Venue
UWL – Student Union
521 East Avenue N
La Crosse, Wisconsin 54601
Event Details
Couch Conversations is a storytelling and dialogue series that brings campus and community voices together for honest, insightful conversations about identity, leadership, and belonging. Each event invites a special guest to join us on the couch for a candid discussion, unfiltered, unscripted, and grounded in connection.
This event is free and open to the public, with lunch available at 11 a.m. First come, first served.
Shaundel Washington-Spivey made history in April 2025 by being sworn in as the first Black and openly gay mayor of La Crosse. A two-time UWL graduate, holding a bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor I criminal Justice and a master’s degree in student affairs administration, he has dedicated his life and career to civic leadership, student support, and community engagement. As co-founder and executive director of Black Leaders Acquiring Collective Knowledge (B.L.A.C.K.), Washington-Spivey has led impactful initiatives supporting youth, families, and Black professionals in the region. His earlier roles include serving as a cultural liaison for the School District of La Crosse and as a member of the La Crosse Board of Education (2019–22).
He has also served as director of UWL’s Upward Bound program and manager of College Connections at Western Technical College. Recognized for his leadership, Washington-Spivey received UWL’s 2024 Morgan Improving Lives Alumni Award. As mayor, his priorities include equitable access to resources, community safety, civic engagement, and cross-sector collaboration with local colleges and schools. Drawing on his training in mental health counseling from Viterbo University, he leads with a strong focus on inclusive leadership and constituent care.