As a well-rounded public higher education administrator, my journey has been shaped by invaluable experiences working alongside two esteemed elected officials – U.S. Sen. Paul Simon (D) and Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar (R) – and their senior staff members. I gleaned effective insights into public policy, leadership, communication, and management principles. In the dynamic realm of higher education, where change is a constant, I honed the ability to adapt swiftly while holding steadfast to the valuable lessons that have proven instrumental in my career. ___Matt Baughman joined the Edgar Fellows 501c3 as its associate director in February 2024, following his retirement as chief of staff for Southern Illinois University Carbondale.Matt’s time at SIU spanned three decades, concluding with his retirement in December 2023. As its chief of staff for over ten years, he navigated the university through a challenging period from 2013 to 2023, supporting eight people as the campus CEO. In this critical role, Baughman was a liaison to the board of trustees, the university system office, and the chancellor’s cabinet, which was comprised of the vice-chancellors, CIO, CMO, Athletic Director, Chief of Police, legal counsel, and others.His responsibilities extended to overseeing the directors of Head Start, WSIU (housing five television and two radio stations affiliated with PBS and NPR), and events and outreach. Baughman joined SIU in 1998 as a development officer for the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute. Over the next 15 years, he served as assistant, associate, and interim director. Among his achievements were reaching Sen. Simon's $10 million endowment goal, participating in a 2001 Mission Trip to Cuba, serving as point person for distinguished guests such as Barbara Bush, Walter Cronkite, and Coretta Scott King, coordinating Simon's 2003 nationally-televised funeral, and preserving the legacy of the university's first African American male student, Alexander Lane.A Springfield native, Baughman graduated from Illinois College in 1994, earning recognition as a Student Laureate of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois. His early career included the prestigious Dunn Fellowship Program in the press office of Governor Jim Edgar. Baughman completed his MBA at SIU Carbondale in 1997 and was selected for the Edgar Fellows program in 2013. In 2021, he assumed a voluntary role as a board member of Elevate Illinois. Matt and his wife, Angie, proudly call Carbondale home where they’ve raised two sons, Alex and Josh.