O'Neill Speaks

As climate change continues to wreak havoc across the globe, how best to combat the issue remains a topic of hot debate.In the United States, the vision of a green-energy future is entangled with complex realities. Aging infrastructure strains under modern demands, the adoption of new technologies remains uneven and fragmented, and many households struggle to secure reliable, affordable energy. Too often, Americans are left out of the decisions that determine how power is produced and distributed, leaving energy in America a matter of race, class, and wealth.We’re joined today by Lynton K. Caldwell Professor David Konisky, who is co-author along with former O’Neill School faculty member Sanya Carley, of the new book “Power Lines: The Human Costs of American Energy in Transition.”David’s research and teaching focuses on U.S. environmental policy and politics, with emphasis on environmental and energy justice, regulation, federalism, and public attitudes. Konisky is a founding co-director of the Energy Justice Lab, a research collaboration between Indiana University and the University of Pennsylvania to explore, measure, and improve the equity and justice dimensions of society’s ongoing energy transition.

The O’Neill School offers a host of graduate degree programs to students who are looking to expand their skillset, including degrees that capitalize on the wide-range of expertise across the IU campus.The latest in the O’Neill School’s growing dual-degree offerings comes via a collaboration with the Jacobs School of Music. The new Master of Music-Master of Arts in Arts Administration dual degree that will provide students with a unique opportunity to earn both a Master of Music and a Master of Arts in Arts Administration in just three years. The innovative structure allows musicians to deepen their artistic practice while also developing the skills necessary to thrive.Students in the program will benefit from the rigorous musical training offered by the Jacobs School, one of the world’s premier music schools, alongside the management expertise of the O’Neill School, the top-ranked public school for public affairs known for its interdisciplinary approach to education. The result is a curriculum that blends artistry with leadership, preparing graduates to advance both their own careers and the broader cultural sector.We’re joined today by Karen Gahl-Mills, the Director of the Arts Administration Programs here at O’Neill. She has been at the O’Neill School since 2019 following a career as a public and nonprofit sector leader, including CEO roles at Cuyahoga Arts and Culture, a large grant-making organization in Cleveland, Ohio; the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra in upstate New York; and the Westchester Philharmonic in suburban New York City.

The O’Neill School is known around the globe for making a positive impact in the real world, and you can find O’Neill alumni creating and influencing policy in nearly every aspect of our lives, be it in the public, private, or non-profit arenas.The world-renowned faculty and innovative education at the O’Neill School is one part of the equation, but preparing students for a purpose-driven career still requires support to get that career started. That’s where the O’Neill School’s Career Hub comes in.It’s Career Fair season, and that means opportunities abound for O’Neill students as they look to build their future. We’re once again joined by Becca Keough and Lillian Clarke from the Career Hub office. Becca is the assistant director of on-campus recruitment, and Lillian is a career coach.

The O’Neill School is known around the globe for making a positive impact in the real world, and you can find O’Neill alumni creating and influencing policy in nearly every aspect of our lives, be it in the public, private, or non-profit arenas.The world-renowned faculty and innovative education at the O’Neill School is one part of the equation, but preparing students for a purpose-driven career still requires support to get that career started. That’s where the O’Neill School’s Career Hub comes in.We’re joined today by Becca Keough and Lillian Clark from the Career Hub office. Becca is the assistant director of on-campus recruitment, and Lillian is a career coach.

The past 12 months at IU has seen Hoosier football enjoy success at a level never approached in the nearly 140 years Indiana has played. Head coach Curt Cignetti was hired, led his team to the first double-digit win season in IU history, and he was named national coach of the year by several organizations. IU men’s basketball saw transition as well, with new head coach Darian DeVries being hired, bringing a new excitement to the program.Women’s basketball has continued its historic run of success, IU men’s soccer continues to win Big Ten championships and reach the NCAA Tournament, and men’s and women’s swimming and diving dominated its competition. All of this while college sports undergoes massive changes, from the transfer portal to name, image, and likeness rights, and a host of other shifts that make envisioning the future an incredible challenge.It’s a good thing the IU Department of Athletics is led by an O’Neill grad.Scott Dolson has been Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at IU since July 2020, and his management of the IU athletic department in our ever-evolving world has been remarkable to watch. Scott has provided a rudder during this tumultuous time, and he has set an example for all who work for him about what the idea of “leading for the greater good” looks like in practice. Not only have IU teams thrived on their respective fields or courts or pools, but the student-athletes are given the resources needed to excel academically while pursuing their athletic dreams.In recognition of Scott’s service to his community, the student-athletes, and to Indiana University, the O’Neill School has selected him for its 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award, the highest honor given to an O’Neill graduate.Scott is a 1988 graduate of the O’Neill School where he earned his bachelor’s degree in management while also serving as the head manager for the IU men’s basketball team. He joined the staff of the IU Varsity Club in 1989, eventually rising to become director of the Varsity Club, and he became part of the IU Athletics Department as deputy director and chief operating officer in 2009.Today, we’re honored to welcome Scott Dolson to O’Neill Speaks. Scott, thanks so much for joining us!

The O’Neill School has a well-earned reputation of producing graduates who make a difference by leading for the greater good. That’s not just a tagline. Our grads are the reason we’re the top-ranked public school for public affairs in the nation.Our reputation is built on the work of those who go out into the real world and make an impact by making that world a better place.One such graduate is today’s guest, Indiana State Representative Cherrish Pryor. Pryor earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Indiana University Bloomington and a master’s degree in public affairs from IUPUI. She has served as a legislator in the Indiana House of Representatives since November 4, 2008. She is currently the Indiana House Democratic Caucus Floor Leader and is a member of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus. Pryor is also a member of the budget-writing Ways and Means Committee as well as the Elections and Apportionment Committee and the Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee.Pryor also is the 2025 recipient of the IU Indianapolis Distinguished Alumni Award, the highest honor bestowed by the O’Neill School on the IUI campus.

The O’Neill School has a well-earned reputation of producing graduates who make a difference by leading for the greater good.That’s not just a tagline. Our grads are the reason we’re the top-ranked public school for public affairs in the nation. Our reputation is built on the work of those who go out into the real world and make an impact by making that world a better place.One such recent graduate is today’s guest, Rishard Allen. Rishard graduated from the O’Neill School in 2017 with his Bachelor’s in Arts Management, and he has quickly made his presence felt. Rishard is an emerging philanthropic professional and creative consultant and curator whose leadership practice is deeply concerned with promoting, protecting, and preserving culture, particularly culture at risk of erasure, censure, and appropriation. In pursuit of this mission, he has dedicated his professional career to fostering a thriving and inclusive arts, culture, and entertainment sector and championing initiatives that advance racial equity. Rishard currently serves as the Grants & Community Manager at the Pop Culture Collaborative, where he spearheads an innovative grantmaking strategy that harnesses the influential power of popular culture to reshape narratives about marginalized communities, working towards a more just and pluralist future. Previously, Rishard directed a $1.8 million grantmaking portfolio benefiting individual artists and arts nonprofits at the Arts Council of Indianapolis and following joined The Indianapolis Foundation to drive the implementation of a nationwide community foundation framework aimed at improving social and economic mobility for people of color.He's also the inaugural recipient of the O’Neill Early Impact Award, which was conceived to recognize young O’Neill alumni who embody the mission, vision, and values of the O’Neill School and are making a distinctive impact early in their career.

One of the first actions of the new US presidential administration was an executive order establishing the Department of Government Efficiency, which has been tasked with reviewing and reducing federal spending.Since the executive order was signed January 20, the headlines have flown on a near-daily basis about cuts, reforms, and mass layoffs of federal workers. The actions are controversial, immediately triggering a host of lawsuits with some of the department’s actions already being reversed by federal court decisions. The effort has introduced rampant uncertainty into the federal government bureaucracy, and the shifting sands of the future has brought many areas of the government to a near standstill.All the headlines about cuts and reforms grab a lot of attention, but overlooked in the winds of change are the essential role government and its programs play in our day-to-day lives.We’re joined today by Professor of Practice Paul Helmke to talk about the government’s role in our lives. Paul is the Director of the Civic Leaders Center at the O’Neill School, and he is also the former president and CEO of the Brady Center/Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and a three-term Republican mayor of Fort Wayne, Indiana.

On Aug. 12, 1986, then-president Ronald Reagan, held a press conference in the Rosemont Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Chicago, the 38th of his presidency. Before taking questions, President Reagan said he wanted to send a special message to America’s farmers, namely that he had a goal to remove what he believed were some regulatory barriers that were holding back the farmer’s prosperity.He phrased that viewpoint simply. “I've always felt the nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the Government, and I'm here to help,” Reagan said.And with that phrase, President Reagan encapsulated the feelings of millions of Americans. Nearly 40 years later, the issue of the effectiveness of the United States government to be a positive influence on the country remains at the forefront of our political discourse. Americans are distrustful of the government and have deep questions about the role it should play in their lives.Seeking some answers to the issue is the impetus behind the upcoming Evidence-Based Solutions for Improving Federal Government Performance Conference, which will be held at the National Academy of Public Administration in Washington, D.C., Jan. 13. This one-day conference will feature a panel of distinguished experts, including Kevin Kosar from the American Enterprise Institute; Amy Holmes from the Bloomberg Center for Government Excellence; Peter Warren, senior advisor to James Comer, who is the incoming Chairman of the House Oversight Committee; Jennifer Mattingley of the Partnership for Public Service; and Renata Lemos from the World Bank. Phillip Howard, chair of Common Good, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization which advocates simplifying government, will provide the keynote address. They will address the critical question: What can be done to improve federal government performance?We’re joined today by two of the organizers of the event, Professor Emeritus in Public Affairs and Philanthropic Studies Leslie Lenkowsky and Distinguished Professor Emeritus and Chancellor's Professor of Public and Environmental Affairs Emeritus Jim Perry. Professor Lenkowsky is an expert in volunteering and civic engagement, nonprofits and public policy, civil society in comparative perspective, education and social welfare policy, and social entrepreneurship. He was a founding director of the Corporation for National and Community Service during the Clinton Administration, and he was appointed by President George W. Bush as the CEO of the corporation in 2001.Professor Perry is an internationally recognized leader in public administration and the study of public management. His 45 years of scholarship includes expertise in public management, public organizational behavior, government and civil service reform, national and community service, public service motivation, and performance-related pay.

For the past several years, researchers, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, have warned of the growing issue of social isolation, a growing loneliness epidemic, and the impact it is having on the physical and mental health of people not only in the United States but around the world.The Surgeon General reported that social isolation increases the risk of premature death by 29 percent, the equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes a day. It also increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, dementia, and other serious medical conditions.That’s the bad news. The good news is the solution to social isolation, and the loneliness that can accompany it, may already exist in the form of community organizations that once formed the bedrock of community involvement and can play a major, if evolving, role.We’re joined by Associate Professor Brad Fulton, an expert on the social, political, and economic impact of community-based organizations. He directs the National Study of Community Organizing—a multi-level study that examines the causes and consequences of racial, socioeconomic, and religious diversity within grassroots advocacy organizations. Fulton also co-leads the Observing Civic Engagement project—a field study that uses an innovative data collection technique, known as systematic social observation, to analyze the internal dynamics of organizations.

When Hurricane Helene roared across Florida and up the East Coast in late September, relief efforts began immediately. People were without power, water, food, medical supplies and a host of other basic needs.The Federal Emergency Management Agency exists for these types of situations, but it’s also when nonprofit organizations spring into action. From high-profile organizations such as the American Red Cross and the United Way to smaller, local organizations, nonprofits play a huge role in the recovery effort. The work is difficult and expensive, and the physical and mental energy required quickly takes its toll on volunteers.Then, of course, just a couple of weeks later, Hurricane Milton struck Florida, stacking disasters and impacting nonprofits that were already stretched by Helene.To find out the kind of impact these stacked disasters may have on nonprofit organizations helping with relief efforts and the challenges that will be faced not only in the present but in the future, we’re joined by Professor Beth Gazley, who is a world-renowned expert in U.S. nonprofit management and civil society policy. She has published more than 85 research articles, books, and commentary addressing intersectoral collaboration, volunteerism, nonprofit governance, public service coproduction, association management, disaster response, and other topics.All opinions and comments on O’Neill Speaks belong to the host and guest of the O’Neill School and don’t necessarily reflect those of the school itself. Music for O’Neill Speaks is by Manos Mars.

Back in 2017, the United States congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which featured several significant changes to the individual income tax, including reforms to itemized deductions and the alternative minimum tax, an expanded standard deduction and child tax credit, and lower marginal tax rates across brackets.Proponents hailed the measure as a much-needed reform that would generate economic growth, expand wages, and put the country on the path to fiscal responsibility. Critics said it was a giveaway to corporations and the wealthy that would only balloon the national debt, and a recent study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research suggests that there was a boost in investment in the U.S. economy and some wage growth, but not nearly as much as was promised.What can’t be argued is that several provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act were designed to sunset in 2025, and there is considerable debate about what provisions should be extended on a more permanent basis and which parts of the act should be allowed expire on schedule.We're joined by Professor Justin Ross to help us try to sort through the noise when it comes to tax reform. Justin is a public finance economist specializing in state and local tax policy, and his primary research interests include property tax-related issues such as assessment and zoning. He is part of tax reform task forces in multiple states and is an expert in how tax policy has an impact in the real world.

In the effort to combat climate change, a move away from fossil fuels, particularly when it comes to the way get around, is seen as one of the critical steps to making progress.Electric vehicles, or EVs, in particular are seen as the next step in the evolution away from fossil fuels. The idea of an electric vehicle isn’t new—the idea is nearly 200 years old, and the first mass-produced EVs were built in the early 1900s. But only in the past two decades has the effort to transition from gas to electric vehicles gathered momentum. And the effort has come with hurdles. Battery capacity can limit range, there are environmental concerns to be addressed, and simply getting people to accept a different model of vehicle is a challenge.Recently, President Joe Biden and the Environmental Protection Agency finalized regulations that have created the United States’ toughest limits on passenger car and light truck emissions ever. The regulations are designed to accelerate the transition to EVs, even if automakers won’t need to dramatically boost EVs sales until after 2030.Meanwhile, Emissions Analytics, a United Kingdom-based company that compiles large databases of independent test data to give market insights and delivers unbiased test results on real-world product performance, recently released a report showing that, due to the weight of EVs, tire wear emissions are 1,850 times greater than tailpipe particulate emissions from gas cars.In other words, EVs may have lower particulate emissions when it comes to fuel emissions, but it could have a larger impact in other ways.Finding a way to balance the pros with the cons—and, more importantly, convincing reluctant consumers to make the transition to EVs—is part of challenge of adopting a different technology that is so embedded in our culture. We’re joined today by Professor John Graham, who has long been focused on risk analysis. He is the former Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the federal Office of Management and Budget during the George W. Bush administration. Professor Graham also served as Dean of the O’Neill School from 2008-2019, and he has remained as a faculty member with a keen interest in electric vehicles.O’Neill Speaks is the official podcast of the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. All opinions and comments on O’Neill Speaks belong to the host and guest of the O’Neill School and don’t necessarily reflect those of the school itself. Music for O’Neill Speaks is by Manos Mars.

It’s difficult to take a glance at the news and not be inundated with stories about climate change, environmental disasters, and the legal controversies that surround anything having to do with the environment. The push and pull of policy makers and lobbyists and courts grab the headlines and are seemingly constant source of discussion, but often overlooked is the role of the people responsible for implementing any policy that might be presented.Environmental managers are the boots on the ground in local communities. An environmental manager plays a crucial role in an organization's efforts to reduce its negative impact on the environment, maintain regulatory compliance, and avoid unnecessary environmental liabilities. They are responsible for implementing policies and advocating for change at the intersection of humans and the environment, and their work is essential in tackling environmental problems and communicating with people across the globe to find solutions. But those skills don’t develop in a vacuum. They have to be learned, and in our ever-changing, often-contentious world, education about how to become a competent environmental manager has never been more important.We’re joined today by Clinical Associate Professor Emeritus Marc Lame, who spent three decades as a faculty member at the O’Neill School, including teaching courses in environmental management. He’s also the co-author, along with Richard Marcantonio, of Environmental Management: Concepts and Practical skills. The book is a contemporary textbook and manual for aspiring or new environmental managers that provides the theory and practical examples needed to understand current environmental issues and trends. It focuses on environmental management through the lens of protecting public health and protecting the environment.

In May 2023, the United States Supreme Court handed down a ruling that limited the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to protect millions of acres of wetlands from pollution by saying that the EPS could not regulate discharges into wetlands unless they have a continuous surface connection to larger bodies of water. Then, just a few weeks ago, the Indiana State house passed and Governor Eric Holcomb signed House Enrolled Act 1383, which redefined some protected wetlands, limiting their protection.Indiana’s wetlands are grouped into three tiers by the state. Class III wetlands, the highest tier, receive full protections. Class II wetlands have fewer protections, and Class I has none. Those standards were put in place in 2022, and the latest law will redefine select Class III wetlands as Class II. Wetlands are often overlooked by the general public but play a critical role in nature. Wetlands—aquatic environments that are covered by freshwater, saltwater, or a mix—are the planet’s natural waste-water treatment facilities and carbon-storing champions. They soak up excess nutrients in soil, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which are normally found in fertilizer and can leach from farmland, and wetlands catch and hold excess stormwater, reducing flooding on that landscape. Developers are lauding the latest bill as a boon to construction, but environmental advocates are angry about the loss of the protections.To learn more about this issue, we’re thrilled to welcome Janet Duey Professor of Rural Land Policy Chistopher Craft. Professor Craft is a professional wetland scientist, and has studied the effects of climate change, eutrophication, and other human activities on estuarine and freshwater wetlands and the restoration of those ecosystems. In 2012, he received the National Wetlands Award for Science Research. Craft has been a visiting professor with senior international scientists of the Chinese Academy of Sciences since 2010.

There was a time not so long ago during which the phrase “school-based law enforcement” personnel wasn’t part of our lexicon.Then came the shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado in 1999, which marked a turning point in the expansion of campus policing. Federal support was key in the expansion of the strategy, and between 1999 and 2005, the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services within the U.S. Department of Justice awarded over $750 million to schools to hire approximately 6,500 school resource officers. By 2019, this funding totaled nearly $1 billion.The professionalization, training, and visibility of SBLE personnel vary widely across states and often across school districts within individual states. To shed some light on how school-based law enforcement officials define their priorities, spend their time and interact with stakeholder groups, Associate Professor Amanda Rutherford and colleagues Nya Anthony and Lillian Rogers conducted a study to build a national profile on SBLEs.We’re joined today by Professor Rutherford, the lead author of the study. Amanda serves as the director of the Undergraduate Honors Program. Professor Rutherford’s central research interests include political control and performance accountability, bureaucratic careers and executive decision-making, and issues of race, equity, and representation in the bureaucracy. Much of her research is conducted in the context of K-12 and higher education.O’Neill Speaks is the official podcast of the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. All opinions and comments on O’Neill Speaks belong to the host and guest of the O’Neill School and don’t necessarily reflect those of the school itself. Music for O’Neill Speaks is by Manos Mars.

The COVID-19 pandemic pulled a number of issues into the spotlight, and one of the brightest spotlights fell on health care supply chain issues. Most stories focused on securing enough masks for medical professionals early in the pandemic, but everything from hand sanitizer to IV bags to medical tubing became an issue for the healthcare community. Crisis creates the opportunity for change, especially when it comes to the supply chain and the healthcare industry.With that thought in mind, the National Association of Manufacturers recently released a study, “Advancing Resilience in the U.S. Health Care Supply Chain After the COVID-19 Pandemic: Four Areas of Opportunity,” outlining steps to improve health care supply chain resilience to allow manufacturers in the United States to better prepare for and adapt to the next disruption.We’re joined today by Associate Professor and Director of the Manufacturing Policy Initiative at Indiana University Sameeksha Desai, who led the study.O’Neill Speaks is the official podcast of the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. All opinions and comments on O’Neill Speaks belong to the host and guest of the O’Neill School and don’t necessarily reflect those of the school itself. Music for O’Neill Speaks is by Manos Mars.

The field of human resource management is growing faster than the national average. It’s easy to understand why. As job markets evolve and companies innovate to recruit the best talent, a competent, trained HR manager is critical to helping employers navigate what can be a complicated area.We’re joined today by Senior Lecturer Cheryl Hughes, who specializes in human resource management in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. Prior to coming to the O’Neill School, she built a career in human resources and is an expert in both the theory and practice of HR. We’re also thrilled to welcome Savier Ramirez, who is a senior pursuing his bachelor’s degree with a dual major in Law and Public Policy and Human Resources Management. Savier has been a part of the O’Neill School’s Washington Leadership Program and has served internships with the U.S. Department of State, the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, and is an instructional assistant in O’Neill’s human resources management program.O’Neill Speaks is the official podcast of the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. All opinions and comments on O’Neill Speaks belong to the host and guest of the O’Neill School and don’t necessarily reflect those of the school itself. Music for O’Neill Speaks is by Manos Mars.

What is the path to a rewarding career in public service for young people who have a passion for serving but don’t know where to get started? Show up. It’s as simple as that according to Brian Payne, the new executive in residence at the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs.Payne joins us to talk about his career, why he was drawn to the O'Neill School, and how his relationship with students is a two-way street.O’Neill Speaks is the official podcast of the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. All opinions and comments on O’Neill Speaks belong to the host and guest of the O’Neill School and don’t necessarily reflect those of the school itself. Music for O’Neill Speaks is by Manos Mars.

The mercury has been soaring for weeks now as summer temperatures have reached record-breaking levels throughout the United States and the world. For many, staying cool isn’t a luxury. It’s a matter of life and death. And, of course, staying cool doesn’t come for free. Rising temperatures lead to skyrocketing energy bills for consumers, and when those bills aren’t paid, utility companies are disconnecting service, putting customers at risk.It’s a bigger problem than you may think. Researchers at the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs have been studying the issue of energy insecurity by tracking disconnections utility by utility across the country, and what they found is that one-quarter of Americans experience energy insecurity each year. Three million Americans have their electricity shut off annually because they can’t afford to pay their bills.We’re joined by Lynton K. Caldwell Professor David Konisky, whose research focuses on U.S. environmental policy and politics, with particular emphasis on environmental and energy justice, regulation, federalism, and public opinion. He also is the co-director of IU’s Energy Justice Lab and helped develop a dashboard at utilitydisconnections.org that tracks the growing crisis of energy insecurity.O’Neill Speaks is the official podcast of the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. All opinions and comments on O’Neill Speaks belong to the host and guest of the O’Neill School and don’t necessarily reflect those of the school itself. Music for O’Neill Speaks is by Manos Mars.