campus adviser AND community resource

When Bonnie Isaacson goes about her work as an adviser to nontraditional students, she often draws from her own life experiences. She was a low-income, first-generation student when she enrolled at a two-year campus following high school. Fourteen years later, married and with four children, she decided to continue her education at UW-Eau Claire. While working as a program assistant in several offices on campus, she completed her bachelor's program and then went on to earn a master's degree. The path she followed is similar to those of many of the adult students she advises today. For nearly 20 years, Bonnie has used her own experiences to advise and advocate for nontraditional, veteran and transfer students. Her work to help nontraditional students to succeed on campus has earned her a variety of honors, including the UW System's Regents Academic Staff Excellence Award. Bonnie is involved in a number of state, regional and community initiatives that relate to the nontraditional student population she serves. Through her efforts on and off campus, she is improving the lives of those students she touches in her work. Given her journey from returning adult student to advocate for nontraditional students, Bonnie Isaacson is a celebrated adviser AND community resource.