When students cast their votes last spring, they weren’t just electing a new student body president—they were choosing a voice to represent their hopes and concerns for the future of campus life.
Now, 150 days into his term, President Matthew Ardaugh joins SAUTV to reflect on the journey so far and how he’s worked to turn those expectations into action.
“BEE-lieve in Better” was the slogan Ardaugh-Mann ran with in the spring of 2025, and BEEcoming better, has now become their focus. Matthew Ardaugh explained the “student involvement and awareness” is something they have prioritized right away.
“We want everyone to be able to feel like they have a purpose here at St Ambrose and feel connected to things.” Ardaugh explains. How are they doing this? Ardaugh has an answer.
“The big thing we are working on is the Swarm.” Matthew explains. From kick-offs to pep rallies to tailgate giveaways, the Swarm exists to “get people out of their dorms” and excited about SAU.
On top of cultivating campus community, Ardaugh recognizes that another large part of his position is to be an ear for student concerns across campus. Ardaugh explains his strategies for making sure student voices are heard.
“We are going to be having a Student Satisfaction Survey, which is going to be a quick QR code you can scan” Ardaugh says. This survey will allow SGA to look at the hot-button issues students are having and address them as quickly and efficiently as possible. Matthew Ardaugh is wasting no time getting these concers addressed.
“We actually had meetings about the silverware in the cafeteria and food court, and trying to go back to plastic and create a recycling alternative.” Ardaugh explains that this would “increase sustainability while giving students the convenience they liked with the plastic silverware.”
Wooden silverware, however, isn’t the only thing Ardaugh has branched out to solve:
Ardaugh worked with Dean Waugh and Bob Christopher to establish a “hybrid lot” of student and staff parking spaces.
“We have that big faculty/ staff parking lot, and Ambrose doesn’t have as many employees as they might have had a few years ago. We have all these empty parking spots. What can we do about making that back row turnover to student parking?”
This was Ardaugh’s big question to Waugh and Christopher. While the university wasn’t comfortable completely turning it into student parking, a compromise was made which gives us the hybrid lot. “Now students and staff can both park in that back line, 24 hours of the day.” Ardaugh says.
After reflecting on accomplishments so far, Ardaugh expresses his goals for the rest of the year:
“Our biggest goal is making sure that everyone has a purpose at Ambrose, and everyone’s having fun here” Ardaugh answers. “Just making sure there is always something going on for kids on campus whether we’re planning it, or if we’re helping CAB plan it, or we’re funding another club or organization.”
Support through and through for our campus and its students. Connectedness through school spirit, and through student voices being heard, followed by actions being taken.
“I want everyone to feel connected, and I want to just see this campus thrive.” Ardaugh finishes.
Looking ahead to the coming months, Ardaugh’s vision remains rooted in restoring school spirit, and letting every student voice be heard. His first 150 days have been marked with energy, initiative, and progress.
With the student body truly at the center, Ardaugh-Mann isn’t just showing us how to “Bee-lieve in Better” but giving us the passion, and the platform to become better together.
