Thanks to generous donors, O’Neill students on both the Bloomington and Indianapolis campuses can get financial support for hands-on learning opportunities outside the classroom. The O’Neill Experiential Learning Fund is a vital resource to enhance students’ academic and professional development. Whether through internships, conferences, or other experiential learning programs, the fund helps bridge the gap… Read more »
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Future arts leader Lucia Walker hits all the high notes at O’Neill
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… Read more »
How the O’Neill Leadership Program Turned a Passion for Service into a Career
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 »
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 »
Arts management student Hanh Bui awarded prestigious arts fellowship
Congratulations to arts management student Hanh Bui, recently awarded a prestigious 2024-25 Leaders of Color Fellowship through Arts Midwest. The fellowship recognizes outstanding leaders shaping the future of the arts who have “demonstrated a profound ability to inspire change and contribute to their respective fields with creativity and resilience,” announced Arts Midwest. Over the next… 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 »
From first gen student to dean of the O’Neill School
Written by: Leslie Wells In honor of First-Generation College Celebration Day, we recognize the resilience and achievements of O’Neill students who are the first in their families to pursue higher education. Like many first-generation students, their paths are marked by perseverance as they navigate challenges and create new legacies. Dr. Siân Mooney, dean of the… Read more »
Transfer Student Spotlight: Dionna Kloc
It’s National Transfer Student Week! To celebrate, we asked O’Neill student Dionna Kloc about her decision to transfer to IU Bloomington from Ivy Tech. Why did you choose to transfer to IU Bloomington? “I decided to transfer to IU for a few reasons. At Ivy Tech, I had a great professor who guided me toward… Read more »
HRA-IU student group recognized for excellence five years in a row
The students of the Human Resources Association at Indiana University (HRA-IU) are on a roll. The group has been recognized with a Superior Merit Award by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) for the 2023-24 academic year. This marks the eighth consecutive year that HRA-IU has received SHRM recognition and the fifth consecutive year… Read more »