Before she even started school at the University of Maryland, Katherine Swanson knew she wanted to be involved in student government, she said.

The summer after she graduated high school in Fort Worth, Texas, Swanson started looking into the Student Government Association online and applied for an opening on the Finance Committee she found on the behavioral and social sciences college blog.

Now, after three years of serving on the SGA, Swanson said she is running for student body president — a position she will assume, as the only candidate — to continue her work to improve the lives of students and make sure the administration hears their concerns.

“I knew this was something I wanted to do,” Swanson said. “It was a goal of mine because I felt like something I was really passionate about was helping students on this campus … really be the best person they can be.”

Swanson, a junior government and politics major, is running on the Bold Party ticket. After serving on the finance committee, Swanson became director of student groups and currently serves as vice president of student affairs.

J.T. Stanley, a senior individual studies major, also planned to run for student body president but missed the deadline to file for candidacy for himself and the rest of his Voice Party. He unsuccessfully filed an appeal, accusing the Elections Board of misconduct, and was not granted his request for a three-week extension.

The election is open Wednesday through Friday on the Testudo website, although all positions are uncontested.

As its members prepare to take over for next academic year, the Bold Party wants to create a more transparent SGA that better informs and listens to students, Swanson said.

Swanson said she would prefer a contested election to bring about more student engagement and new ideas. She plans to establish new guidelines to select Elections Board members and ensure the board advertises properly.

“I wish it was contested,” Swanson said. “Contested elections bring about more student engagement so more people know what’s going on, they bring about way more new ideas because there are two people throwing new things out for what we should be doing, and frankly they’re more fun.”

She added, “We want to be better resources for the students, because we really are the link between them and the administration.”

In addition to promoting transparency, Swanson said her top priorities for next year are preventing sexual assault and improving mental health resources. While the university and University Police try to combat sexual assault, not enough is being done, she said. She suggests the University Health Center expand its weekend hours to ensure that victims can receive treatment on the campus in a timely manner.

Swanson said she also hopes to expand mental health services on the campus by securing more funding for the Counseling Center and increasing the number of times a student can see a counselor, which is currently eight free visits.

The Bold Party’s academic platform includes plans to better support students with internships, provide 200 pages of free printing to every student and create a database so students can see course syllabi before they register for classes, Swanson said.

Swanson also said she wants to establish a women’s center and a Latinx cultural center to create more spaces where students feel comfortable.

“In a perfect world, you would feel comfortable on this campus, right?” Swanson said. “But we need places where people can feel safe being themselves all the time.”

Current SGA President Patrick Ronk said he was on the search group reviewing candidates when Swanson applied for the Finance Committee. Ronk and other SGA members knew they wanted her to be a part of the organization, and she has lived up to their expectations ever since, he said.

“She’s probably the single most qualified person we’ve had run [for president] in four or five years,” he said. “In terms of being a VP, being on cabinet, being a representative, you know, knowing how the university works, knowing how the SGA works and being able to get real things done. I certainly wasn’t as qualified as her when I ran the first time.”

In high school, Swanson worked for the district office of Texas Sen. Wendy Davis in a position that was created for her and that she set the standard for, said Kam Phillips, a former outreach coordinator for Davis.

Swanson “really truly is absolutely unparalleled in her critical thinking, her communication abilities, her thoughtfulness and her ability to take initiative and really do things in a way that she really cares about,” Phillips said.

Jacob Kotler, who is managing the Bold Party ticket, said Swanson has a record of experience and success, as well as the skills needed to lead other students.

“It’s difficult to shine sometimes in the SGA because you’re working with so many other people that have the same types of qualities as you,” the junior government and politics major said. “But she’s really the last three years been successful in doing all the things that she wanted to do.”

As vice president of student affairs, Swanson worked to establish new guidelines for membership on student advisory boards, an effort to promote diversity and bring more student voices to the administration. The SGA passed a resolution in December urging the University Senate to pass legislation regarding student advisory board requirements.

Her committee is also working to use leftover SGA funds to establish grants for student leaders with financial need. She said this initiative, which would allow students to devote more time to campus organizations and less time working paying jobs, is particularly important to her.

After graduation, Swanson plans to work for a year and then attend graduate school, but she said she hopes to get back into elected office.

“I want to find a job where I feel like every day, at the end of the day, I’m making a positive impact on somebody,” she said.