(TOPEKA, Kan.) - Kansas State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins, CPA has been named to the inaugural two-year class of the Aspen-Rodel Fellowship in Public Service. Jenkins, along with 23 other of the nation's top young elected officials, will discuss broad issues of democratic governance and effective public service. She is the only Kansas-elected official to receive this honor.
"State Treasurer Jenkins was selected after an exhaustive eight-month search involving input from more than 1,400 business, political and civic leaders," said the program director, former US Congressman Mickey Edwards. "She is one of the young officials most likely to achieve even higher positions of public responsibility in the years ahead."
"State Treasurer Jenkins is one of the very best of the nation's emerging leaders," Edwards continued.
The Aspen Institute-Rodel Fellowships in Public Leadership seeks to enhance democracy by identifying and bringing together the nation's most promising young political leaders to explore, though study and conversation, the underlying values and principles of western democracy, the relationship between individuals and their community, and the responsibilities of public leadership; to support and inspire political leaders committed to sustaining the vision of a political system based on thoughtful and civil bipartisan dialogue; and to help America's brightest young leaders achieve their fullest potential in public service. United States Senator Pat Roberts serves on the National Advisory Council of the program. The official kick-off will be December 15 to 19 in Aspen, Colo. More information about the Aspen-Rodel Fellowship in Public Service can be found at www.aspeninst.org.
"I am honored to be selected to be part of this extraordinary class of young political leaders in our country," Jenkins said. "I hope to use this opportunity to learn from others across our great country to benefit all Kansans."
The 24 Fellows include:
Oregon State Senator Jason Atkinson; Warwick, Rhode Island, Mayor Scott Avedisian; Oklahoma Congressman Dan Boren; Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning; Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan; Louisiana State Representative Karen Carter; Alabama Congressman Artur Davis; Arizona State Senator Gabrielle Giffords; Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson; Kansas State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins; New Jersey State Senator Thomas Kean, Jr.; Illinois Congressman Mark Kirk; Florida Congressman, Kendrick Meek, Kentucky State Treasurer Jonathan Miller, and New York City Councilwoman Eva Moskowitz.
Also, Minnesota State Representative Erik Paulsen; Montgomery County, Maryland, Council President Tom Perez; Colorado House Speaker Andrew Romanoff; Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan; Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz; Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele; Mississippi Lieutenant Governor Amy Tuck; Colorado State Senator Jennifer Veiga; and New Mexico Congresswoman Heather Wilson.
Jenkins, a former State Representative and Senator from Topeka, was elected Treasurer on Nov. 5, 2002. She is a Certified Public Accountant and former small business owner. Since being sworn into office in January 2003, Jenkins has expanded investment options in Learning Quest, initiated multiple financial literacy programs, and eliminated the reliance on state general fund dollars to operate the office.
