At the O’Neill School, learning goes beyond the classroom. For Michaela Hylton, BSPA’22, the O’Neill Leadership Program (OLP) was where everything clicked. The competitive program connects students with real-world leadership opportunities in the community, pairing them with mission-driven organizations and giving them the tools to lead. For Hylton, OLP wasn’t just a resume-builder—it was the… Read more »
Connecting Communities with Capital, Alumna Stephanie (Sievers) Barrett Builds Meaningful Career in Affordable Housing Finance
When Stephanie Barrett, BSPA’94 graduated from Indiana University with a degree from what’s now the O’Neill School, she didn’t know her path would eventually lead to helping thousands of people find a safe, stable place to call home. But with a passion for community and a sharp eye for finance, she carved out a career… Read more »
Building Global Careers: MIA Students Gain International Experience in Armenia
For students pursuing a Master of International Affairs (MIA), offered jointly by the top-ranked O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs and the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, hands-on international experience is essential in preparing for careers in global policy, diplomacy, and development. Through the Armenia Capstone Program, participating MIA students… Read more »
More Than a Race: How Little 500 Shaped Two O’Neill Students’ Journeys
Each spring, Indiana University’s Little 500 transforms Bloomington into a celebration of speed, grit, and student spirit. But behind the race-day excitement are months of preparation, teamwork, and personal growth. For two undergraduate students from the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs—Leila Faraday and Collin Monesmith—the experience of cycling at IU has become one… Read more »
O’Neill students develop management leadership skills through business fraternity Mu Beta Lamba
At the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, it’s no surprise that many students are passionate about public policy and environmental issues. However, some of O’Neill’s most popular majors extend beyond what the school’s name might suggest. In fact, management and public financial management students make up nearly 40% of O’Neill’s undergraduate population. Among… Read more »
Bridging the gap: O’Neill student connects healthcare policymakers to research
Written by: Nikki Livingston Madelyn Mustaine’s mission is to empower individuals to live their healthiest, happiest lives by ensuring they have reliable access to the care they deserve. As an undergraduate at O’Neill, she worked as a research assistant for health care policy researcher Kosali Simon and studied health care in five countries, which were experiences she… Read more »
Armenia Global Capstone offers O’Neill students hands-on lessons in international policymaking
Armenia, with its deep history and rapidly evolving governance structures, became a hands-on classroom for 12 O’Neill School master’s students representing six countries. Through the Armenia Global Capstone, they explored public sector reform, sustainable development, and participatory policymaking, applying their academic training to real-world challenges. During the trip, students collaborated with the UNDP Armenia SDG Innovation… Read more »
A Lifelong Learner: Robert Sarikas and His Journey Back to School at 76
When Robert (Zeke) Sarikas decided to return to school in his 70s, he wasn’t just pursuing a degree—he was chasing a new chapter in life. Enrolling in Indiana University’s O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs to earn a Master of Environmental Sustainability (MES), Sarikas exemplifies the power of lifelong learning and the drive to… Read more »
O’Neill’s global reach: A student delegate’s experience at COP29
Written by Daniel Farrell, MPA-MIA candidate, December 2025 I recently returned from Baku, Azerbaijan, where the annual United Nations Conference of Parties (COP) concluded after two weeks of intense climate negotiations. This was COP29—the twenty-ninth meeting of what is often the largest international policy conference of any given year. The COP is administered by the… Read more »
Exploring Public Service and STEM: IU students gain insights at national NextGen Service Corps retreat in New Mexico
In early November, Indiana University NextGen Leadership Program students Ella Bell and Khloe Williams had the unique opportunity to travel to Albuquerque, New Mexico, for a retreat hosted by the NextGen Service Corps at the University of New Mexico. The conference brought together students from across the country, all interested in exploring how public service… Read more »