College of Education and Human Development

Julia Van Steenberghe: Outstanding Student in Human Development

Julia Van Steenberghe of Old Town, Maine receives the 2021-2022 Outstanding Student in Human Development award from the University of Maine College of Education and Human Development.

Julia double majored in elementary education and child development and family relations as an undergraduate student in the College of Education and Human Development. Now she’s set to earn her Master of Science in Human Development after completing her thesis, “Miss USA Meets Feminism: A Qualitative Study Exploring Contestants’ Thoughts on Feminism.” In 2019, she was crowned Miss Maine USA and competed in the 2020 Miss USA pageant.

As a graduate student, Julia worked in the Admissions office at UMaine as a graduate assistant. She currently works as a recruitment and engagement specialist for the Graduate School of Business and as a group fitness instructor at the New Balance Student Recreation Center. During her time at UMaine, Julia has also been a member of the cheerleading team as an undergraduate, a member of the Alpha Phi sorority (current recruitment advisor), vice president of Phi Kappa Phi, graduate student representative to the Faculty Senate Library Committee, a Graduate Student Government senator, and co-cheerleading coach at Leonard Middle School in Old Town.

Julia plans to eventually pursue a Ph.D. and continue her research.