UK student becomes one of Kentucky's youngest-elected city councilmembers
MIDWAY, Ky. (Dec. 11, 2024) — University of Kentucky student Ian VanSteenbergh is writing a new chapter in the Kentucky history books.
On Nov. 5, at the age of 20, VanSteenbergh became one of the youngest city council members elected in the history of Kentucky, when he won a city council seat in his home town of Midway.
VanSteenbergh announced his candidacy for city council earlier this year while enrolled as an undergraduate in the University of Kentucky Martin School of Public Policy and Administration, aligning his educational studies and political pursuits.
“The Martin School prioritizes being an advocate for your community/interests and gave me the resources and courage to run for office,” the UK junior said. “While studying public policy, I became confident enough about my understanding of the incremental process of policy decisions that I wanted to have a voice in my local community.”
VanSteenbergh’s campaigning efforts included fundraising, networking, local news interviews and knocking on every door in Midway — at least twice.
“I find that I am uniquely positioned to hit the ground running on day one of being a council member because I have been surrounded by so many ideas and perspectives, which allow me to look at all sides of an issue when deciding what to do,” he said. “My Martin School education influenced me to research my town intensively, and arguably helped lead me to a victory.”
“The Martin School’s Public Policy program prepares future leaders who are committed to integrity, equity, and excellence in public service and Ian is a shining example of the fact that we’re also shaping the next generation of leaders right now,” said Cory Curl, Ph.D., Martin School director of undergraduate studies. “Ian will be able to apply his classroom work directly to serve his community, and we all congratulate Ian for putting himself out there to lead in the policy arena.”
VanSteenbergh’s race included nine nonpartisan candidates competing for four council seats. Now, at age 21, he will be sworn into office on Jan. 1, and serve a two-year term.
Ron Zimmer, Ph.D., director of the Martin School of Public Policy and Administration, also celebrated VanSteenbergh’s accomplishment.
“It is always encouraging to see students using the skills they learn from our classes, and it is very exciting to see a student become determined to make a difference,” Zimmer said.
About the UK Martin School of Public Policy and Administration
A powerhouse for change, the UK Martin School is a comprehensive school of policy and administration, offering degrees at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral level, as well as graduate certificates. Excelling in research, education and public service, the school provides an innovative environment reflective of commitment, strategic thinking and integrity.
Beginning in 1976 with the creation of the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program, the Martin School has been on a trajectory of excellence since then, preparing graduates for a variety of public service careers including those in local, state or federal government and nonprofit agencies.
Its public financial management specialization ranks third in the country and the MPA degree ranks 26th in the country in the latest U.S. New and World Report ranking of public affairs programs. In its most recent review, the National Research Council ranked the Martin Ph.D. program fourth in the country. The Martin School engages in cutting-edge, policy analytic research, preparing students to be future leaders able to bridge the gap between analysis and action, helping to solve problems that matter to people and communities.
To learn more about the Martin School, contact recruiter Kimberly Pressley at kimberlypressley@uky.edu or visit https://martin.uky.edu/.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.