2026 SLC Election Candidate Profile – Lia Schmeck

I’m actually from Oregon. I grew up in the Willamette Valley generally. Then I ended up moving to California. I’m relieved to be back. It was wonderful to be with my family out there, but I missed Oregon. I think Oregon’s in my heart. Definitely happy to be back, even if it means more rain. And a looming vitamin D deficiency. 

LB had the tuition program for bordering states, where I could receive in-state tuition. That’s a wonderful program. I was able to come back here. I came to do surgical technology. I’m now doing studio art, which is a much better fit for me.

I have always been so passionate about creating and always considered myself an artist. I felt really nervous to pursue that. But especially within our Student Leadership Council it has been really encouraging for me to follow through with my passions. And having that community, I realized that now is the best time to do that. I really love to paint. Quite the switch from STEM, but a happy one.

Last winter when I was new on campus, just kind of wandering the courtyard between classes, and last term’s president, he was outside kind of flagging students down. He was like, I’ve got pizza in the student union. I can’t say no to pizza. And I went in there, and Travis (Overvig) is his name. He was very welcoming about what student leaders do and encouraging about anyone can apply. So if you’re interested you should run.

But it was such a spur of the moment, like, I don’t think I can do it. But again, a really encouraging group of people there.

It was a really wonderful experience, even not winning. I was able to interview for a different position. So now I’m holding chieftain of events. It’s been a lot of development as a student and as a leader. I’ve learned from that and I feel more passionate about this, about running again.

So what I’ve definitely been learning through this whole process is getting everyone on the same page, and sometimes that doesn’t all happen at the same time. So really working on delegation and meeting people where they want to be met, because, ultimately we are all on student leadership or the event task force in my section of the team.

So we do already have these similar goals. We want to serve students. And really, letting people’s passion lead them. So that was a big thing when we were divvying up tasks. I was prompting, well, what what do you guys want to do? And let’s run with that. Being a coordinator, with a larger team, going from I think it’s 12 on (the Events Task Force), but it’s like 38 for the entire SLC.

Definitely meeting people on their level and seeing what they want to contribute and put forward and offering solutions and helping get them the rest of the way is a big piece, I think, with leadership. Being a facilitator, opening up this opportunity, like, here’s the options we have, and I want to help get you to your goals. So what can I do to really get you there?

I think within our student leadership, we’re relatively unknown. Students might be familiar with things that we do, but not really who does them. Like, in the restrooms we have the Porcelain Posts and that’s something that student leadership does to try to get events out because we’ve got a captive audience in that space. Or like the vending machines, it was SLC who made that donation to get the vending machines on campus, but they might not know who SLC or student leadership is. 

I think that’s important, knowing what you pay for and knowing who we are, because we try to provide these services that are made to support the students. On a commuter campus it might be kind of hard to foster connection and community. And so with events specifically, that’s how we try and do that. And on the greater scale of SLC, we’re trying to offer resources and transparency.

I feel like some people might feel a little bit like they they don’t know what to say or how to contribute themselves and that’s when I find it really important, reaching out to those members of the team to give them avenues to go further.

I’m really big on advocacy. I’ve entertained some committees this term and initiatives. I’ve been partnering with Coleen (Sanders) and textbook affordability. And so really thinking about these things that are affecting students, like supplies and the expenses that they have outside of just tuition. 

A big part of the presidential role is communicating with the board of education. They’re the bridge in between what students have to say and our administration and executive level of things. So I really look forward to that, especially because I am really passionate about that connection piece.

And being at a community college, it’s such a wide range of students that we have. You know? We have parents and first-time college attendees and maybe third-time college attendees. It’s such a diverse range of stories and students that we have, and it’s very beautiful. So letting their stories speak for themselves.

As a leader, your team wants transparency, but also the student body wants transparency. They want to know where their fees are going, the board of education … everyone is happy when there’s transparency and honesty. I think that’s the biggest piece, that communication.

When you’re supposed to be leading a team, everyone needs to be on the same page. Even meeting people, that’s really one of the big questions that I ask is, what can I do for you? It’s a piece of, well, how can I help you be successful? 

And it’s important to ask students, like, what do you need from me? We shouldn’t assume. And sometimes they might not know the resources they have, and that’s where we can help.

I do enjoy reading. I really like being outside, biking, hiking. Definitely, like, outlets for stress. It’s that student student work-life balance. And so my hobbies I find to be, like, physical outlets. I love bicycling. I’m a barista. And so I really love coffee and exploring cafes.

We’ve made great motions. Like, the Porcelain Post, I think that was such a wonderful thing to get out because a lot of students are like, hey, I know you. You do that. Yes, that’s what we do. 

I think previously, we’ve done, like, open forums. And so kind of going back to that is an idea that I have. I don’t think students know that all of our meetings are open. 

Fostering that passion is really important as a leader. You have to lead by example, of course.

And so, even getting out there myself and tabling and talking to students about events and, you know, somebody looks a little bit lost. Hey, you know what? Can I help you? And on the way, it’s like, oh, by the way, I’m a part of student leadership council.

It just kind of has to be something you really care about. And I definitely really care about it. And so even my conversations with my classmates, it usually comes up. 

I think students should know that they don’t have to just have these hopes about, well, I wish this was a little bit better or I wish I could do this.There’s ways to get that into motion.

I’ve had students who are, like, last term, they were like, well, the WiFi is a real big struggle. And with enough people having that concern, they actually did update our routing services over the summer.

And so I think students don’t just have to think about these things. They can happen. And so my slogan this last term was “Don’t dream it, be it,” which is a pull from that campy “Rocky Horror Picture Show” movie. But I think it’s true. You don’t have to just think about these things and hope they happen. Small progress, it can happen.

—

Editor’s note: Edited and condensed for clarity and to give equal coverage to each candidate.