O’Neill offers endless opportunities, internships, and lessons for students

Posted on October 6, 2025 by Leslie Wells

A woman stands at a podium with an American flag and Department of Homeland Security flag on either side of her. — Candace Smallwood (BSCJ’24, MPA candidate) interned with the Department of Homeland Security through the O’Neill School.

It’s been six years since I first walked into the O’Neill School. At that time, I was an undergraduate Public Safety Management major, eager for a chance to explore potential careers, learn the skills I would need to succeed, and see what I could do to make a difference in the world. Now I stand on the edge of my own future, finishing my Master of Public Affairs degree and preparing to launch my career.

In this past half-decade, O’Neill has afforded me opportunities beyond my wildest expectations. I’ve studied abroad in London, Ireland, and Poland through O’Neill International. I’ve spent a semester in Washington, D.C., with the Washington Leadership Program. I’ve completed multiple internships in Indianapolis. Through all of these things, I have grown my network, confidence, and perspective of the world. Each new opportunity has expanded my professional experience and helped me focus the vision of my future career. They have provided both clarity and confidence as I prepare to take my next steps into the working world.

But in between these marquee moments have been seemingly smaller ones—the daily opportunities that have transformed who I am, both in my personal and professional affairs.

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O’Neill School, IU Public Policy Institute remember Professor Emeritus Sam Nunn

Posted on September 22, 2025 by Leslie Wells

A man in a black sweater stands in front of a brick building with his arms crossed. — O’Neill Professor Emeritus Sam Nunn is remembered as an architect of the O’Neill School and a critical member of the IU Public Policy Institute.

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.

O’Neill School’s Community Safety Career Day connects students, alumni to careers

Posted on September 18, 2025 by Leslie Wells

A police officer stands in front of a police car. She is holding on to the straps of her vest. — O’Neill alumna Nicole Roeder came with Greenwood Police to Community Safety Career Day in 2024. CSCD returns on September 24, 2025.

Wednesday, September 24, 2025 | 12:30–3 p.m. | Taylor Courtyard

Each September, tents and tables take over Taylor Courtyard at IU Indianapolis. It’s a flurry of activity as organizations from around Indiana show up and set up, ready to talk about public safety, sustainability, and community resilience during the O’Neill School’s Community Safety Career Day.

Dozens of local, state, and federal government organizations, community groups, and law enforcement agencies attend the event as part of IU Indianapolis’ Fall Career Week. The diversity among the organizations reflects the diversity of an O’Neill degree. Students can talk to groups ranging from Indiana State Police and Keep Indianapolis Beautiful to the American Red Cross, the Indiana House of Representatives, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and more.

O’Neill reimagined its annual event in 2023, broadening the appeal to include more organizations and areas of interest that serve communities in a variety of ways and reflect the O’Neill School’s full mission.

Community Safety Career Day provides an opportunity for students and alumni to connect with career, internship, and volunteer opportunities in the fields of public safety, community resilience, and environmental sustainability, delivering on all three areas of focus for the O’Neill School.

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More students learning to make a difference through O’Neill Indianapolis

Posted on September 10, 2025 by Leslie Wells

Three students stand outside Wood Fountain talking. — Photo: Liz Kay, Indiana University

As the fall semester begins, the O’Neill School is welcoming more students than ever to its campuses—students who will be poised to lead and create thriving communities in the future.

Overall enrollment at O’Neill Indianapolis is up 3% from the previous year, making O’Neill one of only five schools on the Indianapolis campus to see enrollment growth from fall 2024. This fall, 574 students are part of the O’Neill community, spanning its undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs.

“Today’s students know they cannot sit on the sidelines if they want to see things change, and they want to take an active role in making a difference in their communities,” says O’Neill Indianapolis Executive Associate Dean Jeremy Carter. “They recognize they need a deeper understanding of complex topics to do that effectively and understand that O’Neill is the best place to help them gain that knowledge.”

O’Neill Indianapolis Associate Dean of Student Services and Enrollment Management Suzann Lupton echoes that sentiment. She says she’s seen an increase in student interest in O’Neill’s focus on experiential learning and early career development, giving students the skills to find and land their first or next professional job.

“We continue to see students who say they want a community-focused career where they can contribute by ‘doing good,’” Lupton explains. “There is a growing desire among young people to give back and to help create a better tomorrow for everyone, and they want a diverse degree that can help them do that.”

Lupton also points to the school’s new Community and Organizational Leadership Studies degree as a pathway for many students to level up in their current or future careers. The program launched on the Indianapolis campus in fall 2024 and has seen a rise in enrollment, with 71 students working on their bachelor’s degree or certificate. Given the positive response to the program, O’Neill is working on potential expansion in the future.

“Our COLS program is a very diverse program, designed to serve students in all stages of life, whether coming directly from high school, returning to finish their degrees, or wanting to advance their careers,” Lupton adds. “Everyone can benefit from learning to lead effectively, regardless of the role or sector in which they end up working.”

O’Neill Indianapolis isn’t alone in the enrollment boom. More students also are flocking to the O’Neill School in Bloomington. Between the two campuses, more than 4,000 students are now part of the O’Neill community. The shift is something O’Neill School Dean Siân Mooney says is a clear reflection of the growing recognition of the value and impact of an O’Neill School education.

“Welcoming our largest incoming freshman class ever is not only a milestone—it’s a sign of momentum and trust in our mission to prepare future leaders,” Mooney says. “The need for evidence-based policy and strong public service has never been higher, and we’re proud to be the school students turn to for the tools to make a difference.”

New course examines AI impact on public management

Posted on August 18, 2025 by Leslie Wells

A robot types at a computer with pixelated images of people in front of it.

Artificial intelligence technology is at the center of a rapid shift in how the world of work works. But the change hasn’t come without controversy. From sparking debates on ethical use to discussions about environmental impact, the rise of AI has prompted significant questions—including what it means for the future of public management and government.

A new course from the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at IU Indianapolis is addressing some of those questions, ripped straight from the headlines. And it’s doing so in an accessible and AI-friendly way.

The 3 credit hour course, “Public Management in an AI World,” is a once-a-week, online, elective where—unlike in many university classes—the use of AI is actually encouraged and even required.

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