Olivia (Minwaanimadikwe) Fleming and her family are incredibly close.  

As enrolled members of the Lac Courte Oreilles (LCO) Tribe, their shared experiences include attending powwows and eating traditional Ojibwe foods together. They also share another special family legacy: attending the University of Wisconsin-Superior.  

Fleming’s father, David (Waabigekek) Fleming Sr., is a UW-Superior graduate, and currently serves as Tribal Liaison for the LCO Band. Her sister, Heaven (Waasiikwe) Fleming, is also a UWS student, and she was honored with the 2023 Outstanding Women of Color in Education Award by the Universities of Wisconsin.

Olivia herself is a UWS senior, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English this May. Her younger sister, Sophia (Minosekwe) Fleming, is a UWS freshman.  

“Honestly, my father and older sister’s attendance at UWS was my reason for applying,” Fleming said. “And now, my younger sister Sophia attends here, too.  

“We’re all very close,” she added. “In fact, Sophia and I make it a point to meet on campus at least twice a week.” 

Extracurricular Activities 

During her time at UWS, Fleming has taken advantage of many opportunities available to her. She has served as the marketing chair for the Native Nations Student Organization and as a McNair Scholar.  

For a bit of fun, she has also played intramural volleyball. “It gets me out of my head for a while,” she noted with a chuckle. 

In addition to working as a restaurant server, she has held a couple of on-campus jobs, too. Fleming is currently a writer for the UW-Superior Marketing Department, and serves as a writing consultant at the university’s Writing Center.  

“I never pictured myself working in journalism, but I love it,” Fleming said. During her tenure, she has written a variety of stories — about campus events, professor profiles and more.  

Chancellor’s Leadership Award 

Due to her stellar academic performance and clear demonstration of leadership, Fleming was nominated for the 2025 Chancellor’s Leadership Award by four professors and staff members who have had the privilege of working closely with her.  

From the nominations:  

“Olivia’s role within the department has been a tremendous asset.” 

“Olivia’s work is of the highest quality, demonstrating her dedication, consistency, and strong work ethic. She is a leader in classroom discussions and group activities, and her energetic and kind nature is infectious.” 

“Olivia has been an invaluable student employee in the University Marketing and Communications Department this year, quickly distinguishing herself as one of the most motivated and talented students we’ve ever had.” 

“Olivia’s academic achievements are outstanding.” 

Fleming was deeply touched to be nominated for this distinguished award. “I was really honored,” she said. “It felt very validating to be nominated.” 

Future Goals

After Fleming graduates May 17, her next step is to pursue the joint Master’s/Doctorate program at UW-Madison. There, she will follow a literary studies track, which she expects will take about six years to complete. 

Once she graduates, her ultimate goal is to become an English professor at a university; perhaps even UWS. She would also like to write a novel someday.  

UWS Experience 

Fleming has earned an impressive 3.8 GPA, and will graduate Summa Cum Laude. She has worked incredibly hard to be in her current position. However, she is also grateful for the Fleming family legacy preceding her, and the support of UWS faculty and staff.  

“I owe a lot to my professors, and I don’t think I’d be where I am without them,” she noted. “I’m so grateful for my writing jobs, where I’ve had the opportunity to become more engaged with the campus.  

“A lot of what I do is because of my family,” she added. “I work hard so that I can make them proud. My hope is that, by pursuing my passions, I set myself up in such a way that I can support them like they have supported me. We mean a lot to each other, and I want to be a good role model to my younger siblings.”