O'Neill to offer new DEI workshops

O’Neill to offer new DEI workshops

Posted on March 11, 2024 by Leslie Wells

A woman stands a podium speaking to a crowd of students who are seated at tables. — O’Neill’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is hosting a new DEI workshop for students.

Written by: Rebecca Valeriano-Flores, Director of Student Inclusion and Engagement, O’Neill Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

From the inception of the United States until today, there has been a call for liberation and justice that refuses to be ignored. Inequities and harms abound in a country where racism, transphobia, ableism, and many other types of prejudice permeate our society and institutions—and the widespread impacts can last for generations.

Learning about these challenges, how they’re connected, and what we can do to address them is critical to our collective future. That’s why the O’Neill Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is partnering with the IU Indianapolis Multicultural Center to launch a three-workshop series designed to empower students to better understand the issues at play and how they can help.

The workshops are open to all students and will focus on bias and stereotypes, social justice, and using intersectionality as a research method and policy analysis framework. To learn more about the topics and register to attend, visit this link.

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From Brazil to Bloomington: IU Executive Education hosts top-level federal Brazilian leaders

Posted on March 4, 2024 by Leslie Wells

A group of people walk outside on a sidewalk on a bright sunny day with a university building behind them. — Each year, a group of leaders from the Brazilian government take part in a leadership training through Executive Education.

Each year, dozens of high-level government officials travel 4,500 miles from Brazil to Indiana for specialized leadership training hosted by IU Executive Education and the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs.

Lyvan Bispo dos Santos attended the program in 2018. Now, he serves as an attorney for Brazil and is the legal coordinator for the Ministry of Justice and Public Security.

“I desired to improve my soft skills in public leadership and consequently boost my career in the federal government,” he says. “The public sector in Brazil is full of challenges and I needed to be ready to lead teams, coordinate projects, and solve huge legal and social problems collectively. When I learned about the opportunity to attend the program, I decided to apply for it. Absolutely, it was an excellent idea.”

Executive Education Director Sara Johnson stresses that modern global leadership plays a critical role in all societies. She says faculty with Executive Education and the O’Neill School can provide a high-level view of what it takes to lead effectively in the internationally connected world of today.

“Leaders in the public sector must have a broad view of their organization, stakeholders, and policy matters, all while serving in the public interest,” she explains. “Our courses help leaders take a step back and learn how to have a big-picture view of their role and impact not only in their organization, but in their communities and the world.”

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The true calling of Black History Month and Women’s History Month

Posted on February 26, 2024 by Leslie Wells

A woman in a red dress stands with her arms out to her side as she speaks to a crowd. — Jori Mundy (MPA’15) speaks to the crowd at the 2023 O’Neill Women’s Empowerment Summit.

Written by: Jori Mundy (MPA’15)

This time of year is always special for me because it provides the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the groundbreaking achievements, undeniable resilience, and uncompromising fortitude of my ancestors and the instrumental individuals who created the many avenues of revolution we experience today.

Their stories remind us that our call is not only to be great, defy the odds, and excel to the highest magnitude as they did; we also must lift and support others as we climb.

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Breaking barriers and shaping legacies: A Black woman’s journey in public service

Posted on February 12, 2024 by Leslie Wells

A woman stands with her hair pulled back, holding her helmet from the US Army while dressed in Army fatigues. — Faith Odiete is pursuing her undergrad degree in Criminal Justice and her MPA in Homeland Security and Emergency Management with O’Neill.

Written by: Faith Odiete, O’Neill Indianapolis Criminal Justice major and MPA candidate

As we celebrate Black History Month at the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, I am compelled to share my personal journey as a Black woman entering the public safety field. My path has been shaped by the intersection of my African heritage, the loss of my father who served as a police officer, and my own determination to break stereotypes while forging a legacy of service.

I arrived in this country at the age of 14, a wide-eyed Nigerian immigrant navigating the complexities of a new culture. Raised by a single mother, the challenges were immense, but they only fueled my desire to make a difference in the lives of others. Little did I know that the inspiration for my journey would come from the very person who was no longer physically present—my father, a dedicated police officer who lost his life in the line of duty serving with the Nigerian Police Force.

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Philip Rutledge: A “pracademic” whose legacy continues to inspire

Posted on February 1, 2024 by Leslie Wells

Black and white photo of Philip J. Rutledge, smiling — Professor Emeritus Philip J. Rutledge spent more than two decades with the O’Neill School.

Written by: Ken Bikoff, O’Neill School Faculty Liaison and Public Relations Officer

Some people collect accomplishments. Others focus on making an impact.

Philip J. Rutledge managed to do both in a way that resonates more than a decade after his passing.

One of the most influential leaders in the field of public administration and social equity, Rutledge held high-profile public policy positions at the local and national levels before transitioning to the realm of academia, including nearly 20 years at Indiana University and the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. The O’Neill IUPUI-Philip Rutledge Fellows Program was expressly established to celebrate his tireless contributions to public good with the aim of making it possible for future generations of highly talented minority students to follow his footsteps.

“During the 50-year history of the O’Neill School, we’ve been blessed with so many influential researchers who have made an immeasurable positive impact on the world,” said Siân Mooney, dean of the O’Neill School. “Philip Rutledge ranks among the most influential in terms of a lasting legacy that has pushed the effort toward equity forward, and we’re so incredibly proud that he was a part of our school.”

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