Hoofer Council
Hoofers Council is composed of the Council President, four Vice Presidents, five Officers, and each of the six Club Presidents. Together, these individuals help make Hoofers the coolest club on campus!
Council President
Ansley Laev
Hi y'all! My name is Ansley, and I am the Hoofer Council President. I'm a senior studying Gender & Women's Studies and Italian and Classics on the side. I get the fun of working with all of the officers, VPs, and club presidents of Hoofers, as well as working with all the student leaders in the rest of the Union! My love for the outdoors has come from working at Camp Manito-wish in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, and I am so grateful I found Hoofers to have an outlet for the outdoors in college. I'm passionate about social justice, anything involving water, and backcountry baking. If you ever want to go for a swim in Lake Mendota or talk anything Hoofers (truly), hit me up!
Vice President - Administration
Annie Stimmel
Hi! My name is Annie Stimmel and I will be your VP-Admin for the 2020-2021 school year. I am in my last year at Madison studying Communication Arts and Environmental Studies. I have enjoyed being a member of the Outing Club in previous years, and am looking forward to being a part of Council. In my free time I enjoy hiking, skiing, peakin' mountains & laying in the sun.
Vice President - Finance
Matt Wilson
Hey everyone! My name is Matt Wilson and I am a senior studying Econ and Finance. I love skiing, ski racing, and the outdoors. If you have any questions about Finance at Hoofers, or UW-Madison business in general feel free to reach out! I am also one of the leaders of the Alpine Ski Team on campus. If you want to join just shoot me an email!
Vice President - Information Systems
Ashley Soukup
Hey everyone! My name is Ashley and I'm a senior majoring in Computer Engineering. I'm super excited to be taking the role of VP Infosystems this year! I love spending time outside, backpacking, and especially skiing. I was Webmaster for Hoofers Ski and Snowboard exec board last year and can't wait to apply my experience to Hoofer Council. Reach out if you have any questions!
Vice President - Marketing
Michael McLaughlin
My name is Michael McLaughlin and I am a Junior studying Consumer and Retail Behavior with a Certificate in Business from Milwaukee, WI. I started my journey in the outdoor community through my involvement with Camp Manito-Wish YMCA. At camp, I was a participant for seven years, concluding with a 30-day backpacking trip in Montana. From there I became a canoe leader for Manito-Wish and fell in love with the idea of teaching others how to enjoy camping trips. Upon my arrival at Madison, I joined the Alpine Ski Team which introduced me to Hoofers. Since then, Hoofers has been a crucial piece to my college experience. For council, I run all things marketing!
Officer - Alumni Outreach
Will Husted
Hey everyone! My name is Will Husted and I am the VP-Alumni Outreach this year. I’m a senior from Gaithersburg, Maryland majoring in Journalism, Political Science, and Education Policy. My passion for connecting folks to the outdoors stems from the unique experience of feeling a part of and knowledgable about your surroundings. I enjoy hiking up mountains, rollerblading around Madison, hammocking, caring too much about basketball, and making some pretty great cheesecake. If you’re ever looking to connect feel free to use the email below!
Officer - Diversity and Inclusion
Berit Thorson
Hi, friends! My name is Berit and I get to be your Officer of Diversity and Inclusion this year. I am studying Philosophy, Sociology, and Environmental Studies, and I love almost everything about the outdoors except mosquitoes and ticks. My preferred modes of transport are hiking boots, downhill skis, and canoes. I also love my dogs, hot chocolate, and Taylor Swift! I am really looking forward to working with and for you this year as we strive to make Hoofers a more accessible place to all people interested in the outdoors, from enthusiasts to beginners. Please feel free to reach out to me with any ideas, concerns, or great puns!
Learn more about Hoofer's Ambassadors!
Officer - Education and Risk Management
Laura Arneson
Hi everyone! My name is Laura Arneson and I am the Officer of Education and Risk Management for Hoofer Council. I’m a fifth year senior studying Geological Engineering and Geoscience and have a passion for leading individuals on outdoor adventures. I’ve spent three summers guiding youth in the Boundary Waters and Quetico Provincial Park and am happiest when I’m paddling a canoe with a friend, new or old. I am excited to think about the ways Hoofers can examine its processes for safety and smart decision making and to help develop a variety of skills amongst our membership and leadership.
Officer - Interior Design
Ashtyn Duddleston
Hello! My name is Ashtyn Duddleston and this is my second year in a row serving as the Officer of Interior Design for Hoofer Council. I graduated in May 2020 with my B.S. in Retailing & Consumer Behavior from UW-Madison. For the last eight years, I have lived in Madison with my husband, daughter, and pets. In my spare time, I enjoy traveling, crafting, and reading. I am looking forward to serving as a community member on Hoofer Council and helping to bridge the gap between students and community members while continuing my work on the new Hoofer Hallway!
Officer - Programs
Isabel Peterson
In my mind, Hoofers stands apart from other clubs on campus because it draws membership not based on career ambitions or major choice, but on what people are passionate about in their day to day life. I believe that it is for this reason that some of the best friendships can be made through Hoofers clubs and trips. Going into my position as Officer of Programs, I am excited to be more involved in the great community that Hoofers has to offer, while also bringing my past leadership and club experiences to the table to further the Hoofers mission.
Club President - Mountaineering
Hazel Bastien
Hello! I am Hazel Bastien and I am the president of the Mountaineering Club. I am a senior studying Neurobiology and Global Health with hopes to go to medical school after college. I have been an outdoor enthusiast all my life, going on trips to the Boundary Waters and climbing mountains in Colorado with my family at a young age. Climbing has become one of my biggest passions in the past three years, and I love continuing to learn more about the sport. I look forward to getting others stoked about climbing and continuing to build and support our Madison climbing community!
Club President - Outing
Alec Lowry
My name is is Alec Lowry and I am this year's Outing Club President! I've grown up in Rhinelander, Wisconsin and am in my third year here at UW Madison. I'm studying Computer Science with a plan to work in the cybersecurity field, but I often like to run away on weekends and pretend I don't know what computers are. I've grown up mountain biking and backpacking, but since joining the Outing Club I've become an avid whitewater and sea kayak paddler. If you're looking to get involved or started in anything outdoors, reach out!
Club President - Riding
Kendra Lofthus
My name is Kendra Lofthus and I am the Hoofer Riding Club President for this year. I am a senior with a major in Mathematics and an emphasis in actuarial science. I grew up on my family's farm near Eau Claire, WI riding and being outside as much as possible. I didn't start competing until joining the Wisconsin Equestrian Team during my freshman year at UW, which in my opinion, is the best thing about campus! I really got involved in Hoofers last year as HRC VP and want to continue reaching out to the Madison community, offering more educational and advancement opportunities. I'd love to talk horses with you, so shoot me an email!
Club President - Scuba
Christian Gehri
My name is Christian Gehri and I am the 2020-2021 Scuba Club President! I am a senior in school majoring in Actuarial Science and Risk Management Insurance, and this is my second year with the club. In addition to the Scuba Club, I am a member of the Sailing Club, the Ski and Snowboard Club, and the UW Marching band. I hope you to see you in the water sometime!
Club President - Ski and Snowboard
Riley Achtemeier
Hi! My name is Riley Achtemeier (She/Her/Hers) and I am your 2020-2021 Ski and Snowboard President. I grew up in Grayslake IL, a suburb of Chicago. I started downhill skiing at my local hill, Willmont. I am majoring in Environmental Science and Global Health with the goal of graduate school in Environmental Public Health. Around Madison, you may see me sailing, running, swimming, and biking all around! Please reach out with any questions or ideas ski and snowboard related 🙂.