2 Making a difference
BY TRACEY THERIAULT
In honor of our 50th anniversary, we collected stories from O’Neill School alumni, students, faculty, and staff about how they are volunteering their time, making a difference, and leading for the greater good. We received responses about service projects happening across the country, from Savannah, Georgia, to Palm Desert, California, and throughout the Midwest. It is exciting to see the many ways in which the O’Neill community is impacting our world.
In Palm Desert, California, you’ll find David Roberson, MSES’78, helping residents prepare for emergencies and disasters, such as a major earthquake, in his volunteer role as IT director with the Sun City Palm Desert Emergency Preparedness Committee.
“My education at the O’Neill School and career in IT and hazardous waste manage- ment provided me with both technical and
management skills to be able to help this organization with its IT needs, team lead- ership, and preparations for emergency response when needed,” Roberson said.
Roberson also serves as a team leader and database manager for the Neighbors- 4-Neighbors Desert Village Initiative which helps seniors age in place.
“When I retired, I was looking for opportunities to give back to the commu- nity,” Roberson said. “My short two-year stint in the MSES program helped me understand that everything is connected and how even small positive inputs can make a big difference in our environment, community, and world.”
In Georgia, the O’Neill School’s Clinical Associate Professor David Bell is consulting with the Savannah Police Department to improve the public policy response to mental health inci- dents. As part of this effort, the depart- ment launched a Behavioral Health Unit and training program to help officers
de-escalate situations and connect indi- viduals with mental health resources.
“Work is ongoing and includes con- sultation with senior police administra- tion, collaboration partners, and other stakeholders as well as observations and research of best practices,” Bell said.
Christina Mendoza, BSPA’00, is a senior executive assistant at UScellular and volunteers her time on the board of the Future Cycle Breakers, an organization in Valparaiso, Indiana, that helps minority youth in underserved communities receive inspiration and the tools they need to become successful business owners. She is also the founder of the Elizabeth Hopper Memorial Endowed Scholarship at Purdue University and serves on the O’Neill School’s Alumni Board.
Mendoza was excited to reconnect with former coworkers and come together for a good cause at a fundraising event she helped plan for the Future Cycle Breakers’ first summer camp.
Brandon Hough, MPA’23, is a major gifts officer at Antioch College in Ohio and volunteers his time as
president of the Rotary Club of Beavercreek, where he leads weekly meetings and organizes events, including their own 50th celebration. He is also a board member of Running USA and the Beaver Creek Wetlands Association, where he assists with fund- raising efforts, leads bird counts, and clears honey- suckle from their properties.
O’Neill MPA student Zolboo Dashmyagmar participated in the Annual Lake Monroe Shoreline Cleanup with the Indiana State Parks, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hoosier National Forest, Friends of Lake Monroe, and the city of Bloomington. She was part of the Gnarly Tree Sustainability Institute’s Women in Sustainability team.
“Great way to come together to celebrate Black History Month, support a local business and our entrepreneurs,” she said. Lauren Rapp, MPA’22, is the interim chief of development and communica- tions at the Chicago Public Education Fund and volunteers her time as a guild member with the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, where she chairs individual sponsorship, raising money from current and former guild members to support the haunted house and the museum’s centen-
nial capital campaign.
“I am serving a six-year term on the guild, through which I volunteer at least 500 hours a year. I’ll be at the museum for at least 80 hours in October alone, staff- ing the haunted house,” Rapp said. “It’s a lot, but I love giving back to my commu- nity this way.”
Anastasia Nystedt, BSPA’96, served as PTO president at the Clarendon Hills Middle School in Illinois. The highlight of her time in that role was an outdoor class- room project that began in the fall of 2021 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“My PTO exec team led our organization through the post-COVID restart to normal and managed the outdoor classroom proj- ect. School, family, and staff recognize the benefits of taking classes outdoors and want to continue to have those benefits for students,” Nystedt said. “What was once no man’s land with overgrown grass and mud puddles is now an enjoyable gar- den-like space for the whole community.”
Jamey (Alexander) Behringer, BSPA’89, is the CEO of Icon Protection and is an ongoing advocate and mentor for chil- dren in foster care with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of River Valley in Illinois.
“The youth I support have made an astounding difference in my life,” Behringer said. “My CASA kids have taught me much about grit and determi- nation and regularly inspire me to find more ways to positively impact their foster care outcomes.”
The O’Neill School community is making a significant impact on the world. Whether they are preparing for emer- gencies and disasters, improving public policy responses to mental health inci- dents, empowering minority youth in underserved communities, organizing events and fundraising, or advocating for children in foster care, each person is using their skills and education to make a difference in the world. These stories are a testament to the O’Neill School’s com- mitment to public service and its role in shaping leaders who strive for the greater good. We look forward to seeing how the O’Neill community will continue to make a positive impact in the years to come.
For two decades, Associate Professor Jennifer Brass has given pro-bono inter- national nonprofit advice to the Gatoto Integrated Development Programme, a Kenyan registered NGO with the mandate to deliver high-quality educational
interventions at the primary, post-primary, and commu- nity levels through partner- ships with schools. Brass helps the organization with goal setting, networking, fundraising, and more.
Eric Lillyblad, MPA-MSES’89, is a volunteer with the Boundary Waters Advisory Committee doing hiking trail maintenance work in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. He has helped clear trails and document trail conditions on the Powwow Trail and the Sioux Hustler Trail. Lillyblad also volunteers with Wilderness Inquiry to make educational outdoor adven- tures accessible to all, including urban youth and people with disabilities.
Students in the O’Neill School’s Civic Leaders Center volunteer with many organizations in Bloomington, including My Sister’s Closet, Hoosier Hills Food Bank, Bloomington Community Orchard, and the Research and Teaching Preserve.
Tristan Schmidt, MPA’23, works as an educational support services specialist at the University of Iowa and volunteers as a youth mentor at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County.
From Catherine Guillemin Lynch
From Joby Jerrells
My days in the graduate program at the O’Neill School prepared me well to succeed in a career in law and public policy. Of the many great professors, three stand out. John Mikesell was an incredible resource. Prof. Mikesell and I were both Bloomington natives with humble beginnings. He was a mentor, a role model with high standards, and a gentleman. In a tax case against Donald Trump, I relied on the knowledge of revenue policy gained from Prof. Mikesell’s textbook. Prof. O’Meara was also a huge influence on me. Even though we may have disagreed on some things, he was respectful and open to debate, a true academic treasure reminiscent of the caliber and character of Herman B Wells. I remember the last time I saw Prof. O’Meara at an opera on campus. We sat near each other and fondly reminisced about the O’Neill School. Though I never had Nobel Prize-winning Elinor Ostrom as a professor, I had the privilege of working for her just after earning my MPA. I traveled the world to support Prof. Ostrom’s research on the human dimensions of global environmental change, of which Prof. J.C. Randolph was integral. The outstanding faculty at the O’Neill School prepared me to succeed in law school, where I graduated with honors. I ultimately served at the White House as ethics counsel to the Office of the Vice President of the United States (a nonpolitical position). The photo above is the view of the White House from my office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. Thank you, O’Neill School, and the amazing faculty who have taught there. I would never have been able to achieve all I have done without you.
Where is Indiana? It was my first ques- tion when I listened to Prof. Charlie Wise talk about the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, and Bloomington in May 1980. He was recruiting students from Paris Sud Law School to launch an exchange program between the two schools. I became the first of those students. At first, I was set to earn a Certificate in Public Management. Iendedup graduating with a Master of Public Affairs in 1982. My husband, David, who also earned a Certificate in Public Management, worked in the school’s placement office from 1982– 83 with Jack Merritt. While a graduate stu- dent, I was asked to create a student guide for incoming French students. I was one of the first employees of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. Leadership positions in health consulting, not-for- profit, and philanthropy management at Mayo Clinic followed. I am now teaching the French language to proficient learn- ers. What started as a one-year experi- ment at IU became a lifelong adventure, and I am very grateful for the opportunity I received 42 years ago.
These two ladies, I met them in the O’Neill School and am still friends with them today! Both ladies helped me in my journey with study groups, learning from each other, and loving IU!
I graduated from the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs in 1987 with a BSPA. In 2005, I was named the director of Indiana State Parks—a position I held for more than 15 years. During that time, I served three different governors—Governor Daniels, Governor Pence, and Governor Holcomb. I also served as the president of the National Association of State Park Directors and on the board of the America’s State Parks Foundation. When I left that position in August of 2020, I was the third-longest tenured state parks director in the nation at that time and the longest serving direc- tor of state parks in Indiana history. In August of 2020, I was asked by Governor Holcomb to join his cabinet as the direc- tor of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. I hold this position still and am proud to say that the education and expe- riences I gained while a student at IU and the O’Neill School help me to navigate the challenging world of natural resources.
I started my MPA studies at IUPUI in 1995, right after getting married. Our son, Cade, was born in 1997, so I took a leave from my MPA studies, as I was a full-time employee, supervising the criminal division courts clerks office in the City-County Building, and I had a newborn. My husband volun- teered to do an active duty Army tour after 9/11 and we ended up stationed overseas and lived in Italy (with the 173rd airborne), then in England, then Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and finally Fort Carson, Colorado. During these years of moving and working—primarily for the Department of Defense in different civilian jobs—I always missed working in the judiciary. In 2013, I was given a unique opportunity to become the first Veterans Trauma Court Coordinator for the 4th Judicial District in Colorado Springs, Colorado. My boss pushed me to finish my MPA. I reached out to the advisors at the O’Neill School and they did an amazing job digging through old records and going over the faxed documents I had kept to help me get re-enrolled. I only needed four classes to finish, but now classes could be completed virtually! I was motivated by my employer, but I was more determined to finish MY degree before my son. Remember Cade? That newborn, who I took a “break” from school to raise in 1997? He got a full scholarship to attend the Kelley School of Business at IU in 2015. I was not going to let the kid beat me to graduation! I finished my MPA in December 2018. It took me 23 years to complete my MPA, but it was worth the time and I learned so much. Besides still being the VTC coordinator in Colorado Springs, a national peer training court, I am also now an adjunct faculty member for Justice for Vets. I help stand up and provide training to vet courts around the country. The O’Neill School is a wonderful place to learn problem-solving skills. The staff are dedicated and persistent. They helped an “old school” alum finish her degree. Hoosiers never give up! (Graduation picture from my B.S. at IU in 1991.)
From Betsy Newnum
In 1975, I had not been able to find an edu- cation that matched my heart, my intel- lect, and my skills. Then came the new school in the basement of Poplars Hotel and I enrolled for a bachelor’s degree in land use planning. We used Ian McHarg’s textbook, Design with Nature, which dis- cussed how ag and land use maps could be placed as overlays on topographical maps to better visualize impacts and make deci- sions based on several dimensions. I loved it, and during an Allen County internship, I did that very task: overlaying land uses, corridors, and natural features to assist in a highway decision. Sound familiar, like today’s GIS? ESRI? After more than 20 years in the environmental field (fresh- water plant identification and environ- mental permits for major linear projects), I retired so grateful. I was able to find my niche where my skills, training, and intel- lect were able to flourish. I said my retire- ment farewells to some of the best people around—environmental lawyers, scien- tists, biologists, and so on—who had the best hearts and minds. Now I am retired and having a lot of fun meeting new people and volunteering (that’s me in the center of the photo). Thank you, O’Neill School, many times over. Keep up the good work for another 50-plus years, the world needs O’Neill grads.
Unlike most of my peers, I did not get my start at the O’Neill School. I trans- ferred to IU my sophomore year from another university and was encour- aged by Brian Seavey and members of the admissions council to apply to transfer into the O’Neill School. At that time, I felt excited for a fresh start and to show my true potential to IU after struggling through an unfulfilled life at my prior school with not a good environment nor many opportuni- ties. My first day of class, I knew my life was going to change for the better. O’Neill gave me my first home and the opportunities to become the person I had always wanted to be. This school changed my life by giving me friends that I will cherish for a lifetime and happiness that I never thought I could have. My first day of classes, a very wise and inspiring professor wrote a single quote on the board, “We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.” I took this to heart while navigating a new campus and rebuilding my life, I decided to choose positivity over negativity. During my three years at O’Neill, I helped to co-found the O’Neill Undergraduate Student Council, I was in the Washington Leadership Program, I used the skills I learned at IU to pass a bill in Congress advocating for service ani- mals, and I made friends and relationships that will last me a lifetime no matter where I go. I am a proud alum of the O’Neill School and I am honored to have been in the O’Neill Honors Program and spend a year working on my senior thesis on the mass incarceration system with so much support and help from my professors and peers. Eventually, all of these experiences and lessons led me to becoming the commencement speaker for my grad- uating Class of 2022 at the O’Neill Recognition Ceremony. I truly believe that I would not be as accomplished nor successful today, on the path to law school, without the education I received at O’Neill.
I was the first doctoral student in the now defunct Ph.D. program in Regional Analysis and Planning that was offered jointly with the Department of Geography. While it was often challeng- ing straddling multiple disciplines and fields of students, Indiana University and the O’Neill School, in particular, trained me extremely well for a productive career in academia (20 years at Michigan Technological University) and 11 years working for the federal government (EPA and DOE). I fondly remember our early days in the Poplars Building and finally the move to the current location in 1982. I am very proud to be an alum of this truly model school. Dean Bonser was a great leader and a kind man, and I was fortu- nate to have great advisors and mentors in Kingsley Haynes and Barry Rubin.
From left: Bob Kravchuk, Shawn Novak, John Rupp, Kurt Zorn, and Mark Levin; not pictured: Mark Norrell and William Foley, Jr.
Faculty retirements
The O’Neill School honored retiring faculty during a ceremony in May at the Indiana Memorial Union in Bloomington.
Professor Bob Kravchuk, Clinical Associate Professor Mark Levin, Senior Lecturer Mark Norrell, Clinical Associate Professor Shawn Novak, Clinical Associate Professor John Rupp, and Professor Kurt Zorn all were honored during the ceremony. Senior Lecturer William Foley, Jr. at the Indianapolis campus also retired this year.
“Our friends who are moving to the next chapter of their lives have been instrumental in building the foundation of the O’Neill School and main- taining the high standards for which we are known around the world,” said Dean Siân Mooney. “They have been colleagues, collaborators, and friends, and our school simply will not be the same without them in our halls on a daily basis.”
Each retiring faculty member in attendance was given an opportunity to speak at the event, entertaining the crowd with stories of their careers and the lessons learned along the way. Zorn was the longest-tenured member of the group, having served the O’Neill School for more than 40 years, includ- ing a stint as interim dean during the 2007-08 academic year.
“This year’s gathering is especially important to me because it comes as we close out our 50th academic year and celebrate another No. 1 ranking for the O’Neill School in the U.S. News and World Report rankings,” Mooney said. “The success of our school is built on the impact of our graduates, but more importantly, it comes based on the reputation of our faculty, the people who are doing amazing research while also shaping the policy leaders of tomorrow. I look forward to finding out what their next chapter brings for our retirees, and I know we’ll be able to lean on their earned wisdom in the future if needed.”
Professor Emeritus and founding faculty member Charles
R. Wise with Pat Ryan, widow of IU President Emeritus John W. Ryan, at the 50th celebration in October 2022.
Executive Associate Dean Jeremy Carter (left) moderated the Leading Police Legitimacy into the Future session at the 50th celebration in October 2022. Duane Ingram, BSPA’06, Vice President of Community Affairs at RISE INDY, was
a panelist.
The 50th celebration in October 2022 featured a panel entitled “Health Equity: Challenges & Opportunities, Three Perspectives.” From left: moderator Amy Mack, MPA-MSES’93, CEO, Institute for Functional Medicine, with panelists Tammy Baynes, MSW, LSW, client services team lead at IU Health Bloomington; Ben Kern, MSHM’20, manager of operations, Beacon Health System; and Distinguished Professor Kosali Simon.
In April 2023, the O’Neill School once again celebrated our No. 1-ranking by
U.S. News and World Report. From left: Dean Siân Mooney with present and past MPA program directors Jill Nicholson-Crotty, Bob Kravchuk, Beth Gazley, and Sanya Carley.
IU President Pamela Whitten celebrated a decade of impact by the Civic Leaders Center at the anniversary event in October 2023.
In 0ctober 2023, MPA student RaeVen Ridgell fist bumped President Whitten after her riveting speech at the culmination event of the O’Neill School’s 50th anniversary. She shared about how the scholarships she received to pursue her education had saved her life.
During the 50th Anniversary Culmination event in 0ctober 2023, Professor Emeritus Tom DeCoster challenged guests to continue striving for excellence.
MICHAEL CERVANTES
MAAA’19
Michael Cervantes started his career in the IU Office of the President. Now, he is senior associate director at the IU Alumni Association where he engages with alumni across the country, facili- tating ways for alums to connect back to IU through meaningful volunteer opportunities.
“O’Neill provided me with a supportive network of friends and professionals, allowing me opportunities to develop skills through my program and assistantships. My time as a MAAA student helped me realign my career path
to the field of advancement where I create avenues for alumni to pursue service and philanthropic passions. I am immensely grateful to everyone at O’Neill for an unforgettable student experience.”
CARLYN JOHNSON
FOUNDING FACULTY
Carlyn Johnson, a founding faculty member of the O’Neill School in Indianapolis, was working on a Ford Foundation grant assisting the Indiana legislature when Dean Charles Bonser tapped her to join the school. She ded- icated the rest of her career to teach- ing courses emphasizing public and nonprofit service and the importance of civic engagement until her retirement in 1998.
Johnson firmly believes that hands- on learning is integral to personal and professional growth. She created the Johnson Community Service Scholarship to give back to the school and support students in low-paying or unpaid intern- ships. Her legacy at the O’Neill School empowers future generations to learn through experience and engage mean- ingfully with their communities.
“I really enjoyed getting to work with the O’Neill faculty and staff. They’re such great people.”
ROY JUMPER
FOUNDING FACULTY
Roy Jumper, a founding faculty member and leader at the O’Neill School, joined in 1972 as an associate professor and director of professional development. He later served as associate dean and pro- fessor from 1974 to 1986.
Jumper collaborated with IU President John W. Ryan and Dean Charles Bonser to shape the school’s academic and pro- grammatic vision. He was instrumental in securing state funding for the first O’Neill building, establishing the Washington Leadership Program, and facilitating the school’s early international programs.
After leaving in 1986, he became pro- vost of Indiana University’s Malaysia Cooperative Program. Recognized for his contributions, Jumper was appointed Professor Emeritus in 1991.
“There has been no effort comparable to SPEA (O’Neill) in terms of relating the university in a dynamic way to the problems of government in the United States.”
Read the full profiles for these and more50.oneill.indiana.edu
JOHN MIKESELL CHANCELLOR’S PROFESSOR EMERITUS (1942–2019)
John Mikesell was a world-renowned expert in the study of public finance, including sales and property tax, as well as administration and public budget- ing systems. Mikesell gained extensive experience on the international stage as a financial consultant and fiscal econ- omist, working with the World Bank to develop system reforms. Mikesell wrote or edited six published books—among them the most widely adopted text on governmental financial administration in the United States.
“It’s difficult to find a subfield of public policy and budgeting that doesn’t have John’s fingerprints on it,” said Siân Mooney, dean of the O’Neill School. “His passion for policy and drive as an educator has allowed him to make not only a personal impact on his field but also has influenced generations of leaders both from our school and around the world.”
CHRISTINA MOTILALL
MPA-MSES’12
Following graduation, Christina Motilall worked as an environmental fellow at a nonpartisan think tank, then as an envi- ronmental scientist at a consulting firm. Ultimately, her career landed her at the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C. In addition, she is an adjunct instructor for O’Neill’s new D.C. Accelerator graduate program.
“While I was intent on working in environmental justice, I knew there were many paths to accomplishing that goal; some less obvious than others.
I am happy I walked through a few different doors to gain experiences that ultimately rounded out my resume in helpful ways. While having a plan is important, it is even more important to keep progressing in some way.
If you keep moving forward and trying your best, you’ll land where you need to.”
PAUL H. O’NEILL
BENEFACTOR (1935–2020)
Paul H. O’Neill began his career as a computer systems analyst at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. After a government-sponsored year at IU, he earned his MPA in 1966.
After graduating, he joined the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, serving as the deputy director. He later became vice president and president of International Paper Company, chair- man of the RAND Corporation, chairman and CEO of Alcoa, and co-founder of the Pittsburgh Regional Healthcare Initiative. O’Neill served as the U.S. Treasury Secretary in 2001 before returning to the Pittsburgh Regional Healthcare Initiative and later founding Value Capture.
O’Neill never forgot his roots. His gifts totaling $33 million led to the renaming of the school in his honor.
“My hope is that the school remains a place of excellence where future leaders can combine passion with action and develop the confidence they need to engage with society’s greatest challenges and opportunities.”
Read the full profiles for these and more50.oneill.indiana.edu
PHILIP J. RUTLEDGE
PROFESSOR EMERITUS (1925–2007)
One of the most influential leaders in the field of public administration and social equity, Philip J. Rutledge held high-pro- file public policy positions at the local and national levels before transitioning to the realm of academia, including nearly 20 years at Indiana University and the O’Neill School. The O’Neill IUPUI-Philip Rutledge Fellows Program was expressly established to celebrate his tireless con- tributions to public good with the aim of making it possible for future generations of highly talented minority students to follow his footsteps.
“He was a beloved and impactful instructor who is a model for not only how to do and how to embrace a public service ethos but also is a model for underrepresented groups today to see that there is a path to find your way through,” said Clinical Associate Professor David A. Bell.
DENISE SCROGGINS
STAFF
Denise Scroggins had just finished a practicum in the O’Neill School for her master’s degree in college student per- sonnel administration in 1995 when she was hired as an academic advisor. Fast forward 27 years, two kids, hundreds of adjunct faculty, 25 graduation festivities, and various job titles, and she continues to be an integral part of the school.
“While I’ve stayed in the same school for nearly three decades, my role has evolved throughout the years. My leadership skills have been valued as I have been tapped to guide student committees and campus endeavors for the school. I can truly say I am blessed to have spent so much time surrounded by passionate faculty, staff, and students who constantly strive to do good and make the world better.”
KYLE SEIBERT
BSPA’23
MPA student Kyle Seibert sits on the IU Board of Trustees. He was IU student body president during the 2022–23 academic year, was actively involved in the Civic Leaders Center, and played a key role in IU’s strategic planning pro- cess. Seibert entered IU during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The loss of community and connection inspired him to lead the effort to make the IU student experience safer, more inclusive, and healthier.
“When my term is up on April 15, 2023, I want everyone on this campus—all 40,000 plus students—to feel just a little more connected and secure in their place on campus than what they were before our
administration. Whether that’s connected to a student group or connected to their work in
a lab or their work just on their academics, I want people to feel like IU really is home.”