CPHSJ student Reueline Arulanandam Elected To Be Next Saint Louis University Student Government Association (SGA) President

This March, College for Public Health and Social Justice student Reueline Arulanandam was elected to be the next Saint Louis University Student Government Association (SGA) President. Arulanandam, a junior pursuing a bachelor's degree in public health, previously held a senate seat in SGA representing CPHSJ.

One of the first people that Arulanandam told about potentially running for SGA President was former Interim Dean Ellen Barnidge, Ph.D. Dr. Barnidge, who served as interim dean from February 2022 to November 2023, also serves as Arulanandam’s faculty advisor. Arulanandam shared that watching Dr. Barnidge step into the dean role and watching her navigate being a leader motivated her to the desire to lead.

“Dr. Barnidge has been a massive support and mentor throughout this whole process,” Arulanandam said.

This February, Arulanandam announced her candidacy to be the next President of the SGA and  quickly assembled a team of students to help run her campaign from various backgrounds and identities.

Some of the points of emphasis she highlighted during her campaign included academic affairs, food insecurity, and student housing. Throughout her campaign she met with various students from all backgrounds to gain a sense of what the student body needed most out of a leader. She noticed a large need for improvements in housing. She shared that a lot of students struggle with belonging in housing, and intends to work with the administration to remedy this.

Arulanandam spoke about how her public health coursework shaped not only her as a leader but also how she views and approaches issues on SLU’s campus. Through public health, Arulanandam has learned how to interact with a variety of people, to consider all perspectives and identities, and to come to a conclusion that helps the greatest number of people.

It is through lessons like these and other public health frameworks that she has stepped into roles of leadership, such as being a coordinator for ‘Oriflamme’ and working with ‘First Year Experience’ the last few semesters.

“I have been able to take on various leadership roles in other areas on campus that have helped prepare me for this role,” Arulanandam said.

Reueline shared that almost all the issues students are facing on campus can fit under the umbrella of public health. Whether it be student housing, campus accessibility, financial aid, dining services, or student belonging...all these problems affect the health and well-being of students. As she looks towards her term as President, Reueline plans to incorporate these public health lessons into her leadership of the campus community.

College for Public Health and Social Justice

The Saint Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice is the only academic unit of its kind, studying social, environmental and physical influences that together determine the health and well-being of people and communities. It also is the only accredited school or college of public health among nearly 250 Catholic institutions of higher education in the United States. Guided by a mission of social justice and focus on finding innovative and collaborative solutions for complex health problems, the college offers nationally recognized programs in public health and health administration.