Kyle Seibert
Public Affairs, Policy Analysis Student
O’Neill School
IU Student Body President Kyle Seibert is poised to graduate in May 2023 and will start the MPA program at O’Neill in the fall. A first-generation college student, Seibert received a Provost Scholarship and was a Founders Scholar directly admitted into the Hutton Honors College and College of Arts and Sciences.
His campus and community leadership experiences and engagement highlight Seibert’s passion for making the world around him better. Among other activities, he has served as a committee member for the IU Civic Leaders Center; as a resident assistant and a representative for the Residential Life Advisory Council; and co-chair of the Committee for Mandatory Fee Review. Most recently, he served as a student representative on three of the 25 working groups for IUB 2030, the strategic plan to guide IU Bloomington for the next seven years. As an extension of the 2030 work, he visited seven student groups before the holiday break to learn about what matters most to students and brought their ideas and concerns back to the working groups.
Left: Kyle pictured with Student Body Vice President Bell Pastore (left) and IUSG Chief of Staff (center) during the homecoming game. Top right: Kyle pictured with Dean Mooney and members of Students for a New Green World at the O’Neill School’s 50th Anniversary. Bottom right: Kyle with Student Body Vice President Bell and congressional representative Jack Tyndall during the homecoming parade.
Q: What led you to choose IU? What have been some of the highlights of your student experience?
A: I was always told during high school that on college visits, you would know instantly if you wanted to go to that institution or not. I never really believed this and thought that all colleges were probably the same. That was until I came to IU during the summer leading into my senior year – when I stepped foot on campus, I knew instantly this was the place I wanted to be. The bustle, the energy, the sheer number of programs, and the kindness of the people all made me so excited to come here, and I was thrilled when I got that big red envelope in the mail that said #IUSaidYes.
My most rewarding experience so far has been serving as the Student Body President. I will admit, my first two years at IU were a little rocky during the pandemic – I had trouble getting involved, connecting with new people, and taking advantage of all the opportunities IU had to offer. That all changed February 2022, though; during the month of February, we campaigned across campus, listening to student feedback on how we can make IU a better place for everyone. We were elected in March and took our oath of office in April, and I’ve loved serving in the role ever since. As the Student Body President, I have been able to meet with and connect with so many people that I probably wouldn’t have been able to connect with otherwise, and I have learned so much more about myself, management, communication, and so many other skills this year than any time in my life. Kyle Seibert and IU Student Body vice president Bell Pastore ran on a platform of safety, inclusion, and well-being with the goal of improving the student experience.
Q: Have your post-graduation plans changed or expanded based on your time at IU?
A: After I graduate, I will be pursuing my Master of Public Affairs from the O’Neill School next fall. When I began my IU journey, I wasn’t even a student in the O’Neill School. I changed my major at least six times. But after being exposed to all the wonderful people O’Neill has to offer during my time in the Civic Leaders Center, I knew that was where I wanted to be. If you told me when I entered IU that this would be my path, I would have told you that you were crazy. Now, I am so excited to start this new chapter in my academic career next fall and immerse myself in the graduate community at IU. After I graduate from my MPA program, I hope to continue working in higher education either “in-house” or doing consulting for a firm that specializes in higher education.
Q: What’s it like being part of three IUB 2030 working groups?
A: I’ve loved working on the IUB 2030 working groups! So much so that I am convinced my team is tired of hearing me talk about it. All the groups that I have participated in have had great exchanges of ideas, and I have learned so much more about the University, its mission, and the people who work and learn here. It’s hard to pick just a few of my favorite ideas that have been put forward by the working groups! But, if I had to pick just one, I am particularly excited about a first-year seminar course that would expose first-year students to a variety of important topics (like how to study for a college exam, DEI, and others) student government has been advocating for.
Q: How were you able to assemble seven groups of students just before the holidays, and what did you learn about their hopes and dreams for IUB 2030 during your conversations?
A: My intern, first-year student Neha Tokala, helped so much with setting these up and compiling the information. First, we brought food to the meetings – cookies, Chipotle – and came during their regularly scheduled meetings to literally meet students where they are and not add another hour to their schedules. The students were really excited to talk about what we want our campus to look like in 2030, and I was able to bring back everything we discussed to the working groups. There were five key themes that I pulled from these conversations:
The faculty and staff on my working groups were very receptive to all these points, and while some similar themes had come up in the groups, some of the issues students are dealing with were eye-opening for people. Being part of the entire process has been incredible. We’ll be able to do so many things for so many people.
Q: What are your favorite spots on campus and in Bloomington? What do you think you’ll miss most after graduation?
A: I used to be an avid runner (my current role prevents me from running as much as I would like, but I’ve completed two marathons in the past). As such, there is no better place to run in Bloomington than the B-Line trail! In terms of food options, all my friends can attest that Taste of India is one of my all-time favorites (it is hard to beat butter chicken and garlic naan).
