From his office at O’Neill Indianapolis, Professor Tom Stucky reflects on the impact of one of his former colleagues.
“The O’Neill School simply would not be what it is today without the influence of Professor Emeritus Sam Nunn,” says Stucky. “He was an architect of this school.”
News was spreading quickly that Nunn had passed away just a few days before. As friends and former colleagues came together, they remembered the role he had played in building O’Neill.
“Sam was the original lynchpin between public affairs and criminal justice, the two foundations of our school,” O’Neill Indianapolis Executive Associate Dean Jeremy Carter explains. “Sam set the precedent at O’Neill for being a scholar trained in a public affairs-related discipline but then using that training to address issues within the field of criminal justice. That combination really laid the groundwork for what has become our standard academic approach within O’Neill.”
Originally part of O’Neill’s now-dissolved Planning program, Nunn transitioned to the Criminal Justice side of the house—the side in which Carter taught, in which Stucky still teaches today, and one that has become a pillar of O’Neill Indianapolis.
“Sam Nunn’s impact on the O’Neill School in Indianapolis cannot be overstated,” says O’Neill School Dean Siân Mooney. “He helped shape the very foundation of our programs, and his scholarship was matched by an unwavering commitment to public service. His colleagues knew him as someone deeply committed to the mission of the O’Neill School, and his influence and legacy of impact will be long remembered and sorely missed.”
Stucky adds that Nunn’s no-nonsense, direct personality—of which he was very proud—also will be missed. As former colleagues spoke of Nunn, he says one person politely described him as “gruff,” adding that his patience for academic red tape in particular was limited.
“He once decided a faculty meeting discussion no longer interested him, so he simply gathered his things and left,” Stucky chuckles. “The point was succinctly made.”
That focus extended his work beyond O’Neill’s classrooms. Nunn also was instrumental in the growth and development of the Center for Urban Policy and the Environment—known now as the IU Public Policy Institute.
“Sam’s initial research for CUPE detailed how local governments raised own-source revenues in the aftermath of reduced revenue sharing,” recalls PPI Director David Swindell. “He studied regional tax-base sharing that showed how little suburban cities were willing to share with central cities. His research dispelled many myths that were popular in the 1990s, and his work has passed the test of time and been validated by many.”
Nunn worked diligently to expand PPI’s impact, including playing a key role in the establishment of the Center for Criminal Justice Research, which has now evolved into the Center for Health and Justice Research.
Nunn’s approach of combining real-world issues and translational science and research not only enhanced PPI’s reputation around the state, it also attracted top academic talent, such as Paul H. O’Neill Professor Eric Grommon.
“One of the main reasons I came to the O’Neill School was to work with the Center for Criminal Justice Research and with Sam,” Grommon recalls. “I always appreciated his blunt takes on policy, evaluation research, and what it takes to balance academic responsibilities. He valued honesty over embellishment and was forthright in a way that fostered trust and mutual respect with colleagues and research collaborators.”
Nunn used his personality and skills to form critical partnerships with groups around the state, including the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. At PPI, he oversaw the production of ICJI’s annual traffic safety report—a report that is still used by state and local agencies to address issues and create laws that make Hoosier drivers safer.
“Much of what PPI is today is a direct credit to Sam’s work and research,” Swindell adds.
Sam retired from Indiana University in 2016 after 23 years of dedicated service to the O’Neill School, its students, and to Hoosiers around the state.
He passed away on September 15, 2025, after a battle with pancreatic cancer and is survived by his wife Lucy, six children, and eight grandchildren.
