Ardial grew up in Oakland and attended St. Jarlath School before continuing to St. Joseph Notre Dame High School in Alameda. As part of the Catholic youth community in Oakland, he had many friends who attended O’Dowd and enjoyed coming to campus for theater performances. His connection to the school is also personal—his mother works at O’Dowd in Campus Safety.

What Ardial appreciates most about O’Dowd is the Living Lab, especially the vegetable gardens and the pond, which he enjoys as a peaceful place for reflection. Outside of work, he enjoys film and photography.