O’Neill student helps Indiana communities through CIRDA Scholar program

“I’m a nontraditional student in every sense,” Ruth Pearce explains.

The Community and Organizational Leadership Studies major says she became a mother when she was young and jumped straight into her career. It wasn’t until her children were teenagers that she made the decision to go to college.

“I actually earned my associate degree alongside my daughter,” she says. “She was a nervous dual-enrolled high school student, and I was a nervous nontraditional student in my late 30s. We were both nervous for different reasons, but we did it together.”

Her daughter went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree, inspiring Pearce to do the same.

“Once my daughter completed her B.S., it knew it was time for me to finally keep a promise to myself to finish my education,” she says.

She relocated to Indianapolis and found her home at the O’Neill School, impressed by the school’s national reputation for its leadership, Master of Public Affairs, and nonprofit programs. When she discovered O’Neill’s Community and Organizational Leadership Studies program, she says she immediately felt drawn to the degree.

“I’ve always been fascinated by what makes communities work and how local government connects to everyday lives,” she says. “The COLS program is unique in that it brings together everything I care about—leadership, systems-thinking, and community development.”

Her choice to attend O’Neill positioned her for another role as well—one developed through a new partnership between the O’Neill School and the Central Indiana Regional Development Authority.

The CIRDA Scholar Program connects O’Neill students with CIRDA’s 31 partner communities around Central Indiana for a semester-long internship opportunity. Pearce was selected as the inaugural CIRDA Scholar in fall 2025.

“Our CIRDA Scholars work on various projects that contribute to the growth and health of Central Indiana,” says Suzann Lupton, associate dean of student services and enrollment management for the O’Neill School at IU Indianapolis. “These internships are a win-win for students, local communities, and our region, as students gain real-world, hands-on experience by helping Hoosier communities thrive now and into the future.”

CIRDA Scholars shadow employees in their selected organizations, join events and meetings, and present their work to CIRDA staff and member communities and organizations. They’ll also develop a report reviewing and reflecting on their experience, showcasing what they’ve learned and how they’ve grown during their internship.

The scholarship provides financial support for recipients as well, with students receiving $2,000 per semester during its inaugural year.

To develop the program, Lupton worked closely with leadership at IU Indianapolis and representatives from CIRDA, including Fishers Mayor and CIRDA Chairperson Scott Fadness who teaches within O’Neill and is an alumnus of the school.

“As CIRDA works to collaborate with and align the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors in Central Indiana, I am particularly proud of this program with IU Indianapolis,” Fadness says. “Under Chancellor Latha Ramchand’s leadership, IU Indianapolis is committed to educating Central Indiana students, and CIRDA looks forward to working hand-in-hand with IU Indianapolis to shape our leaders of tomorrow as they explore economic development and community leadership through the lenses of the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.”

Pearce met with Fadness to learn more about the program and knew it would tie together her areas of interest.

“The way CIRDA brings together cities, towns, and counties to plan strategically across party lines and focus on real solutions feels like the leadership model communities need right now,” she explains. “This was an opportunity to not only learn from incredible public leaders but to contribute to something bigger than myself, something that truly strengthens Central Indiana’s future.”

She’s spent the fall semester focusing on CIRDA’s Creative Economy Planning Initiative—a regional effort to better understand and strengthen Central Indiana’s creative and cultural economy. As part of that work, she’s been analyzing data, studying regional collaborations, and helping develop insights about how creative industries contribute to community growth and identity.

But her experience isn’t only behind the scenes. She’s also shadowing public leaders in their city offices and getting to see first-hand what it looks like to work in community development.

“Seeing how decisions are made, partnerships are built, and ideas move from discussion to implementation has been invaluable,” she says. “Every experience reinforces how interconnected our communities are and how much thoughtful, collaborative leadership matters. It’s given me a front-row seat to how strategy becomes impact and it’s incredibly motivating to be part of that process.”

This internship has helped Pearce build her experience, her resume, and her network, all of which are assets as she expands her skills and plans for the future—a future that may even include another semester interning with the team at CIRDA.

She also recognizes the work she’s doing now and her position with CIRDA afford her a pivotal role in shaping other students’ futures as well.

“As the inaugural CIRDA Scholar, I have the rare opportunity to help shape what this program can become for future students—I don’t take that lightly,” Pearce says. “It feels meaningful to know that the work I’m doing could play even a small part in building the foundation for future public leadership in Central Indiana.”