion for service. In 2016, I took on the role of team captain for the coordinated campaign. As the election concluded, I recognized the deep resentments within our political system and committed myself to rebuilding the sense of community that I firmly believed in. I organized a School Board forum, recognizing the significance of transparency in effective governance, and spearheaded several other events and movements. When faced with adversity, my family provided me with valuable advice: "take it on the chin and keep going." This mantra taught me resilience as we relocated multiple times across Central Wisconsin, from Amherst to Waupaca, and finally settling in Wautoma and Iola. In 2018, I graduated from Iola-Scandinavia High School.

When the time came to choose a university, I explored various campuses, but only one truly felt like "home" to me: the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. However, shortly after my acceptance, a plan was announced to eliminate some humanities and liberal arts programs, including my intended major. Faced with this decision, I had to choose whether to attend a school where I would be grandfathered into my major. Recognizing the challenges ahead, I resolved to show up and enrolled at UW-Stevens Point. I became involved in Student Government and successfully campaigned to save those programs. Furthermore, I served on a committee that developed a policy ensuring that program eliminations would only occur with supportive facts. This marked the beginning of my efforts to ensure responsible and sensible policies. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and the divisive 2020 election, I served as the President of the Student Body. In every position I held, I earned a reputation for asking tough questions, challenging the status quo to achieve results, and collaborating with diverse individuals. With my commitment to helping real people with real problems, I graduated from UW-Stevens Point with a B.A. in Political Science.

Following graduation, I took on the role of a campaign manager, firmly believing in the collective effort required to build a truly representative government. Today, I continue my journey, driven by the desire to make a difference in my community.