Lucia Walker, BSAM’25, didn’t have to look far to find inspiration for her college journey. Growing up in Bloomington, surrounded by the arts, community service, and Indiana University’s vibrant energy, she found a natural home at the O’Neill School. She began her time at IU as a Lilly Endowment Community Scholar, a highly competitive award recognizing academic achievement, leadership, and a commitment to community. Over the past four years, as an honors student and emerging arts professional, Walker made the most of every opportunity—performing on stages from Bloomington to New York, interning with arts organizations, studying abroad in Rome, and building a future in arts management rooted in purpose and passion.
While she carved her own path at IU, Walker also followed in the footsteps of her parents. Her mom, Maria Walker, received a Master of Music in Voice from the Jacobs School of Music at IU, while her dad, Ron Walker, earned his Master of Public Affairs from O’Neill (formerly known as SPEA) in 1996.
“My dad is actually an O’Neill MPA alum. I grew up hearing about SPEA and this amazing experience he’d had here.”
Walker’s Bloomington roots played a powerful role in shaping both her worldview and her goals. Surrounded by creativity, community engagement, and a strong sense of place, she developed an early understanding of how the arts and public service can intersect to make a difference.
“I’ve grown up here, so I’ve been super fortunate to benefit from this culturally rich city in the middle of Indiana, and that’s really shaped how I see myself, how I see the world around me, and the sort of impact I want to make.”
Walker stayed actively involved in the arts throughout her time at IU. She performed with the Singing Hoosiers, blending her academic and creative interests in meaningful ways.
“I’m a member of the Singing Hoosiers, and that’s been a really great way for me to hear about what other students are accomplishing and pursuing on campus, and to get an appreciation for O’Neill’s role in this larger ecosystem.”
That experience led to one of her favorite memories as a student. During her sophomore year, she joined the group on a northeast tour that ended with a performance in one of the world’s most iconic places: New York City.
“To say that I made my New York City debut as a college student is pretty fun and was a really fantastic bonding opportunity with the ensemble as well. There have been a lot of times where I’m in the moment, living it, and I’m like, ‘I can’t believe that I get to do this as an undergrad and as a young person just launching a career.’”
Walker’s time at O’Neill opened the door to opportunities that took her far beyond the classroom. She spent a semester in Rome, diving into European art, culture, and community. Back in the U.S., she brought that global perspective back to her internships in Bloomington, in Indianapolis with the Indiana Arts Commission, and at Spoleto Festival USA, a music festival in Charleston. Each one gave her a chance to grow professionally and see the impact of arts management up close.
She also played a key role on campus, serving as a student coordinator for O’Neill’s graduate arts administration practicum.
“I think that working and participating in internships while attending O’Neill has been one of the most valuable pieces of my college education. Not only do my courses inform the work that I’m doing on the job, but I’m taking my work experience right back into the classroom. I can ask my professor, ‘What would you do in this situation? How would you tackle this?’ It makes for good discussion. That has been something that I’ve really appreciated in my courses at O’Neill, because so many students here are undergoing interesting experiential learning outside of the classroom, and that creates an environment of a lot of enrichment and interesting conversations.”
In her final year at IU, Walker was recognized with the prestigious Kate Hevner Mueller Senior Award for her demonstrated leadership and lasting impact on the IU community. But her journey is far from over. After graduation, Walker will intern with the IU Foundation on the development team for the Eskenazi Museum of Art before taking the next step in her education.
“I’m attending graduate school in the fall, in arts administration and business because I feel that I have this fantastic foundation that I built here at O’Neill, and I’m eager to continue pursuing that.”
From her first performance to her final internship, Walker embraced every opportunity to grow as a leader and arts professional. Her path has been defined by purpose, passion, and a commitment to lead for the greater good. She leaves O’Neill ready to make an impact wherever her journey takes her. Congratulations, Lucia!
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