RIVER FALLS – Growing up in Eau Claire, Sarah Godlewski never envisioned that she would one day work in government, but she’s doing her part to ensure that young Wisconsinites see doing so as a viable job opportunity that helps society. 

Godlewski, appointed Wisconsin’s secretary of state in March 2023 and state treasurer from 2019-23, joined River Falls Community Services Director/City Clerk Amy White Tuesday at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls to talk with students about jobs in local and state government and the important roles such positions play in a democracy. 

After high school, Godlewski graduated from college with a peace and conflict resolution degree and planned to work in humanitarian aid. Instead, she wound up working for the federal government at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., supporting military troops and families. She subsequently moved back to Wisconsin to be closer to family. In 2018, she decided to run in the election for state treasurer and won. 

“When I was your age, I didn’t have any idea about government jobs,” Godlewski told students. “I didn’t know what they were, what the people who had those jobs did. If somebody would have told me that one day I would work in government and would be Wisconsin’s secretary of state, I would have told them they were nuts.”

However, after working in those jobs, Godlewski has an appreciation for the important role government at all levels plays in citizens’ lives. Important decisions that impact people ranging from ensuring clean drinking water, to fire and police services, to how tax dollars are spent are made by government officials. 

White is among government workers helping make sure her community operates smoothly and provides needed services for residents. Like Godlewski, White didn’t know much about government jobs as a young adult. She started her career as an attorney and worked in criminal prosecution before getting a degree in public administration and seeking a job in local government, then getting hired in River Falls. 

“I didn’t realize that there was a position like this that could be available to me,” White said of a job in local government. “I just wasn’t familiar with that when I was younger. Then I realized that this was a way to impact so many people’s lives on the local level, and I realized it was something that I wanted to do.” 

White and Godlewski told students about the many ways government impacts people and discussed specific job functions. They encouraged students to reach out to government employees to learn more about positions and to make connections.

“A lot of times the best way to learn is just to have a conversation with someone who does that job,” Godlewski said. 

Students asked Godlewski and White numerous questions about government jobs and how they can link to opportunities to be involved. Godlewski said her office is working to design a paid internship program that links young people to jobs working with state and local government officials.

Evelyn Wiltrout, a sophomore political science major from Cambridge, Minn., said the discussion with Godlewski and White helped her better understand the importance of government jobs and opportunities in that sector. Wiltrout, who has diabetes, previously advocated for capping the price of insulin – which is used to treat diabetes – in Minnesota. She plans to one day work professionally developing public policy and advocating for causes. 

“Hearing today from people who are doing that kind of work, it makes it seem more real that I can do that too,” Wiltrout said. 

That is exactly the kind of message Godlewski hopes to spread as she continues to travel across Wisconsin meeting with young people to educate them about government jobs and opportunities. She and her team visited several west-central Wisconsin communities Monday and Tuesday to meet with young people to discuss government. 

“There are a lot of opportunities for young people in local and state government right now,” Godlewski said, “and I want them to know about it. Wisconsin will be a better place through their involvement.” 

Submitted by UW-River Falls