Michael Coleman earns spot in IUPUI's Elite 50

Elite 50: Michael Coleman

Posted on April 22, 2019 by Leslie Wells

Graduate student Michael Coleman is pursuing his MPA through the O’Neill School at IUPUI, focusing his degree on policy analysis. Michael was named among IUPUI’s Elite 50 grad students. He says he knew grad school was the moment to make the move to O’Neill.

“I always felt as though my undergrad degree should have been in O’Neill, but it was too late to change when I got so far into my bachelor’s degree,” he says. “The MPA program just feels like my calling, because I believe in servant leadership and the public sector is the best realm to impact.”

He is well on his way toward putting his degree to work for the community. We asked him about the award and his most memorable experience in O’Neill’s MPA program. (more…)

IUPUI’s Top 100: Deirdre Kelley

Posted on April 17, 2019 by Leslie Wells

Deirdre Kelley (center) was named among IUPUI’s Top 100 students. She is pictured here with mentors Breanca Merritt, director of the Center for Research on Inclusion and Social Policy, and Cullen Merritt, assistant professor at O’Neill.

Deirdre Kelley came from a unique background. Raised on a farm and homeschooled prior to college, Deirdre came into her college career prepared and full of excitement about the road ahead.

“I chose to attend O’Neill Indy because I wanted the IU excellence in public affairs education and the Indianapolis location that would allow me to intern with leaders in my field,” the Civic Leadership major says. “Both have paid off marvelously.”

The most recent payoff? Being named among IUPUI’s Top 100 students. We spoke with Deirdre about the award and what it means for her future. (more…)

IUPUI’s Top 10 students: Amber Greaney

Posted on April 15, 2019 by Leslie Wells

Amber Greaney was named among IUPUI’s Top 10 students.

O’Neill’s Amber Greaney was selected as one of IUPUI’s Top 10 students for 2019. The Sustainable Management and Policy major was initially included in the university’s Top 100. On Friday, April 12, Chancellor Nasser Paydar announced she was one of the select students to appear in the Top 10. She says she knew from the moment she heard about O’Neill that its mission matched her own.

“When I heard O’Neill’s slogan—Major in Making a Difference—I knew it was the right place for me,” she recalls. “I love that every student in the school has a passion to serve a greater cause.”

Amber’s passion has grown into countless projects, both on and off campus. Those projects and her on-going commitment to sustainability are just some of the reasons she was selected for the Top 100 award. We asked her to weigh in on the honor, her advice for other students, and her plans to make a difference in the world.

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O’Neill Scholarship eases student stress

Posted on April 8, 2019 by Leslie Wells

To donate to the O’Neill Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, visit https://iufoundation.fundly.com/support-o-neill-school-scholarships.

To say Matthew Behrmann is hard-working would be an understatement. In addition to his full-time, 16- to 18-hour class load at O’Neill IUPUI, Behrmann also works full-time, averaging 40-45 hours a week as a manager at Crew Carwash. Add in a couple of internships along the way, and it’s easy to imagine how someone in Behrmann’s shoes could become overwhelmed.

You won’t hear the Public Safety Management major complain about his loaded schedule, though.

O’Neill Public Safety Management major Matt Behrmann as a recipient of an O’Neill Alumni Association Scholarship.

“I think I have good time management skills, so it’s not too much of a challenge to balance,” Behrmann says.

While he admits it would be nice to take a break or hang out with friends every so often, there simply wasn’t time for that—until his senior year when he was awarded an O’Neill Alumni Association Scholarship.

“It’s given me a break,” he says with relief. “After working hard the past seven semesters—at school and at my job—it’s nice to have a little bit of break before we graduate.”

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Plater Medallion Recipient: Rachel Santos

Posted on April 4, 2019 by Leslie Wells

SPEA's Rachel Santos named to IUPUI's Elite 50 graduate and professional students. — O’Neill’s Rachel Santos named as a recipient of IUPUI’s William M. Plater Civic Engagement Medallion.

Rachel Santos graduated from the O’Neill School in 2018 with her MPA in policy analysis. Yet her commitment to community engagement began during her undergraduate studies.

Santos says she found her passion while working for IU South Bend’s American Democracy Project. It was there that she served as an event coordinator, organizing 10 candidate forums, including the city of South Bend’s only mayoral candidate debate.

“It was not until my sophomore year of undergrad when I decided to become civically engaged and, simultaneously, it wasn’t until my sophomore year of undergrad that I started to achieve academically,” she says. “Learning about political science in the classroom is not enough to understand government and public administration. I needed to supplement my education by getting involved in the community and be civically engaged.”

Her commitment continued when she began graduate courses at the O’Neill School at IUPUI.

“I knew that I was interested in local and state government and O’Neill seemed like the perfect place to learn and grow—and it was,” she recalls.

She worked at the IU Center for Civic Literacy, volunteered with the Mary Riggs Neighborhood Center, and—in her second year of the MPA program—became the IUPUI Peterson Fellow, working in the Indianapolis Mayor’s Office where she was hired full-time by the Mayor’s Office of Education Innovation.

She now works with the Indiana Latino Institute where she serves as the Education Program Coordinator, serves on the board for the 10|100 Committee (a political advocacy committee that works to encourage more Hoosiers of color to run for office), and serves as a precinct committee person for the Marion County Democratic party.

Her tireless dedication to serving the community has earned her the William M. Plater Civic Engagement Medallion. Read more about why Santos feels staying involved to her community is so critical to the future.

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