BROOKHAVEN, Ga. — When Ashleigh Ewald was elected student body president at Oglethorpe University, the rising junior had no idea she had made history.
In May, Ewald became the first East Asian student to lead the university's student government history. Ewald is Chinese American.
The first Asian student body president at the university is a current Georgia state representative, according to the school.
Oglethorpe alumna and first-time candidate Ruwa Romman won her election in January. Romman made history as the first Muslim woman and Palestinian American elected to the Georgia House.
Ewald only realized she was the first East Asian when she started looking through university yearbooks and noticed none of the past student body presidents looked like her. Ewald explained she even went back and looked at yearbooks from the 20th century to be certain.
"I was going through all the yearbooks and I was like, 'Holy moly. I literally don't see any Asian people,'" Ewald explained. "You know, because obviously, I want to see people who also look like me."
At Oglethorpe University, Ewald represents a small part of the student body.
Although diverse in its student population, the private liberal arts & sciences university has a small Asian population compared to students of other races. Asian students represent 4.3% of the population at the Brookhaven university.
Second Asian student elected Student Body President at Brookhaven University
As a student entering her third year at Oglethorpe, Ashleigh said she noticed the absence of Asian students firsthand. Ewald ran for office because she wanted to see more representation of the Asian community at the university.
"My parents had said when I came to Oglethorpe," Ewald said, "if you don't feel like there are enough Asians or want more people to do what you want on that campus, then be the first. Don't complain, do it. That's what I did."
Those elected to the Student Government Association at Oglethorpe University are known as student leaders who will represent the student body for the next academic year.
In her role, Ewald and other elected members will serve as the university's guiding body for student life.
Ewald hopes other Asian students looking to attend Oglethorpe can see themselves in her and give the university a try. She explains the majority expect Asian students to attend the most prestigious universities, putting enormous pressure on students.
"If I'm being completely honest, I want to be a living testimony that it doesn't matter what school you go to, especially towards Asian students," Ewald said. "It's not about where you go. It's what you do."
For Ewald, this was something she experienced firsthand. Initially, Oglethorpe University wasn't Ewald's first choice. The rising junior dreamed of Boston University and was accepted but declined the offer.
"With a broken heart, I declined admission because I made a financial decision and chose to go debt-free, Ewald said. "My professional goals were rooted in my belief that attending an elite university would increase my chances of success."
Being elected SGA president changed how Ewald viewed her college experience and identity.
The new student body president is excited to build a bridge between the student body and the school's administration and she's happy to represent students who may not see too many people that look like them on campus.
