It’s been 15 years since Associate Professor Sanghee Park completed her Ph.D. in Seoul, South Korea. In that time, she’s built a career out of trying to help public managers and leaders make the world a better place.
“The field of public affairs sits at the nexus of public policy, management, and governance,” she explains. “We need all kinds of different tools and perspectives on the table to figure out what the current problems look like and how to find effective and equitable solutions.”
Park has always been fascinated by public affairs and how it can help drive the decisions that govern our everyday lives and impact outcomes—positive and negative, alike—that can last a lifetime.
“My ultimate hope is to help shape a society in which public needs are better understood and met, and all members have fair access to opportunities, thereby fostering a more inclusive and resilient community,” Park says.
She saw a way to do that through research and education, focusing on three key areas:
- Social disparities in political and administrative outcomes, with an emphasis on the role of diversity and representation within policy-making entities.
- Diverse forms of service delivery, public sector governance, and collaboration across sectors.
- How governments allocate and manage personnel, financial, and organizational resources in challenging situations.
Park says she’s interested in how her findings can create bridges between the fields of public administration, public policy, political science, and others.
“Those fields lay the groundwork for strong, resilient, and fair societies by uncovering bias and discriminatory mechanisms, shaping public discourse, and designing and implementing policies in a timely and sustainable manner,” she adds.
She hopes her research will offer insight into how various groups deliver public services and shape policies that are effective, equitable, and responsive to societal needs on everything from healthcare and education to the environment, housing, law enforcement, and more.
IU Indianapolis’ urban location in the state capital puts Park squarely at the crossroads of cross-sector collaboration—a position she believes benefits both her and O’Neill’s professionally and academically oriented students studying in one of the top Public Affairs programs in the nation.
“The O’Neill School at IU Indianapolis offers an excellent Public Affairs program at the undergraduate and graduate levels that is committed to public service through research, education, and community engagement,” Park says. “That goal aligns well with mine, training students as future leaders and scholars with diverse perspectives, applied knowledge, and analytic minds.”
And now she has the opportunity to do just that at O’Neill Indianapolis with a new wave of students.
What do you enjoy about working with students?
“Working with committed and motivated students is insightful and energizing—their passion is contagious. Also, the input from part-time students and working professionals to the learning process is invaluable. They are keen to make sense of their work through various theoretical lenses and frameworks, and bring brilliant insights based on their real-world experiences.”
What do you enjoy about teaching in the classroom?
“Teaching, for me, is a group conversation that helps broaden my students’ and my own understanding of our community, society, and the world and develop tolerance toward different views and ideas.”
“I view my role in teaching and research as a privilege—an opportunity to understand current social issues and influence future generations. As an international minority scholar with a Ph.D. earned abroad, I was fortunate to receive excellent mentorship that profoundly influenced my career trajectory and passion, and I’m determined to pay it forward.”
“I enjoy facilitating class discussions based on specific cases as a way of integrating theory with real-world experiences. I also like to set up class debates for contentious issues grounded in sound reasoning and evidence. I can see students being more engaged and learning from each other, and I always learn from them. I believe these interactions have immediate value and create lasting impacts on their education and professional growth.”
Why should potential students consider enrolling at O’Neill?
“O’Neill Indianapolis offers unique opportunities for students interested in both academic and professional trajectories. The programs cover crucial contemporary urban issues across diverse fields, supported by a robust alumni network, mentorship, and career development opportunities.”
