O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University

06/25/2026

The Rising Leaders Program is wrapping up! This week, high school students jumped into life at O’Neill. They connected with faculty, unpacked big ideas, and explored careers in public and environmental affairs. They also rolled up their sleeves for service projects, hiked around local nature preserves, and kicked back for a World Cup watch party. It was a full week, and we made the most of every moment!

06/25/2026

☀️ Summer Internship Spotlight ☀️

This summer, Nahian Islam, MPA-MSES'27, is serving as a McKinney Climate Fellow with the City of Indianapolis Office of Sustainability, with support from the O'Neill Experiential Learning Fund. Here's what he had to share about his experience so far:

"As a McKinney Climate Fellow with the City of Indianapolis Office of Sustainability, I am supporting the development of the city's 2025 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory. This work serves as a critical benchmark for measuring community-wide emissions and informing future climate action. Guided by the city's ambitious climate action plan, Thrive Indianapolis, I am analyzing emissions trends across sectors and identifying opportunities for targeted policy interventions. The goal is to help establish equitable and achievable interim emissions-reduction targets for 2035, ensuring Indianapolis remains on track to meet its commitment of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 while advancing environmental justice and community resilience.

This experience has been made possible in large part through the support of the O'Neill Experiential Learning Fund. The Fund alleviated financial barriers that might otherwise have limited my ability to fully engage in this opportunity, allowing me to dedicate my time and energy to meaningful public service and professional growth. I am deeply grateful for this support, which has enabled me to contribute to impactful climate work while serving the Hoosiers of Indianapolis and advancing my long-term career goals in climate governance."

Learn more about the O'Neill Experiential Learning Fund and support future student opportunities: https://bit.ly/4wbxpdH

06/24/2026

06/23/2026

☀️ Summer Internship Spotlight ☀️

This summer, Mahathi Duggirala, BSHMP'27, secured an internship with Norton Healthcare as a College Intern. Here's what she had to share about her experience so far:

"Under the guidance of my executive mentors, I am helping advance healthcare quality, compliance, and operational excellence. My projects focus on improving sterile supply storage monitoring processes and supporting Magnet initiatives that promote nursing excellence and organizational performance."

06/18/2026

☀️ Summer Internship Spotlight ☀️

This summer, MPA-MIA candidate Declan Gallagher secured an internship with Land Is Life as a Communications Intern. Here's what he had to share about his experience so far:

"This summer, I'm a Communications Intern at Land Is Life, where I help develop digital content highlighting Indigenous Peoples' leadership in climate action, territorial rights, and global advocacy. Through this work, I'm gaining hands-on experience at the intersection of international affairs, policy, and communications."

06/16/2026

Clinical Associate Professor David Bell is representing the O’Neill School at the 14th International Consortium for International Management, Policy, and Development (CIMPAD) Conference in Luanda, Angola.

As a member of CIMPAD’s Board of Directors, Bell works alongside scholars and practitioners from around the world to strengthen governance, leadership, and sustainable development. This year’s conference, “Pioneering Progress: Leveraging Education, Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Transformative and Resilient Development,” will bring together government leaders, nonprofit professionals, researchers, and international development experts from across Africa and beyond.

“I’m honored to serve and proud to call CIMPAD my academic home, a community where research and practice come together to strengthen societies worldwide,” Bell said.

At O’Neill, Bell’s research explores leadership and accountability in public organizations, entrepreneurship and capital flows in developing countries, and cross-sector collaboration that drives positive societal impact.

06/16/2026

☀️ Summer Internship Spotlight ☀️

This summer, Raylan Baxter, MPA-MIA'27, secured an internship with Observatório das Migrações in Lisbon, Portugal. Here's what she had to share about her experience so far:

"I am working at Observatório das Migrações, where I am exploring different approaches to migrant integration in an international context by identifying key areas of analysis, commonly used indicators, and major challenges."

06/16/2026

How do climate experts feel about climate tech?

New research from Shahzeen Attari and Landon Yoder from the O’Neill School—alongside colleagues from Indiana University, the University of Michigan, and the Great Plains Institute—explores how climate experts view our path forward, including a deep caution toward carbon removal (sucking carbon out of the air) and solar geoengineering (reflecting sunlight).

The article, published in the journal Sustainability, urges leaders to build global consensus and weigh the risks of using these technologies against the dangers of doing nothing.

https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/18/12/5933

06/12/2026

Ready to advance your career at a #1 ranked graduate school? The O’Neill School offers flexible online programs designed to help you reach your goals on your own schedule. Apply by July 15 to begin this fall! ⏳

Programs include:
• Master of Public Affairs (MPA) 🏛️
• Master of Environmental Sustainability (MES) 🌱
• M.S. in Healthcare Management (MSHM) 🏥

💰 Funding is available!

Apply now: https://go.iu.edu/4Dk1tJ

06/12/2026

Join the APPAM and the O'Neill School Monday, June 15 from 5-7 p.m. at the Capital Campus in Washington, D.C., for a panel discussion on AI Governance Across Public & Policy Research Sectors.

We'll dive into the emerging frameworks and critical tensions surrounding AI deployment—from federal agencies to state and local governments, to universities managing research security and workforce training.

• When: Monday, June 15, 5–7 p.m. (1-hour panel followed by a networking reception) at the Capital Campus (1619 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC)
• Moderator: Kosali Simon, APPAM president and distinguished professor, O’Neill School
• Panelists: Caleb Knapp, The Alliance for Secure AI; Kevin Li, Horizon Institute for Public Service; Eric Stokan, UMBC; Anh Ngoc Tran, O’Neill School

Don't miss this opportunity to connect with experts and peers in the heart of DC.
Register and view full details here: https://www.appam.org/conference-events/policy-on-the-rocks/