O’Neill’s Bri Youn earns spot among Top 10 and Top 100 undergrads

Posted on April 30, 2021 by Leslie Wells

Woman with red hair and glasses wearing a black polka dot shirt — O’Neill Public Management major Bri Youn

Bri Youn began her academic career focusing on and earning a degree in elementary education.

“As much as I loved working in a classroom, I was spending the majority of my time volunteering outside of it,” she admits. “A close friend made an off-hand joke saying my nonprofit work was getting in the way of my career. That was when I realized I needed to re-evaluate.”

She enrolled in her first classes two weeks before the fall 2019 semester began. Now a Public Management major, Bri is enrolled in O’Neill’s Accelerated Master’s Program. She’ll soon move into her MPA program, focusing on Policy Analysis, and plans to finish her degree in 2022.

The decision to switch gears wasn’t an easy one. Bri admits that changing careers and starting over as a nontraditional adult student was incredibly uncomfortable for her.

“The only thing I was sure about was majoring in Public Management,” she says. “I knew it would partner the business skills I would need with a deeper dive into how nonprofit organizations and public agencies operate.”

In addition to her studies, Bri also works as a graduate assistant for the O’Neill Development team and serves on the O’Neill Student Council. Yet Bri has not only succeeded in her new work and course of study, she has thrived.

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Beca Stockman earns spot among IUPUI Top 100

Posted on April 28, 2021 by Leslie Wells

woman with dark hair — O’Neill Civic Leadership major Beca Stockman

Each year, the IUPUI Office of Alumni Relations honors IUPUI’s Top 100 undergraduate students. These outstanding students are selected for demonstrating academic excellence, campus leadership, and community engagement.

For the 2020-21 academic year, three O’Neill students were selected, including Civic Leadership major Beca Stockman.

“I was so excited,” she says. “I called my parents and every friend who would answer their phone to tell them I had been selected for the Top 100. I wanted so badly to do something positive with my time at IUPUI, and this award feels like an affirmation that I accomplished that.”

We asked Beca to weigh in on questions on her time at O’Neill and what she plans to do in the future.

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Lewis’ sustainability work earns him a spot among IUPUI Top 100

Posted on April 26, 2021 by Leslie Wells

Man wearing glasses, suit jacket and white shirt with a tie — O’Neill Sustainability Management and Policy major Jonathan Lewis

When O’Neill Sustainability Management and Policy major Jonathon Lewis stepped onto IUPUI’s campus, he knew he was ready to make a difference.

“I chose to study sustainability because I like helping people and the environment—sustainability lets me do both at the same time,” he explains.

He already plays an important role in the campus’ Office of Sustainability, part of a group of interns who lovingly refer to themselves as the Sustain Gang. His work there—which made headlines recently with the NCAA—and his efforts in the classroom earned him the attention of university leaders.

Even though Lewis isn’t expected to graduate until fall 2021, he was selected as one of this year’s Top 100 undergraduate students at IUPUI. Each year, the IUPUI Office of Alumni Relations honors 100 undergraduate students at the university. For demonstrating academic excellence, campus leadership, and community engagement.

We asked Lewis to weigh in on questions about how he arrived at the O’Neill School, adjusting to college during the pandemic, and what he has planned for the future:

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O’Neill advisor helps students piece together their plan for success

Posted on April 23, 2021 by Leslie Wells

Woman standing in front of window wearing a gray cardigan and black shirt — O’Neill Senior Academic Advisor Terry O’Brien

Terry O’Brien is a helper by nature. Now a senior academic advisor with the O’Neill School, she’s been with IUPUI for nearly a decade.

“I do this job because I want to help and support our students,” she says. “This is about more than just what classes they need to take next. It’s a college experience and I can help them map it out and make the most of their time here.”

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O’Neill’s Koliba works to support students and sustainability

Posted on April 22, 2021 by Leslie Wells

woman standing in hallway with blazer — O’Neill Academic Advisor Debbie Koliba

For Debbie Koliba, moving from the socially, racially, and economically diverse city of Houston, Texas, to Kokomo, Indiana—a small, predominately white, rural community in North Central Indiana—was an eye-opening experience.

“The same country can feel so different depending on where you are,” she recalls.

She said it was a culture shock to leave behind what she knew as a child in her home state of Texas and move to Indiana as a high schooler. But she wasn’t alone. She, her mother, and grandmother created their own circle of support.

Koliba’s mother is a nurse. Her mother’s mother was a teacher. Caring for others is in her DNA.

“I was surrounded by strong women who raised me to help people,” she explains. “I saw my mom helping people in the medical field, and every summer I went to school with my grandma to get her classroom ready. I knew I wanted to do something to give back.”

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