BLOOMINGTON, In. – For the past 50 years, the heart of the mission of the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs has been to serve the public good not only through education and research but also through direct engagement with communities and organizations across the state of Indiana and beyond.
Two innovative programs, the Service Corps Fellowship and the Indiana Leadership Program, provide opportunities for O’Neill students to apply their knowledge and skills in real-world settings while contributing to the social, economic, and environmental well-being of the state. This academic year, O’Neill students participating in the program will contribute nearly 30,000 hours of service to local communities in Indiana. The two programs feature 100 total fellows who work with more than 60 partners, including 23 nonprofit organizations and 38 public entities.
“I am delighted that so many public, non-profit, and private sector employers in our state choose to partner with us,” said Siân Mooney, dean of the O’Neill School. “This is a positive for our students who gain the critical experience to be leaders in their field. These partnerships also support communities by helping to keep the best and brightest minds in Indiana and chart a bright future for us all. The programs also align perfectly with Indiana University’s 2030 strategic plan to build a stronger Indiana through service to the state.”
Service Corps is a graduate fellowship program that matches O’Neill students with nonprofit, arts, and government organizations in Indiana where they work as full-time employees and receive a stipend and benefits. The program aims to enhance the capacity and impact of these organizations while offering students valuable professional development and networking opportunities.
MPA student Alauna Keeley is a Service Corps Fellow who works with the City of Bloomington’s Planning and Transportation Department Environmental Commission where she has researched issues related to local air and water quality and helped to redesign the Bloomington Habitat Connectivity Plan.
“I'm most proud of my personal growth in understanding how local government operates under the larger frameworks of state and federal government,” Keeley said. “I'm passionate about public service and the role of government because much of what we do is to ensure there is equity, responsible growth and development, and environmentally sound behaviors.”
Rachel Dobias earned her MPA in 2023 and has remained in Bloomington after cultivating relationships as a Service Corps Fellow. She is currently the camp and marketing director at the Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington.
“I'm proud to have been working with The Club for almost eight years and to be a consistent adult in the lives of lots of local kids,” Dobias said. “Sometimes, The Club is the only place that our members feel that they can be themselves, feel cared for, and feel safe. I'm honored to be able to create the consistency of an adult relationship in their lives and to be able to watch them grow into awesome humans.”
The Indiana Leadership Program allows students to complete a paid internship with a partner in the state of Indiana for an average of 10 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters while continuing a regular academic course load. Students who participate in ILP over the summer have a more intensive experience, interning 20-30 hours per week with partner organizations throughout the state of Indiana. Students gain career-building work experience while giving back to the community, and it helps ILP participants build their network.
“I can't emphasize how much I love ILP because it helped me to find a valuable internship,” said Jishen Wu, who is serving as a development intern with Monroe County United Ministries. “I got to work with all these excellent local community leaders and define my future career. As an international student, it's much harder for us to find an internship. But ILP provided various resources and mentorship, which made me feel supported and more confident.”
ILP partners include the City of Bloomington, the Hoosiers Hills Food Bank, the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation, and dozens of other public or nonprofit organizations around the state.
“We connect business owners with the data they need to be successful in Monroe County,” said Drew Yeager, who is pursuing his bachelor’s in environmental management while serving as a communications and marketing intern for the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation. “Effective communication strategies allow us to bring together all of the necessary pieces to generate business retention and economic growth in the community. ILP has connected me with the resources in order to become a successful leader and change maker.”
In other areas of the state, Bethany Buss, who is pursuing an MPA from O’Neill, completed her internship with the Indiana Philanthropic Alliance in Marion County, with her supervisor saying Buss was exactly what her organization needed in terms of her skill. Rose Mitchell, who will graduate in May with her B.S. in public affairs, law, and public policy, completed an internship with the Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County in Muncie, Indiana.
Both the Service Corps Fellows and the Indiana Leadership Program further the goal of Indiana University by providing service to the state of Indiana and beyond. The programs strengthen partnerships with businesses and industry to advance progress against the state of Indiana’s talent and workforce needs and priorities.
Outside of the programs, the O’Neill School continues to develop the leaders of tomorrow who are making an immediate impact through service to the state. For instance, newly elected Terre Haute Mayor Brandon Sakbun graduated from the O’Neill School’s Online MPA program just 30 days before he was sworn into office this past January.
“Practical experiences are at the core of an O'Neill School education,” said R.J. Woodring, associate dean of educational programs at O’Neill. “Through ILP and Service Corps, our students gain professional experience while building capacity within Indiana public and nonprofit organizations. It's a win-win partnership for students, the organizations, and our communities."