A Black woman's journey in public service

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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Guevara named to INVestED Board of Directors

Posted on January 30, 2024 by Leslie Wells

IU Public Policy Director Tom Guevara stands in a hallway in a suit — IU Public Policy Director Tom Guevara

Tom Guevara, the director of the IU Public Policy Institute and lecturer at the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, has been appointed to serve on the Board of Directors of the Indiana Secondary Market for Education Loans, also known as INVestEd.

INVestEd is a not-for-profit organization that provides education financing solutions for Indiana students and families. It also offers financial literacy and college planning resources to help students succeed in higher education and beyond. Guevara has been the director of the IU Public Policy Institute since 2017, leading a team of researchers and analysts who provide evidence-based policy analysis and recommendations to local, state, and national decision makers.

“It is an honor to join the INVestEd board and to support its efforts to make higher education more accessible and affordable for Indiana students and families,” Guevara said. “INVestEd is a trusted partner for Hoosiers who need guidance and resources to navigate the complex and evolving landscape of education financing. I look forward to working with my fellow board members and the staff of INVestEd to help more students achieve their educational and career goals.”

Prior to joining IU, Guevara served as the deputy assistant secretary for regional affairs at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, where he oversaw the department’s regional operations and initiatives. He also has extensive experience in community and economic development.

Guevara’s appointment to the INVestEd board will last until December 31, 2026. He will join other board members who represent various sectors of Indiana’s education, banking, and business communities.

Gain national-level internship experience without leaving Indianapolis

Posted on January 29, 2024 by Leslie Wells

A man stands in front of a blue wall with the emblem of Congressman Andre Carson's district on it. — O’Neill’s Juan Delgado served as an intern for Congressman André Carson’s office during the fall 2023 semester.

Juan Delgado’s final semester with the O’Neill School included a career-shaping internship experience—one that provided him with the chance to learn from doing hands-on government work at the national level, all without leaving Indianapolis.

“Since high school, I’ve had an interest in civics, government, and politics,” he says. “When I enrolled at IU Indianapolis, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in public service and work within a government-related field.”

To do that, he took on two majors: Management with the O’Neill School and political science.

“I chose O’Neill because I saw how many of the degrees the school offered could be applied within the public sector,” he explains.

That decision would open the door to even more opportunities, including an internship that supported both of his degrees. It was O’Neill Career Advisor Stacy Lozer who first connected Delgado with an internship opening with Congressman André Carson’s office.

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O’Neill’s Dumortier begins term as editor for Applied Economic Perspectives of Policy

Posted on January 22, 2024 by Leslie Wells

Man standing in a hallway wearing a button-up shirt. — O’Neill Associate Professor Jerome Dumortier

O’Neill School faculty help shape the world through their research, their teaching, and by sharing their expertise with communities. Associate Professor Jerome Dumortier now has a direct line to help curate the future of agricultural and environmental policy knowledge, thanks to his new position as editor for the journal Applied Economic Perspectives of Policy—the policy journal of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.

“I was extremely excited to be selected for the editorship position,” he recalls. “I’m an avid reader of AEPP and have published two articles in it myself. For me, being selected shows that they appreciate my expertise and my reputation in the field of agricultural economics.”

Dumortier plans to use that expertise to help shape the journal’s future and strategic direction through the research published in the journal.

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