Student researchers share how Indiana could alleviate homelessness, food insecurity

By Nikki Livingston
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The O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs provides opportunities for students from across Indiana University Indianapolis to gain real-world experience while making a difference. One of those experiences involves working as student research assistants at the IU Public Policy Institute where students help improve the lives of individuals and provide analysis on public policy issues.

PPI conducts data-driven applied research and analysis, and provides guidance that is objective, insightful, and nonpartisan. Student research assistants help with that work by supporting research projects throughout the academic year. 

The most recent student-authored policy briefs were part of PPI’s Decision 2024 campaign. The topics of the student briefs were determined by recent proposals in the Indiana General Assembly and shared insights on how to tackle homelessness, address food insecurity, and identify the barriers to student success for LGBTQ+ youth. 

“Allowing student researchers to pursue their own areas of interest provides a great opportunity for them to expand their skillsets, learn new ones or possibly further their research interest,” PPI Program Analyst Elizabeth Thuranira said. Thuranira and others at PPI helped oversee the student projects. 

“Regardless of whether students decide to pursue research after graduation, writing their own briefs provides them with a sense of ownership over their own work and may also strengthen their confidence as a professional,” she added.

Cecilia Gomez was one of six student authors for the Decision 2024 student briefs. Gomez’s strong desire to understand and help others drove her to study anthropology in undergrad and social work in graduate school. She found the opportunity to be a research assistant on the student job board, and joined PPI’s Center for Research on Inclusion and Social Policy. The chance to examine the intersection of social policy and equity was exactly what Gomez wanted.  

“Social workers are the facilitators of care, whereas advocates advance policies that drive how people are cared for,” Gomez said. “It was important for me to approach care from both angles.”

She worked closely with Hannah Mullin, a fellow social work master’s student, to prepare the report on homelessness in Indiana. The pair also assisted with reports on food insecurity and barriers to student success for LGBTQ+ Hoosiers. The briefs are posted on PPI’s website so the public and lawmakers can learn more about the issues and potential solutions.

“I hope my work at the Public Policy Institute can affect progressive change on a local level,” Mullin said. “During my time at the Center for Research on Inclusion and Social Policy, I came to understand just how impactful community-level interventions can be and how making a real, true difference starts at home.”

Both Gomez and Mullin completed their master’s programs and now work for IU. Mullin is a clinical research specialist at the Department of Psychology in the School of Science and Gomez is the Latinx student service specialist at the Multicultural Center on the Indianapolis campus. They credit their time at PPI with developing the skills and relationships necessary to be successful in program evaluation and policy analysis while maintaining a focus on research rooted in community.

“Working at the institute was a unique opportunity to get to know the city of Indianapolis and the state,” Gomez said. “The experience helped me grow as a practitioner and a researcher.”