O’Neill School – Bloomington

Simon elected to National Academy of Social Insurance

Posted on January 30, 2023 by kbikoff

The National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI) has announced the election of Distinguished Professor Kosali Simon of the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs as a member to recognize her contributions to health economics and policy scholarship.

Simon is one of 51 scholars announced by NASI as the Class of 2023. NASI is a national nonprofit founded in 1986 to address national challenges by providing unbiased research-evidence-based input to policy solutions, and helping the public understand the vital role of social insurance programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

“We welcome our 2023 Members at a pivotal time for social insurance policy. We will count on our newest Members to contribute their expertise in building a more robust social insurance policy ecosystem that supports economic security opportunities for all and to collaborate with current Academy Members in pursuit of the same,” said NASI Chief Executive Officer William Arnone.

The NASI membership is selected each year by current member nominations in recognition of a scholar’s contribution to advancing knowledge in an area of social insurance. Besides serving as distinguished professor, Simon also is a Herman B Wells Endowed Professor at IU, a Paul O’Neill Chair, and the Associate Vice Provost for Health Sciences.

Simon’s research focuses on the impact of state and federal regulations attempting to ease the availability of health insurance and healthcare for vulnerable populations. Simon has authored close to 150 peer-reviewed publications on a range of health policy topics in top economics, policy, and medical journals. Outside IU, she serves as the President-elect of the American Society of Health Economics and Editor of the Journal of Health Economics. Simon was elected as a member of the National Academy of Medicine in 2021 and recently was appointed to a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine committee to examine the current state of racial and ethnic healthcare disparities in the U.S.

“Kosali’s critical research that aims to reduce inequality in healthcare and health insurance is incredibly important to improving outcomes for underrepresented and vulnerable populations,” said Siân Mooney, dean of the O’Neill School. “She is richly deserving of this honor, and we’re thrilled she will help the O’Neill School shape policy in this important area.”

Avellaneda, Grommon named O’Neill Professors

Posted on January 25, 2023 by kbikoff

The Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs is proud to award two additional O’Neill Professorships to Claudia N. Avellaneda and Eric Grommon

Avellaneda, will use her O’Neill professorship to further enhance and deepen her work related to political operations, policy development, policy strategy, public management, and governance tools used by subnational governments in Latin America. Grommon is an applied criminologist whose research interests include corrections, offender reentry, and the rigorous evaluation of justice system programs, policies, and operations. He will use the O’Neill Professorship to advance his research that explores racial and ethnic disparities in the prosecution of criminal cases and traffic infractions.

Avellaneda is based on O’Neill’s Bloomington campus, and Grommon maintains his office on the Indianapolis campus.

“Professor Avellaneda and Professor Grommon have a passion for improving governance and societal well-being, and have both pursued exemplary, impactful research during their careers,” said Siân Mooney, dean of the O’Neill School. “They are richly deserving of being named O’Neill Professors, and we look forward to all they will accomplish to improve the lives of others in their upcoming years at the O’Neill School.”

Avellaneda is a Fischer Faculty Fellow at the O’Neill school and a residential fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Science (CASBS) in Stanford University. She is editor of Local Government Studies as well as Faculty Affiliate at the Ostrom Workshop, the Department of Political Science, and the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies. She earned her Ph.D. in political science from Texas A&M in College Station, Texas and joined the O’Neill School in 2013. Her research explores the drivers of governmental performance by focusing on the role of chief executives in Latin America subnational governments. She has extended this line of research to Brazilian, Honduran, Colombian, Chilean, Ecuadorian, Guatemalan, Mexican, and Salvadorian municipalities.

Grommon joined the O’Neill faculty in Indianapolis in 2012. He earned his Ph.D. in criminal justice from Michigan State University, and he previously served as a project manager for grant-funded research and evaluations of reentry initiatives, residence restriction laws, and strategic firearm violence and gang interventions. He has also worked for the state Statistical Analysis Centers of Michigan (Michigan Justice Statistics Center) and Illinois (Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority) to conduct policy-relevant research and analysis on justice issues pertinent to state and local government.

The O’Neill Professorship was established through a $30 million gift from IU alumnus Paul H. O’Neill in 2019. Other O’Neill Professors include Sanya Carley, Sean Nicholson-Crotty, and Douglas Noonan.

Nicholson-Crotty named MPA program director

Posted on January 24, 2023 by kbikoff

Jill Nicholson-Crotty, a professor at the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, has been named the director of O’Neill’s Master of Public Affairs program and O’Neill’s online MPA program.

Professor Nicholson-Crotty is taking over as MPA director from O’Neill Professor Sanya Carley, who has been appointed to serve as associate vice provost for faculty and academic affairs. Professor Carley had filled the role of director of the MPA program since June 2019.

“During her term as MPA director, Sanya led the review and implementation of the new core curriculum, NASPAA accreditation, and the approval of the new DC Accelerator track,” said Siân Mooney, dean of the O’Neill School. “I couldn’t be more thankful for all she has done for the MPA program, and I know she will excel in her new role. I also appreciate Jill’s willingness to serve as our new MPA director, and her experience make her the perfect person to fill this critical position.”

Professor Nicholson-Crotty joined the O’Neill School in 2013 from the Harry S Truman School of Public Affairs at the University of Missouri. She was promoted to professor in 2022. Professor Nicholson-Crotty brings significant administrative experience to her new role, including her service as the Director of the MPA program at the Truman School and as the Chair of the Governance and Management Faculty Group in O’Neill.

Her research focuses on both public and nonprofit management and the role of those sectors in the policy process. She is one of a limited number of scholars who examine the policy role of traditional charitable organizations. Professor Nicholson-Crotty has written extensively on the motivations for and consequences of lobbying activity among 501(c)(3) charities. She also has significant expertise in the area of women’s and reproductive health. She was the primary investigator on a comprehensive assessment of women’s health in Missouri funded by one of the nation’s largest health foundations. Professor Nicholson-Crotty’s recent work has focused heavily on the consequences of racial and gender diversity in public organizations. Her work has appeared in top peer-reviewed outlets, including Journal of Public Administration and Theory, Public Administration Review, Nonprofit and Voluntary Studies Quarterly, and the Journal of Politics.

“I am thrilled to be taking over as the Director of the MPA program at the O’Neill School,” Nicholson-Crotty said. “Sanya did an exceptional job during her tenure in the position, and I look forward to working with our outstanding students, faculty, and staff to build upon the long-standing tradition of excellence in the program.”

The O’Neill School is a world leader in public and environmental affairs and is the largest school of public administration and public policy in the United States. In the 2023 “Best Graduate Public Affairs Programs” by U.S. News & World Report, the O’Neill School holds the top spot for its MPA program. Five of its specialty programs are ranked in the top-five listings, including top-ranked concentrations in environmental policy and management; nonprofit management; and public finance.

Keeton Gibson reflects on studying abroad in Athens

Posted on January 23, 2023 by Colin Kulpa

O’Neill student Keeton Gibson reflected on her experience during the Athens program last summer.

Interested in studying abroad this summer? Applications close January 27.

What attracted you to the Athens summer program?

GIBSON: I was attracted to the Athens summer program because I’ve always wanted to visit Greece. Greece is one of those countries you grow up learning about due to their importance in ancient history, so it felt like I had known about it forever. Combine my desire to visit with the fact that the program is run by the Civic Leaders Center and I was hooked. I love the CLC, it made Indiana University feel like home to me, so knowing I was going to be surrounded by fellow Civics and CLC staff gave me the final push to apply and I’m so happy I did.

What advice would you give students who are hesitant about studying abroad?

GIBSON: I would say that I get it. Before this trip I had never been away from my family for more than two and a half weeks (I used going home as a crutch my entire freshman year) let alone that far away. But, you have to think about the experience you are going to get from it. I made some of my closest friends on my study abroad and we were so busy exploring that I barely felt the three weeks go by. I know that it can be stressful to go that far away for that long, but I can promise you that it’s worth it.

How has studying abroad benefitted you as a person?

GIBSON: Studying abroad has benefitted me in a number of ways. First of all, I am much more understanding of people who are dealing with language barriers. While a lot of people in Greece speak English, they do not necessarily speak it or understand it well. You have to learn to be patient and be very descriptive about what you want. Additionally, studying abroad proved to me that I can be away from family for longer than I thought. Lastly, I learned that sometimes the best things in your life happen by getting outside your comfort zone. When we first got to Greece I felt very out of my element, but eventually that feeling eased and I got to have the best three weeks of my life.

What is your favorite memory, story, or experience while studying abroad in Athens?

GIBSON: My favorite memory of my stay in Athens was when my friend group (and roommates) decided to host the study abroad staff (including our TA, CLC Director and Associate Director) for dinner. We spent our entire free afternoon cleaning the apartment and preparing dinner before inviting them over to eat. We managed to fit all of us out on the deck for the dinner and got to sit outside and chat for an hour or two while we ate. It was a really great experience to get to hang out with not only my friends but our staff as well and it was an awesome way to say thank you to them for helping put on the trip.

What is a fun fact about yourself?

GIBSON: I love to crochet. I only started this past summer after returning from my study abroad program, but I absolutely love it. It’s so much fun to get to create everything from decorative pumpkins to bookmarks.

Derek Schapiro reflects on studying abroad in Denmark

Posted on January 19, 2023 by Colin Kulpa

O’Neill student Derek Schapiro reflected with us on his experience during the Denmark program last summer.

Interested in studying abroad this summer? Applications close January 27.

What attracted you to the Denmark summer program?

SCHAPIRO: This was my first course learning about the nonprofit sector; therefore, what attracted me to the program was the ability to learn how nonprofit organizations operate in other countries and understand different perspectives about the logistics in what goes behind running a nonprofit organization. Thus, it was really interesting learning about the variety of nonprofit organizations and how they operate in Denmark. Now that I’m taking more courses involving the nonprofit sector, I have a better understanding of how nonprofits work, the problems they face, and how efficiency is measured in the US compared to other countries like Denmark. Beyond that, it was interesting to see how nonprofits are dealing with various global issues such as climate change, domestic violence, education and healthcare, socioeconomic disparities and what ideas and programs they are implementing to address these issues.

What advice would you give students who are hesitant about studying abroad?

SCHAPIRO: I would recommend just trying it. My entire family has remained in the Chicagoland area and never traveled outside of the U.S. Hence, I was extremely nervous traveling for the first time when I was 22. I was also nervous about studying abroad because I knew no one due to taking my courses online. I know it can be intimidating and scary since you might be embarking on this by yourself, but it will work out. There might be some bad days, but it was completely worth it based on the people I have met, amazing stories I can now tell, and the food blew my mind. For me, I was worried about the financial aspect because I do not make a lot of money; however, by taking the time to complete scholarships, I was able to make my study abroad program affordable and was able to travel to countries near Denmark like Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Italy. Hence, if you could, I would absolutely recommend studying abroad.

How has studying abroad benefitted you as a person?

SCHAPIRO: Studying abroad helped me gain skills that I have been able to apply in my career and course work. For example, I am a very introverted and soft-spoken person. Study abroad forced me to push myself outside of my comfort zone and gave me more confidence to travel to several countries by myself. In addition, you make amazing connections that can benefit you in many ways. I ended up receiving my current job because I became friends with someone from my program and they recommended me for a job position. It also broadens your ability to be empathic, adaptable, and communicate using direct and indirect forms of communication.

What is your favorite memory, story, or experience while studying abroad in Denmark?

SCHAPIRO: One day, our class went to a museum where we saw artwork by artists like Picasso and Monet. Afterwards, the majority of the group went to an international food market. Then, we played board games and went dancing. By going out, we found out that one girl in our group was a professional ballerina and watched as another member of our group locked herself out of her room. It took 8 people to figure out how to open this one door which was hilarious to watch.

What is a fun fact about yourself?

SCHAPIRO: I have a Paraguayan dog that I got when I was in the Peace Corps. She knows commands in three languages (English, Spanish, and Guarani).

Simon selected by National Academies to examine current state of racial and ethnic health disparities in the U.S.

Posted on January 13, 2023 by kbikoff

The National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) has announced that a committee will examine the current state of racial and ethnic healthcare disparities in the U.S.

The committee, which includes Distinguished Professor Kosali Simon of the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, will help update the National Academies’ 2003 report on Unequal Treatment. It will highlight the major drivers of healthcare disparities, provide insight into successful and unsuccessful interventions to reduce disparities, identify gaps in the evidence base, and propose strategies to close those gaps.

“As the nation commemorates the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this week, it’s notable there are still large disparities in health outcomes by race today: life expectancies at birth are 71.8 years among Black populations, compared to 77.6 years for White populations,” Simon said. “The NASEM committee aims to systematically sift through the research evidence that supports recommendations to advance health equity.”

The NASEM committee will review the literature on racial and ethnic healthcare disparities in the two decades since the publication of the initial Unequal Treatment report as well as consider ways to scale and spread effective interventions to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in. Topics for review will include but are not limited to:

Societal factors such as bias, racism, discrimination, intersectionality, and stereotyping at the individual (clinical and non-clinical staff), interpersonal, institutional, and health system levels.
Technology factors, such as bias in diagnostic tools and algorithms used in clinical practice and decision-making, and variability in access to broad band internet and other telecommunication technologies, as well as digital inequality
Geographic factors, such as variability in the social determinants of health and access to both social services, (including those not directly related to health care), language, and health care services for acute and chronic conditions in different communities
Policy factors, such as federal and state laws and regulations and public health programs
Health care factors, such as the coverage and design of health plans, institutional or clinic-based access, and the demographic and specialty profile of the clinical workforce
The impact of clinical training and education in perpetuating disparities, and ways to improve training, enhance cultural competency, and diversify the health care workforce.

“Twenty years ago, the original landmark report shocked the nation,” Simon said. “There was apparently a ‘hush in the room’ even when the evidence was reported to committee members. Now its well accepted that confronting disparities in health care is a top priority, but it’s time to meld the last 20 years of evidence produced into an actionable roadmap to address the remaining gaps.”

O’Neill School, University College Dublin announce dual-degree partnership in arts management and cultural policy

Posted on January 13, 2023 by kbikoff

O’Neill’s partnership with UCD will provide students with a cross-cultural education featuring hands-on experience.

The Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University and University College Dublin are pleased to announce a dual degree program that will allow students to study arts management and cultural policy in both the United States and Europe.

The Master of Arts in Arts Administration from IU and the Master of Arts in Cultural Policy and Arts Management (MAAA-MACPAM) dual degree will provide the opportunity to build substantial professional development and work experience while also completing arts administration coursework. IU’s O’Neill School is among the top-ranked schools of its kind in the United States, and University College Dublin is Ireland’s Global University and leader in graduate studies.

“We are excited about the opportunities that this unique dual-degree program offers to students,” said Siân Mooney, dean of the O’Neill School. “Learning the fundamentals of arts management and policy from two perspectives, working with top faculty in prestigious schools of public and environmental affairs and of art history, and earning hands-on life experience with extraordinary arts organizations in two different cities will give students invaluable insights on how to lead and manage creative organizations anywhere in the world.”

Students interested in pursuing the two-year dual-degree program will spend their first year at the O’Neill School, located in Bloomington, Indiana, with courses starting in late August. The second year of the program is spent at UCD with courses beginning in mid-September. Interested students are eligible for merit-based scholarships and financial aid on both sides of the degree.

“This program is a unique and unparalleled opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge of both American and European arts and cultural professional management at two of the top programs in the US and Ireland/Europe,” said Dr. Emily Mark-FitzGerald, an Associate Professor in the School of Art History and Cultural Policy at UCD who earned an MA in Arts Administration at the O’Neill School. “Given the globalized nature of contemporary cultural production, our graduates will be poised to work all over the world with a skillset that transcends any single nation. It’s an incredibly exciting opportunity to combine the best of U.S. and Irish postgraduate education, especially for students with global ambitions.”

The MAAA at O’Neill provides the needed business acumen, marketing expertise, and management skills to tackle the art world’s greatest challenges. The MACPAM at UCD enables participants to understand the theory and practice of cultural policy and arts management and encourages research expertise.

For more information about the program, visit our website.

Professor Mark Norrell shares benefits to studying abroad in Vietnam

Posted on January 12, 2023 by Colin Kulpa

Mark Norrell eats street food in Hanoi’s Old Quarter

Professor Mark Norrell shared the benefits he sees by studying abroad in Vietnam. O’Neill’s programs study healthcare in the country, and include stays in Hanoi, Mai Chau, Tam Coc, and Hue.

Interested in studying abroad this summer? Applications are due Jan 27.

What makes the Vietnam summer program special?

NORELL: The Vietnam program is O’Neill’s only overseas experience that focuses exclusively on healthcare policy as its central theme. We arranged classroom sessions to be led by Vietnamese healthcare universities, government healthcare officials, nonprofit organizations and private healthcaredevelopment agencies who are addressing their country’s healthcare challenges. Although Vietnam is considered an economically developing nation, many of Vietnam’s healthcare delivery challenges are comparable to our own healthcare delivery problems in the United States. Faculty of the Traditional Medicine Department, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Vietnam was selected because it offers students a remarkably different living experience compared to traditional overseas study locations in Europe. The Vietnamese people are known for their openness and friendliness, often engaging with Americans in public. Vietnam only recently “opened” to foreigners. Thus, young Vietnamese citizens often approach us on the streets and in restaurants, hoping to practice their English and make friends with Americans.

Faculty of the Traditional Medicine Department, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy

Vietnam is particularly special because it is considered the top foodie destination in the world. The late Anthony Bourdain, celebrity chef, author, and travel documentarian, cited Vietnam as the top country for unbelievably delicious (and inexpensive) street food. Your sense of culinary adventure will be rewarded. Don’t tell the Dean’s Office, but my love of Vietnamese food was my “secret” reason for starting this program!

Lastly, the Vietnam summer program will award two outstanding participants an opportunity to remain in Vietnam to complete their six-week O’Neill internship. KPMG, an international consulting group with offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, has committed to take on two O’Neill students as summer interns after our scheduled program ends.

Why should students study abroad?

NORELL: Life moves fast. As a college student, you may be anxious to graduate and begin your professional career, gaining personal and financial freedom. While it’s true you will soon have greater personal and financial freedom, the reality is that aspiring young professionals will soon find themselves overcome by the demands of their new professional titles, with zero time to carve out for exploring the world. And before you know it, you’ve got a mortgage and a growing family that requires your full attention. Of course, it’s wonderful to experience and appreciate other cultures at any stage of your life… but consider that now is the perfect time.

What types of students should apply to study abroad in Vietnam

Owners of Homestay Khà Vương Lệ, Pom Coọng Village

NORELL: Ideally, this program is targeted to students majoring in Healthcare Management and Policy at O’Neill. But I would encourage O’Neill students in other public affairs majors, with an interest in working in the healthcare sector, to consider applying for the program.

What is your favorite part of running international programs?

NORELL: This summer’s Vietnam program will be the first time offered. I’m optimistic about the program… but check back with me afterward for my assessment. Right now, I look forward to hosting our pre-trip orientation sessions, where we will discuss travel considerations, like navigating Vietnamese street traffic, food recommendations and important cultural norms.

What is one fun fact about yourself?

NORELL: Growing up on Siesta Key, on the Florida Gulf Coast, I was out on the water with my friends every day – skiing, fishing, beaching, snorkeling, diving, and sailing. Of course, seafood was a big part of our lives. We’d get a big gunny sack of oysters and open and eat them on our dock. We’d just toss the shells into the canal. In eleventh grade, my buddies entered me into an oyster eating contest at Walt’s Fish Market in Sarasota. Out of 50 entrants from all over the country, I came in third place, having eaten 26 dozen oysters. The winner was a guy named Vernon Bass, who doubled up on everyone else, eating 49 dozen oysters in 17 minutes. Vernon Bass is still the official Guinness Book of World Records holder for the accomplishment. After the oyster-eating contest, my buddies and I went to Dairy Queen, where I downed a banana split.

Jane Wright shares her experiences abroad in Ireland

Posted on January 11, 2023 by Colin Kulpa

O’Neill student Jane Wright reflected with us on her experience during the Ireland study abroad program last summer.

Interested in studying abroad this summer? Applications close January 27.

What attracted you to the Ireland summer program?

WRIGHT: I was especially excited about the Ireland summer program because even though it is a short-term trip, the program involves going to multiple cities and two countries– Ireland and Northern Ireland (the U.K). This was awesome for learning about cultures not only different from the U.S. but for examining cross-cultural dynamics and understanding the nuances of different national identities. This was a core aspect of the course topic of Cross-Cultural Conflict and Dispute Resolution, which I found incredibly fascinating to learn about in the context of The Troubles. I am also part Irish, so I was simply excited to experience the culture!

What advice would you give students who are hesitant about studying abroad?

WRIGHT: It’s totally normal to feel nervous about doing something new like studying abroad, but you will feel especially rewarded because of that! I felt hesitant up to the day I left for Ireland, but part of what I got out of the program was a newfound sense of confidence that comes with doing something intimidating. Also, know that there are O’Neill students who would be happy to talk to you about their study abroad experience and the O’Neill International office can help you with the overwhelming parts like creating your application and the logistics of traveling in a new place!

How has studying abroad benefitted you as a person?

WRIGHT: Studying abroad allowed me to travel outside of the U.S. for the first time and what I gained were unforgettable experiences and friends for life! The experience also helped me academically and professionally, as I was challenged to think about concepts beyond the classroom and beyond the U.S. in a way that helped me improve my critical thinking and problem-solving skills and even focus my academic interests.

What is your favorite memory, story, or experience while studying abroad in Ireland?

WRIGHT: It is impossible for me to name just one favorite! Highlights include hiking to the top of the Sugarloaf mountain, learning Gaelic sports and competing with my classmates, taking pictures with my friends at the Cliffs, having afternoon tea service with the class, running into an actress from Derry Girls in Derry, exploring Derry and Belfast with my roommate each day after class, and every opportunity we had to hear from local experts and connect with people who were excited to share their culture and experiences with us. Every day was so exciting and memorable!

What is a fun fact about yourself?

WRIGHT: I love to learn different dance styles, and my favorite type is swing dancing! I have been swing dancing for almost four years.

Rachel Van Voorhis reflects on her summer abroad in South Africa

Posted on January 10, 2023 by Colin Kulpa

O’Neill student Rachel Van Voorhis spent last summer in beautiful South Africa on one of O’Neill’s summer abroad programs. She shared her experiences with us, including her favorite parts of her weeks in the country.

Interested in studying abroad next summer? Applications close January 27.

What attracted you to the South Africa summer program?

VAN VOORHIS: I was attracted to the South Africa program because I have always been interested in the natural world but have never been exposed to environmental management principles or techniques outside of the U.S. I felt that this program would be beneficial for me to diversify my own perspectives regarding ecology and connect with individuals outside of my own culture about common interests.

What advice would you give students who are hesitant about studying abroad?

VAN VOORHIS: Hesitant students should know that studying abroad adds incredible value to your academic, professional, and personal life. You are given the freedom to explore your interests in the real world, learn from people with wildly different experiences, and come back with a unique story that sets you apart from others. You also get an opportunity to push your own boundaries and try new foods and activities that are only possible through going abroad.

How has studying abroad benefitted you as a person?

VAN VOORHIS: Studying in South Africa broadened my worldview and made me a more culturally aware individual. Throughout the trip, many of my personal views and expectations were tested and caused me to reevaluate my own beliefs. I feel like I can navigate complex issues with more grace and be more introspective in my conversations with others.

What is your favorite memory, story, or experience while studying abroad in South Africa?

VAN VOORHIS: My favorite memory from South Africa was staying in the River Cottages along the Crocodile River. In the mornings we could watch the sunrise and the different animals that would visit the river. On back-to-back days we saw wild dogs and a leopard chasing impala on the bank. We also shared meals together every day and were welcomed to our in-country professors’ homes where they cooked a traditional meal for us and made the group feel very integrated in the program.

What is a fun fact about yourself?

VAN VOORHIS: A fun fact about myself is that my dad is a pilot, which made me more interested in exploring other countries and cultures.