Matt Baughman Scholarship | Paul Simon Public Policy Institute | SIU

The Matt Baughman Scholarship Endowment was established with a gift from ULLICO Chairman and CEO Ed Smith, a long-time supporter of Senator Simon, the Simon Institute, SIU Carbondale, and Matt. Sadly, Smith died just a few weeks after establishing the scholarship fund, which makes his generosity all the more meaningful.

Baughman retired as the university’s chief of staff at the end of 2023 after a quarter-century of committed and consequential service. Baughman was hired by Senator Simon in 1998 as the Institute’s first development officer and helped Simon realize his initial fundraising goals for the Institute. Matt served as the Institute’s assistant director, associate director, and briefly as its interim director. During his time at the Institute, he participated in the 2001 SIU trip to Cuba with Senator Simon and helped ensure the legacy of the university’s first African American male student, Alexander Lane, through an endowment internship for SIU students. Baughman left the Institute in 2013 to become the chief of staff to SIU Carbondale’s Chancellor. He served eight different Chancellors during his decade in that position.

Matt is a native of Springfield, Illinois. He has an undergraduate degree from Illinois College and earned an MBA from SIU Carbondale in 1997. He was selected for the prestigious Dunn Fellowship Program in 1994 and worked for a year in the press office of Governor Jim Edgar. Matt participated in the Edgar Fellows program in 2013. Before coming to SIU Carbondale, he worked for the Executive Development Center at the University of Central Florida.

The Matt Baughman Scholarship Endowment will make an enduring impact on SIU students who are active with the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute. It also honors Baughman for his contributions to the Institute and SIU while inspiring future students to make a difference in their communities.

Gifts in honor of Baughman can be made at salukifunder.siu.edu/project/40639 or by contacting Carol Greenlee at cgreenlee@siu.edu or 618-453-4001.