Council Member Kiran Velpula has been selected to participate in this year’s Edgar Fellows Program. Forty policymakers from across the state were selected from a field of 210 nominees from a pool of elected and appointed officials from government, non-profit leaders, and stakeholders from the business world who influence policy. The program provides Fellows with the opportunity to engage with more than 30 experienced public policymakers who are experts in a variety of fields.
Reflecting on the opportunity to participate in the program, Council Member Velpula stated, "I am deeply humbled to be an Edgar Fellow, and I am confident that this program will equip me with vital leadership skills and insights into crucial policy issues, empowering me to contribute significantly to Peoria's development."
Councilman Velpula was appointed to the City Council in 2021 when Mayor Ali was elected Mayor and her seat needed to be filled for the remainder of the term. Velpula ran for re-election in 2023 to retain his at-large seat. He holds a Ph.D. and an MBA and works at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Peoria, focusing on cancer research.
The Edgar Fellows Program originated in 2012 and is hosted at the University of Illinois Systems Institute of Government and Public Affairs. Designed by former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar, the intent of the program is to inspire respectful and collaborative leadership to address the state’s major challenges.
To learn more about the Edgar Fellows Program, please visit the University of Illinois System Institute of Government and Public Affairs website.