AUSTIN ANDERSON

Student Body Vice President Candidate

Howdy! My name is Austin Anderson, and I am thrilled to be running for your Student Body Vice President. I’m from the beautiful town of Chanhassen, MN, and I graduated from high school in 2022. I have an incredible family, which includes two older siblings and a lovable 16-year-old dog named Cocoa! Here at NDSU, I am pursuing my passion for Architecture, and it's a five-year program where I earn both my bachelor's and master's degrees. I'm currently in the process of applying to the master's program, and I must say, the drawing and modeling process has been such a blast so far! I'm excited to continue exploring this passion of mine in the coming years. When I first arrived at NDSU, I felt like a kid in a candy store! There were so many opportunities for me to explore, and I was thrilled to finally be in a place where I could pursue all my ambitions. Back in high school, I was involved in Student Government, Athletics, Band, and Theatre, earning leadership positions in each activity.

In addition to these school activities, I also joined student-created and led clubs such as Girl Up and my Thespian Troupe. At NDSU, my ambitions were no less lofty. I wanted to join a fraternity and I wanted to be involved in Student Government. And guess what? I did both! I became an official Active in Alpha Tau Omega in October 2022, and I was the first to apply to the Student Senate for the Fall ‘22 session.

Today, I am still active in Alpha Tau Omega, and I am so grateful for their unwavering support on the day-to-day. In Student Government, I am a Senator for the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (AHSS). Through Student Senate, I get to vote on any policy change presented by students, staff, or faculty before they can take effect. I've also joined the Congress for Student Organizations (CSO), and the External Affairs Committee (ExA). Let me break it down for you - CSO is the governing body for all student organizations, and it works with clubs to approve them and, if so, help them through the process. ExA, on the other hand, is NDSU’s voice throughout North Dakota. Here, I attend conferences with all 11 public North Dakota colleges, and we discuss how to improve our schools and the NODAK State Legislature that would affect the students we represent. Okay, I'll admit that this may sound boring to some, but for me, it's incredibly exciting!

But wait, there's more! Outside of Student Government and Greek life, I'm also a member of the American Institute of Architecture Students. This club is closely tied to my major, and we explore ways to improve our own designs and look at different opportunities to grow as Architects. As you can probably tell, I love to stay busy. But when I do have free time, you'll find me hanging out with my friends around Fargo, grabbing a bite at the Residence Dining Center, or working out at the Wellness Center.

I absolutely adore NDSU and all the opportunities that this amazing community has given me. Participating in Mr. NDSU recently has only deepened my admiration for this school and its philanthropic causes. I want to play a bigger role in this community that has done so well by me and help others feel the way I have. My goal as your Student Body Vice President is to help enact YOUR vision for NDSU so that you can feel as welcome and supported as I have. After all, the herd is only as strong as the bison, and the best way to improve this community is by empowering each and every member.