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O’Neill School Indiana University

NextGen Leadership students get crash course in pedestrian safety, advocacy

Posted on by ebatman

Undergraduate students got a crash course in pedestrian safety at the third annual year-end retreat of the NextGen Leadership Program. Then, they used what they learned to develop a plan to make campus safer for walkers and bikers.

a group of five students is gathered in a classroom. They are casually chatting and smiling.
NextGen students were joined by Hank Duncan, Bloomington’s Bicycle & Pedestrian Coordinator, and O’Neill graduate students Pauly Tarricone and Sheryl Doades.

Throughout the year, NextGen students participate in programming designed to strengthen their leadership skills, explore public service, and promote civic engagement. At their retreat, they got a refresher course on leadership and advocacy from professors Karen Gahl-Mills and Laura Littlepage before being asked to put those skills into practice.

This year’s retreat involved a case study in how to navigate the competing incentives of different stakeholders. Students explored pedestrian safety on IU’s campus, where the interests of the university and the City of Bloomington occasionally conflict.

They focused on an area of particular interest to O’Neill students: the intersection of Fee and Law Lanes. This busy intersection has been flagged as a high injury area by the city. It’s also where O’Neill professor Frank Lewis was struck by a car in the fall of 2023.

Students learned about the city’s process for addressing pedestrian safety from Hank Duncan, Bloomington’s Bicycle & Pedestrian Coordinator, and discussed reasons why the city and university have struggled to make significant changes to Fee and Law Lanes. They were then tasked with coming up with their own interim plan for the intersection.

three students are seated facing two older males in professional dress behind a table.
Brian Payne and R.J. Woodring offered NextGen students constructive feedback on their pedestrian safety plans.

O’Neill colleagues were drafted to role play representatives from the competing stakeholders so that the NextGen students could practice pitching their ideas. Associate Dean R.J. Woodring and Executive in Residence Brian Payne teamed up to play the part of the university’s administration, while M.A. Arts Administration students Sheryl Doades and Pauly Tarricone represented the city. Though the exercise was fabricated, Tarricone’s position as Bloomington’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Commissioner lent authenticity to his role.

At the end of the retreat, students received constructive feedback—as well as encouragement to consider ways they could advocate for the real-life implementation of their ideas.

Castellanos, Leary receive inaugural O’Neill Student Leadership Awards

Posted on by ebatman

The O’Neill School is proud to name Daniela Castellanos and Zsofia Leary as the inaugural recipients of the O’Neill Student Leadership Award. This new award celebrates students who have demonstrated leadership, impact, and a commitment to O’Neill’s core values of learning, diversity, meaning, excellence, and well-being.

The award will be presented at the O’Neill Expo, the school’s annual celebration of student research and success.

Daniela Castellanos

woman in red blazer smiling at camera
Daniela Castellanos

Daniela is pursuing a joint Master of Public Affairs-Master of Science in Environmental Science with a concentration in Sustainability and Sustainable Development. Daniela was selected for the leadership qualities she’s displayed as part of her graduate assistantships.

As an international student coordinator, Daniela has shared innovative ways to support international students before arriving on campus and throughout their academic journey. Drawing from her own experiences as an international student, Daniela strives to inspire growth and resilience amongst her peers while fostering a sense of community.

Daniela has also worked as a student engagement event coordinator, where she has collaborated with O’Neill’s Undergraduate Program Office, Career Hub, and International Office, as well as student organizations across campus to build meaningful relationships and experiences that benefit both her peers and the staff.

Her nominator wrote, “[Daniela] exemplifies O’Neill core values in every way. Her leadership in her roles as a GA supports learning, celebrates diversity, creates meaning, embodies excellence, and attends to the well-being of others.”

Zsofia Leary

blonde woman in navy blazer smiling with arms crossed
Zsofia Leary

Zsofia is a Hutton and O’Neill Honors student majoring in law and public policy. She was selected for her impact on the local community through the Lincoln Street Boys and Girls Club and for her work on campus as the president of Students for Equity in Public Affairs (SEPA).

At the Boys and Girls Club, Zsofia is a reliable presence, showing up for children who need a friend, advocate, and role model. Her nominator wrote, “Zsofia does hard things with a smile on her face, not because she knows she’ll be better off as a result, but because she knows other people will be.”

Through SEPA, Zsofia has worked to promote equity within the school and implement LGBTQIA+ programming. She leads a board of O’Neill students who work together to organize an annual equity conference and conduct a yearly survey to monitor diversity, equity, inclusion, and cultural competency within the school. She’s also worked to prioritize collaboration within her team and with other student organizations.

O’Neill students engage in community projects, research as IU Eclipse Scholars

Posted on by ebatman

As communities across the state of Indiana prepare for the upcoming total solar eclipse, three O’Neill undergraduate students are using the opportunity to engage in hands-on research.

Environmental management majors Elizabeth Kuebel, Maleeha Mahbub, and Brooke Martoccia were selected as IU Eclipse Scholars by the IU Center for Rural Engagement (CRE). The students received a scholarship from CRE to “investigate how rural Indiana communities use this once-in-a-lifetime astronomical event to catalyze social connection through an arts and humanities lens.” In the lead up to the eclipse, they have spent approximately ten hours a week supporting programming in nearby communities and state parks.

Woman smiling. Background is a graphic of a partial solar eclipse.
IU Eclipse Scholar Elizabeth Kuebel. Photo courtesy of the IU Center for Rural Engagement.

Kuebel is supporting the Art Sanctuary in Martinsville as they put together celestial-themed art classes and a community-wide art show.

She says the opportunity has helped her learn “the important role arts and culture plays in creative placemaking and quality of life for rural communities.”

Mahbub is working with the town of English in Crawford County, Ind., to host an event celebrating the community’s rich history. They will be reviving a historic fish stand and organizing a square dance, which Mahbub describes as a “unique opportunity to reconnect residents with their roots and foster a renewed sense of community pride.” Mahbub has also helped pull together a scavenger hunt using elements from the town’s history and geography.

“Through this project,” she says, “I’ve learned the transformative power of community engagement and historical preservation. By actively involving residents in the planning and execution of our event, we’ve been able to create meaningful connections and inspire a collective sense of ownership over our shared heritage.”

woman smiling with graphic representing a partial solar eclipse in the background
IU Eclipse Scholar Brooke Martoccia. Photo courtesy of the IU Center for Rural Engagement.

Martoccia is working with staff at Monroe Lake to study how state parks prepare for large events. She has created story boards for the Eclipse Night Walk and plans to give a presentation the day before the big event. She also plans on interviewing park visitors before and after the eclipse occurs to get their perspective on the experience.

“I have done a lot of research on the science behind an eclipse, the sun, eclipse folklore, and park visitor engagement,” says Martoccia. “It is amazing how much time goes into planning in state parks for such a large event like this.”

The students will share what they’ve learned from their projects at an eclipse symposium and poster session later this month.

Nurturing roots: A student’s journey towards environmental sustainability

Posted on by Shannon Townsend

In the bustling world of academia, where every student strives to make a mark, there are those who go beyond the ordinary, driven by an unyielding passion for environmental sustainability. Meet Cailey Pietrzyk, a diligent student pursuing a dual master’s degree in public affairs and environmental science at O’Neill. Hailing from Tinley Park, Illinois, Pietrzyk’s journey is a testament to the power of curiosity and the desire to make a difference. 

Pietrzyk’s academic voyage commenced at Southern Illinois University, where she majored in political science with a minor in environmental science. However, her thirst for knowledge remained unquenched, propelling her towards O’Neill, renowned for its top-tier environmental policy programs. As she puts it, “There was so much more that I wanted to learn with environmental policy and I saw that O’Neill was number one, so I figured, I got to go there!” 

Pietrzyk’s journey in O’Neill’s MPA-MSES dual degree program 

In the realm of academia, Pietrzyk’s MPA-MSES dual degree program equips her with a multifaceted skill set, bridging the gap between policy formulation and environmental science. With coursework spanning economics, public finance, statistics, and engineering, Pietrzyk gains a holistic understanding of the intricate challenges facing our planet.  

In addition, Pietrzyk delves into research endeavors at O’Neill aimed at unraveling the complexities of urban ecology. From analyzing canopy coverage in major cities to exploring the nexus between environmental justice and green spaces, her work exemplifies a synergistic blend of scholarship and activism. 

Discovering sustainability: Pietrzyk’s journey with Sustain IU 

With an appreciation for nature, Pietrzyk found herself drawn to Sustain IU, an organization deeply committed to fostering sustainability initiatives on campus. Sustain IU’s mission is to champion sustainable solutions that mitigate environmental footprints while fostering an inclusive and thriving IU community, both today and for generations to come.  

Joining as an intern, Pietrzyk immersed herself in projects aimed at enhancing environmental stewardship. Her first undertaking involved the Tree Inventory Project, a meticulous endeavor to assess the campus’s arboreal landscape and its ecological significance. Reflecting on her initial foray into sustainability work, Pietrzyk remarks, “I thought it’d be super cool to learn about trees, because I had never really learned anything about that thus far.” 

Finding harmony: embracing nature amidst academic pursuits 

Amidst her academic studies and sustainability internship, Pietrzyk finds solace in Bloomington’s lush greenery and tranquil sanctuaries. “Bloomington has a lot of green space, which is great! There is Dunn Meadow, which is on campus. I’ll go there, read or set up a hammock, and look up at the trees. It’s beautiful,” said Pietrzyk.  

When asked about ways individuals can contribute to sustainability efforts in their daily lives, Pietrzyk suggests taking advantage of public transportation. She shares, “I’m from the suburbs of Chicago. I always try to take the train when I can. And here in Bloomington, everything’s pretty walkable. I know not everyone has that option. But try to take advantage of public transportation when you can.” 

During Earth Month, Pietrzyk and her cohorts at Sustain IU will gear up for a river cleanup and sampling event, epitomizing their dedication to hands-on environmental activism. Collaborating with local organizations, they will embark on a mission to restore the campus river’s health, underscoring the importance of community engagement in environmental conservation. 

Looking ahead, Pietrzyk envisions a future where she can leverage her expertise to effect tangible change in her hometown of Chicago. With aspirations to work in city planning or ecological conservation, she remains steadfast in her commitment to fostering native habitats and promoting environmental equity. 

Pietrzyk’s journey underscores the pivotal role of individuals in driving sustainability efforts forward. Through her unwavering dedication and insatiable curiosity, she exemplifies the mindset of environmental stewardship, inspiring others to join the cause. During Earth Day, let us heed Pietrzyk’s call to action, embracing a future where sustainability reigns supreme and our planet thrives in harmony with nature. 

To learn more about ways you can celebrate the Earth this month visit: https://sustain.iu.edu/resources/earth-day/index.html 

Avellaneda honored with prestigious Jefferson Science Fellowship

Posted on by Ken Bikoff

Claudia Avellaneda

Claudia Avellaneda, an O’Neill professor and Fischer Faculty Fellow at the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, has been awarded a prestigious Jefferson Science Fellowship by the U.S. Department of State.

Jefferson Science Fellowships are an innovative model for engaging faculty in the U.S. foreign policy and international development process through a one-year immersive experience at the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Avellaneda’s main research interests are decentralization, public policy, innovation, governance, and public management, with a regional focus on Latin America. She will serve as a part of USAID’s Bureau for Inclusive Growth, Partnerships, and Innovation.

“Claudia is a remarkable faculty member who has made significant contributions to her field and is richly deserving of this honor,” said Siân Mooney, dean of the O’Neill School. “Her expertise, passion, and creativity will be an incredible asset for USAID and the U.S. foreign policy area. She is another fantastic example of how our faculty are making a difference by leading for the greater good in the real-world, and we congratulate her for this honor.”

As part of her fellowship, Avellaneda will serve as a senior advisor, providing technical expertise and policy guidance on issues related to inclusive growth, partnerships, and innovation. She joined the IU O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs in 2013, after serving as assistant professor in the Department of Political Science and graduate coordinator of Latin American Studies at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.

The Jefferson Science Fellowship was established in 2003 by the U.S. Secretary of State, and fellows are embedded in an office at the U.S. Department of State or USAID where they can expect to learn the foreign policy and international development process while contributing their technical expertise to policy formulation and implementation.

For more information about the Jefferson Science Fellowship program, please visit https://jsf.nationalacademies.org/Default.asp.

MAAA student Sara Marshall shares stories, experiences from writing “Creating the Crossroads” book

Posted on by Colin Kulpa

Master of Arts in Arts Administration student Sara Marshall has achieved something few Master’s students can say they have: published a book.

Marshall’s book, “Creating the Crossroads: 100 Years of Civil Construction in Indiana,” chronicles the last century of construction that has made Indiana the Crossroads of America. O’Neill sat down with Marshall for a Q&A to talk about the book, her favorite stories in it, and how her experience at O’Neill has helped her along the way.

O: Tell me a little bit about the book. What can O’Neill students, alumni, faculty, staff, and supporters expect?

M: Yeah, so this book is called Creating the Crossroads, 100 Years of Civil Construction in Indiana. And though it says 100 years, it’s really from statehood. So that’s, what, 200 some years? I was hired by Indiana Constructors, Inc., which is a trade association for the road builders of Indiana, before I was out of undergrad. They were about to celebrate their centennial, and they wanted me to come in and write a book about the history of road building. And so, I tried very hard to make it accessible to a broader public, because the intended audience they wanted was for their road builders, like the companies who are members of this association, and a lot of them have been in the association since the beginning. But I also wanted it to be accessible for anyone to pick it up, read it, and get something out of it. It talks of personal stories of some people during World War II, some of the road builders were either drafted or voluntarily went to war. And I had a lot of primary sources—so a lot of like actual letters that were sent, board of directors’ minutes, correspondences, a lot of historical documents. It looks at the industry in Indiana, it zooms out to the historical context of what was going on at that time in the world, and then it zooms in to just an interesting person or figure or whatever to take you from statehood to today.

O: Can you share one of your favorite stories from the book? Whether that’s Bloomington or Indianapolis, or anywhere else?

M: Here’s a fun one, this is in Indianapolis. This would have been the 1900s. There was this guy, Carl Fisher, who owned an automobile shop with his brothers. Originally, it was a bike shop, and then the Ford Model T came on the market and he’s like, “oh, yeah, cars.”

And this dude was a character. He was a millionaire because he invented headlamps for cars. He was rich, and he would do publicity stunts like, “I want you to buy this car. I’m going to push it off a third story building and drive it away to show you how durable it is.”

Another thing he did was he attached one of the cars to a hot air balloon, as the basket, and got in the car, then flew from downtown Indy to Beech Grove and landed. But the secret was he took the engine out of the car to make it lighter, so that he could get up into the air at all. He was big into theatrics like that.

This was before he got into road building or like roads themselves. He was one of the founding people of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and it was his idea to lay the bricks, and the reason it’s called the Brickyard. He loved racing and showing how fast he could go.

He realized that all the roads everywhere else were awful. That was the limiting factor in cars going fast. After the speedway, he pushed for the creation of the Lincoln Highway, which was the first transcontinental road from Madison Square Garden in New York City to San Francisco. Back then, the government didn’t really pay for roads, it was mostly private money. He had to sell subscriptions to the highway to get it built. He got President Woodrow Wilson, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Packard Motor Car Company, and a bunch of other names of that time on board. He did not see the completion of the Lincoln Highway because the Great Depression halted construction. Fisher lost his fortune and developed severe alcoholism, which killed him. That work, though, is now U.S. 30 in Indiana, which goes through Fort Wayne, Warsaw, and Valparaiso.

He’s one of my favorite characters of road building, and just how grandiose he was and how he said, “I want to build this road. We’re gonna make it happen.”

O: How has being a MAAA student at O’Neill helped you with the process of writing and publishing a book?

M: I wrote most of the book before I came to O’Neill. I applied in summer of 2020, then chose to defer my enrollment a year. I turned in the book to the publisher, the Indiana Historical Society, in November of 2022, which is when I started school here. However, O’Neill has helped me because it’s given me connections to the Historical Society and the chops to execute what’s really a four-to-five-year-long project. And there’s been a lot of things in like retrospect that I’m learning at the O’Neill School that would have been helpful to know while I was fresh out of my bachelor’s degree.

O: Could you share examples of one of those moments?

M: I think one of the biggest things was taking a leadership seminar with Karen Gahl-Mills. I took that my first semester of grad school when I still had that kind of overlap, I was a part-time employee, and I was transitioning. The leadership skills and styles and all the facets I learned in that class really made me realize I would have structured the project differently from the go if I had those leadership skills and confidence in my abilities.

O: Is there anything that I haven’t covered that you’d want to share about this book or about being an O’Neill student?

M: I’ve really appreciated how supportive everyone has been in the O’Neill School and in the MAAA program with this project, even though most of it did not happen while I was in school. It took a full calendar year for it to be published, and it was nice to work through that and share that success with them before it was public. How enthusiastic people were about it in the process, when I didn’t have much to show for it, so to speak. That was a good feeling.

Charting the green path: Kiryssa Kasprzyk’s journey from O’Neill to global leadership in climate policy and conservation 

Posted on by Shannon Townsend

In a Zoom call, I had the pleasure of interviewing O’Neill alum Kiryssa Kasprzyk amidst a backdrop of lush tropical plants. I immediately resonated with her dedication to preserving tropical forests, seamlessly integrated into her urban life in D.C. On that brisk winter afternoon, the panoramic view of greenery, extending from floor to ceiling inside her apartment windows, allowed me to quickly grasp the depth of her convictions. 

Charting the course: The interplay of ecology, politics, and environmental advocacy 

Kasprzyk’s interest in environmental biology and conservation traces back to high school, where she was first introduced to ecology.  

“That really sparked something in me,” Kasprzyk said.  

While initially considering a path in biology during her undergraduate studies, she came across the environmental science program. In an environmental politics class, a profound realization struck her—the idea of not just engaging in scientific pursuits but becoming an advocate for science itself. This pivotal moment led to a shift in her academic focus. Kasprzyk pursued a dual degree, earning her undergraduate degrees in environmental science and political science.  

Kasprzyk’s O’Neill journey: From dual degrees to climate change research and professional growth 

Driven by a desire to maintain her scientific foundation while gaining a comprehensive education in public policy, Kasprzyk was attracted to O’Neill’s top-ranked Master of Public Affairs and Master of Science in Environmental Science dual degree program.  

O’Neill’s collaboration with the Peace Corps also attracted Kasprzyk, leading her to embark on a Peace Corps experience in Peru. Reflecting on her time there, she holds fond memories and continues to find joy in collaborating with her colleagues in Peru.  

“It feels like a second home to me,” Kasprzyk said. 

Kasprzyk opened up about a game-changing moment in her career journey when she took Vicky Meretsky’s class, Climate Change Impacts on Natural Resources. This course prompted her to research tropical forests as a climate change mitigation solution.  

When researching this topic, Kasprzyk valued the writing environment that Professor Meretsky cultivated.  

“She made us write like we were going to have to write for our jobs,” Kasprzyk said. “I’ve always considered myself a proficient writer, particularly in an academic context. However, she pushed us to go beyond traditional paper-style writing, emphasizing the importance of crafting concise one-page briefs and memos.”  

This approach significantly enhanced Kaspryzk’s ability to communicate effectively in the professional realm, bridging the gap between academic and practical writing skills.  

“O’Neill is helping prepare you 100%. If prospective students seek to transition from an academic setting to applying knowledge in the working world, this program is exactly what they need,” Kasprzyk said. 

After graduating, two friends from O’Neill with prior experience in a White House internship program encouraged her to participate too. While in D.C., she seamlessly transitioned into a job with the EPA. Kasprzyk highlighted the significance of O’Neill alumni relationships in facilitating her entry into the D.C. scene. 

Driving global change: Kasprzyk’s mission in climate policy 

“I’ve focused my professional development on addressing climate change. That’s what drives me,” Kasprzyk said when asked about her aspirations. 

Her goal is to alter the current trajectory. While she previously collaborated with corporations, she now focuses on working with governments—those who make crucial decisions. Her primary efforts have been directed towards climate change mitigation, with a focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, she places considerable emphasis on addressing issues related to forests, nature, and agriculture.  

“It’s an immense challenge, but the solutions, over time, contribute to improving the lives and livelihoods of people around the world,” Kasprzyk said. 

Currently, Kasprzyk works for the global organization Conservation International focusing on climate policy within the Global Policy and Governmental Affairs Division. In her role as the director of international climate policy, she acts as the interface between Conservation International’s policy advocacy and its interaction with the United Nations on issues of climate change, including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. She works closely with regional and national policy leads, listening to input from the field and countries they operate in and translating that information into the UN climate process.  

Conservation International emphasizes nature-based solutions, such as protecting and restoring forests, oceans, and grasslands, and working with small-scale producers. The goal is to address challenges like climate change and biodiversity loss, influencing international norms for climate action and ensuring clear messaging for countries in setting their national climate action plans. The focus is on leveraging natural resources to improve livelihoods and orienting actions at both international and local levels.  

Understanding privilege: A key element in Kasprzyk’s approach in leading for the greater good 

When it comes to leading for the greater good, Kasprzyk acknowledges her position of privilege. She actively leverages this privilege and the opportunity to amplify her voice across various platforms. Recognizing it as her responsibility, she aims to listen to those who lack the same privilege, particularly in international climate forums and diverse conversations with businesses and governments.  

Kasprzyk emphasizes the importance of understanding and acknowledging diverse perspectives, striving to elevate voices that may not share the same privilege. She emphasizes the importance of advocating for broader interests, acknowledging that her individual concerns may vary from those of others.  

From Peace Corps to the UN: Bridging the gap for positive change 

When considering the challenges that she has faced, Kasprzyk reflected on her time in the Peace Corps.  

“It was definitely tough,” Kasprzyk said. “A lot of people who go into Peace Corps are idealistic types— ‘I’m going to make a difference.’ Then you’re out there and you are confronted with the types of challenges that people in rural areas face.”  

Kasprzyk found herself grappling with the realization that many of these challenges are beyond her control, stemming from distant policies and decisions. Witnessing the impact of corruption and decisions that don’t prioritize the best interests of these communities was disheartening. 

“It was so eye-opening—that whole experience,” Kasprzyk said. “But I keep that with me.”  

She shared how the experience had highlighted the struggles of people just trying to lead their lives in the face of systemic challenges. Despite the difficulties, she carries those lessons with her, especially in her current role. She reflected on those wonderful individuals facing adversity, wondering how her work at the UN level could someday reach down to positively influence and lift them up. 

The journey of Kiryssa Kasprzyk: A leader in climate policy and conservation 

Kiryssa Kasprzyk’s inspiring journey from O’Neill alum to director of international climate policy at Conservation International showcases her unwavering dedication to blending science, advocacy, and a passion for tropical forest conservation.  

Her transformative experiences at O’Neill, coupled with her time in the Peace Corps, have shaped her into a leader who actively leverages her privilege to amplify diverse voices and advocate for global climate action. As Kasprzyk continues to navigate the complex landscape of climate policy, her commitment to understanding diverse perspectives and addressing systemic challenges stands as a testament to her vision for a more sustainable and equitable world. 

Just as the lush tropical plants framed my Zoom meeting with Kasprzyk, her commitment to preserving nature continues to be a driving force, visible even through the digital screen.  

Environmental managers needed to bring policies and regulations to life

Posted on by Ken Bikoff

Environmental Management: Concepts and Practical Skills provides theories and examples to lead the next generation of environmental managers.

Policy makers, lobbyists, and the courts wage constant battles over regulations in the effort to stem climate change, clean up after environmental disasters, and lower the amount of pollution being released into nature.

Those groups gather the headlines, but it’s environmental managers—the boots on the ground who actually implement policies—who are the critical players in the real world. An environmental manager plays a crucial role in an organization’s efforts to reduce its negative impact on the environment, maintain regulatory compliance, and avoid unnecessary environmental liabilities. They are responsible for implementing policies and advocating for change at the intersection of humans and the environment, and their work is essential in tackling environmental problems and communicating with people across the globe to find solutions.

And they aren’t created out of thin air.

“There are three competencies that environmental managers—successful environmental managers—should have,” said Marc Lame, clinical associate professor emeritus at the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, during an appearance on O’Neill Speaks, the official podcast of the O’Neill School. “They should be able to understand complex and volatile issues and trends, things like environmental justice, ecosystem management, sustainability, accountability—and those are actually pretty complex issues and trends. They need to co-produce ethical environmental solutions. … Then they have to implement them. It’s not just a matter of having some kind of strategic plan that ends up sitting on a shelf or being a doorstop. They need to actually be able to implement those ethical environmental solutions.”

Lame is the author, along with Notre Dame colleague Richard Marcantonio, of the new book Environmental Management: Concepts and Practical Skills. The book is a contemporary textbook and manual for aspiring or new environmental managers that provides the theory and practical examples needed to understand current environmental issues and trends. It focuses on environmental management through the lens of protecting public health and protecting the environment.

Lame has spent 40 years practicing and teaching environmental management, and his new book is designed to serve as both a textbook and practical manual for managers in this critical field. It also allows Lame to deliver his teaching style and methods to people around the country and beyond.

“When I walk in the halls of the Environmental Protection Agency, I have old students come up and chat with me about contemporary issues and how they’re still using some of the same skills I taught them,” Lame said. “That makes me pretty proud. One of the reasons I wrote the book is I’m basically trying to put out what evolved into my course over 25 years. Everyone can have it now. It’s a true rendering of how one talks to students, scholars, and colleagues.

Environmental Management: Concepts and Practical Skills is published by Cambridge Scholars. O’Neill Speaks can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast service.

 

From Kathmandu to Everest: O’Neill School alumnus sheds light on Nepal’s environmental progress

Posted on by Tracey Theriault

Couple standing in front of mountains
Glenn and Marie Montgomery at Mt. Everest in Nepal

Written by: Glenn Montgomery, MSES’77, entrepreneur

In October 2023, Glenn Montgomery, MSES’77, and his fiancé, Marie, were married high in the majestic Himalayas along the world’s foremost trekking destination—Mt. Everest. O’Neill Dean Siân Mooney’s asked Montgomery to provide a few cultural and environmental observations of their trip among the Earth’s loftiest peaks.

The borders of Nepal opened in 1950, and tourism has grown rapidly over the decades. Nepal, in general, is quickly becoming more aware of the need to care for our environment. Lodges are full along the Trek to Everest, both in spring and fall. Yet, the main hiking trail to Everest is not overcrowded. Tourist dollars help and are essential for the local area, which offers a unique adventure like no other in the world.

I visited Kathmandu in 2018, greeted by eye-stinging air pollution levels. On my return trip in 2023 to this capital city, I found a reasonable air quality improvement. Petro-powered vehicles and motorbikes are still plentiful, and few electric cars or trucks were observed. Still, the air quality seemed better. Climate change awareness is widespread, especially at higher elevations. We toured much of the Everest trek routes to Base Camp and witnessed glaciers melting at alarming rates.

Despite Kathmandu’s and Nepal’s historic touristic, overtaxed reputations, there is less trash and litter than, say, 10 years ago. Villages along the trek to Everest Base Camp, such as Namche Bazaar, take pride in their communities for the most part and are seen constantly trying to improve local areas, especially in the Sagarmatha National Park. Ongoing efforts by the government and locals help clean up earlier trash dumps and litter. Young people here have an environmentally conscious education, and we found much more respect for the micro and macro environment.

These descendants of ancient people value what they have and where they are, and truly recognize the Everest region must be protected. Villages are sparser, and the Sherpa culture here is a giving and caring one that greatly respects the environment both spiritually and physically.

As an example of micro-focused environmental care projects, World Wide Trekking, our guide company, recently planted 1,000 black walnut trees near one mountain village (these trees will survive about 200 years) to help reduce the carbon footprint, provide a source of income by selling the nuts, and instill a source of pride for the community, which now cares for the trees.

Recycling in Nepal is not as big as in the U.S. and, in many areas, just not practical. Many villages and the tens of thousands of annual hikers look to new water filtration systems, refilling bottles and a variety of domestic water containers. Fortunately, most visitors to Nepal and the Everest Base Camp area are also extremely litter conscious.

The Mt. Everest area’s rugged terrain, steep moraines, deep valleys, and towering, long suspension bridges make motorized land travel impossible. Here, yaks rule along the Everest trek. No exhaust = very clean air… for now.

We came away from our weeks in Nepal with even more perspective on the impacts of climate change and care for the natural environment at a level seen by the local people of this country of rich history, culture, and unparalleled beauty.

BACKGROUND

Forty-six years ago, Glenn Montgomery was among a handful of graduate students in the first class of the Master of Science in Environmental Sciences (MSES) degree program at the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. He went on to become an early president of the O’Neill School’s Alumni Association in the late seventies. He is a recipient of the IUPUI Spirit of Philanthropy Award (1990) and the O’Neill School’s Distinguished Alumni Award (1997). The Charles F. Bonser Scholarship Endowment (named after the O’Neill School’s founding Dean) was also visualized, created, and funded by Montgomery several decades ago.

Using his MSES education and graduate internship experiences, Montgomery founded Convergent Group in 1985, an international GIS consultancy and systems integration firm in Denver, where many O’Neill graduates and interns joined him. He led the firm to an IPO in 2000 and subsequent acquisition by a global Fortune 100 company. Glenn remains a strong supporter and friend of the O’Neill School.

Bill stripping wetland protections put Indiana drinking water at risk

Posted on by Ken Bikoff

Indiana’s most critical isolated wetlands have been stripped of protection for the second time in two years, and the loss of those protections could lead to health hazards for the general public.

Appearing on O’Neill Speaks, the official podcast of the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Janet Duey Professor of Rural Land Policy Christopher Craft warned that House Enrolled Act 1383, which was recently passed by the Indiana General Assembly and signed by Governor Eric Holcomb, could put at risk the health of citizens who draw their drinking water from wells.

“We’ve done work in the past on isolated wetlands in agricultural landscapes, and they definitely remove pollutants,” Craft said. “They trap sediment, and they remove nitrogen, especially nitrates, and phosphorus. Nitrate, in particular, is an important pollutant to remove because it’s soluble. It dissolves in water, and it gets into the groundwater. That’s a public health hazard right there. These depressional wetlands can denitrify that nitrate and keep it from going into the groundwater.”

Indiana’s wetlands are grouped into three tiers by the state. Class III wetlands, the highest tier, receive full protection. Class II wetlands have fewer protections, and Class I wetlands have none. Those standards were put in place in 2022, and House Enrolled Act 1383, which goes into effect July 1, will redefine select Class III wetlands as Class II.

“Indiana doesn’t have a lot of wetlands anymore,” Craft said. “Eighty-eight percent, roughly, have been drained and converted to other uses, mostly agriculture. The northern part of the state had enormous acreage of wetlands 170 years ago. There’s a place called Beaver Lake. It’s not a lake. There’s no lake anymore. Other states have a lot of aquatic resources—Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin—and they’re upper Midwest, but they’re a part of this larger landscape. They have more stringent laws to protect (wetlands) because people recognize their value.”

Besides providing habitat for a variety of species and serving as a filter for pollutants, wetlands also sequester carbon from the atmosphere and serve as natural runoff areas to mitigate flooding. Proponents of the law argue that removing protections from certain wetlands will reduce regulations and eliminate red tape associated with building to meet Indiana’s housing needs.

Craft isn’t buying the argument.

“They use the phrase ‘soaring home prices’,” Craft said. “I really think that kind of statement is disingenuous at best and dishonest at worst. Wetlands are not responsible for high house prices. Let’s blame it on supply chain issues, the higher cost of everything today. … It certainly isn’t because the wetlands are being overly protected in Indiana.”

O’Neill Speaks can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast service.

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