When Maya Benysh started visiting colleges during her junior year of high school, she had no idea what “public affairs” was. She was considering everything from international business to journalism, looking for anything that would let her pair her interest in people and problem-solving with a meaningful career. That changed when she toured Indiana University and discovered the O’Neill School.
“Before even touring IU, I didn’t know that public affairs was a field that you could go to school for,” she says. “So I think that’s what drew me in. Not only could I study something I’d never heard of before, but I could also do it out in the field, during my undergrad experience, while learning in the classroom as well.”
Benysh ultimately chose O’Neill’s law and public policy major, calling it “the perfect combination.”
That decision set her on a path that would be shaped by hands-on learning, leadership opportunities, and the guidance of a close-knit community. From joining the Civic Leaders Center her freshman year to studying abroad with the Global Leadership Program during her master’s, Benysh has continually enriched her O’Neill education through a wide range of experiential learning opportunities.
Building community and confidence
Arriving at a Big Ten university from a small town felt intimidating, but Benysh quickly found her place.
“The Civic Leaders Center definitely gave me community on campus,” she said. “Coming in and having mentors and peers all working toward the same goals of professional development and student experience gave me a community that set me up for my next four years at O’Neill.”
Those early experiences made Benysh feel at home and gave her the confidence to try more opportunities. She joined multiple leadership programs that deepened her skills and helped her discover what she wanted her future career to look like.
“The leadership programs definitely shaped my experience. They gave me the opportunity to apply what I’m learning… and I always had the support from the staff as well.”
Turning classroom lessons into action
Benysh’s undergraduate years were full of moments that brought her education to life. Through the O’Neill Leadership Program, she worked first at the Boys and Girls Club and later at Beacon’s Shalom Center, a day shelter for people experiencing homelessness.
“Learning how the money moves around, where we need to allocate things, how we prioritize things, and donor relations…those were skills I had heard about in class, but the O’Neill Leadership Program definitely helped fill in those gaps along the way.”
Those real-world lessons prepared her to take on even bigger challenges off campus.
Taking her education to D.C. and abroad
Benysh’s O’Neill journey led her far beyond Bloomington. She spent a semester in Washington, D.C., as part of the Washington Leadership Program, interning with the Child Welfare League of America.
“You really learn about the processes of the nation’s capital and what actually goes on behind the curtain,” she says. “That semester taught me that I want to go to grad school, and I knew I wanted to go right after undergrad.”
Her perspective widened even more when she joined O’Neill’s Global Leadership Program in Guatemala, spending eight weeks working with a poverty-alleviation nonprofit.
“I learned a lot about financing and the international development side of nonprofits. For me, it was about meeting people from all different walks of life, practicing my Spanish, and learning a new working style and how to communicate across cultures. I also gained practical skills, reaching out to donors in the U.S. and Europe and planning a visit for my supervisor. That opportunity heavily contributed to my professional growth and made me certain that I’m on the right path here, and O’Neill made that happen.”
Developing skills for the future
Benysh continued to challenge herself through programs like NextGen Leadership Program and the O’Neill Honors Program, which helped her strengthen her leadership skills and complete an undergraduate thesis project.
“I definitely learned about a different aspect of public affairs there,” she says. “Not just the jobs and internships, but what academia would look like if I choose to pursue that.”
These experiences taught her how to balance multiple commitments, manage her time, and grow as both a student and a leader.
Looking ahead
Today, Benysh is pursuing a dual Master of Public Affairs–Master of International Affairs at O’Neill and the Hamilton Lugar School, combining her passions for policy and international development.
“Both of those schools have their own expertise that, when combined, give you a high-level experience,” she says.
For Benysh, the journey has been one of exploration and growth and she encourages other students to take advantage of everything O’Neill offers.
“Nobody really knows what they want to do when they’re coming in freshman year of college,” she says. “I think that O’Neill is the most nurturing environment for answering these big questions and creating pathways toward what you want to do.”
Benysh’s story is a powerful example of what’s possible when students fully engage with the opportunities at O’Neill. From finding community through the Civic Leaders Center to working on policy in Washington, D.C., and addressing poverty alleviation in Guatemala, Maya has used every experience to grow as a leader. At each step, she has embodied O’Neill’s commitment to preparing students to lead for the greater good in Bloomington and beyond.
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