Nikki Livingston, Storyteller, IU Newsroom
The next generation is eager to take on the mantle of leadership and shape the future of their communities. To better equip students with the knowledge, confidence and skills to be decision-makers and public servants, the Indiana University Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs launched two new programs.
With the introduction of community and organizational leadership studies on the Indianapolis campus and the leadership and advocacy minor on the Bloomington campus, Indiana mayors return to the classroom to teach students about civic leadership through “The Call to Public Service,” a course that’s offered in both programs.
Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness, an O’Neill alumnus, teaches the Indianapolis class, diving into the history of the public sector and how to promote the common good within one’s community.
“I love teaching and enjoy sharing my unique perspective with students,” he said. “As mayor, you address a little bit of everything, from day-to-day management and public policy issues to the political landscape. My goal is to help the students feel confident in their ability to serve others and lead well.”
Lily Nelson, who took Fadness’ class in the fall, enrolled at O’Neill Indianapolis due to its esteemed reputation in criminal justice. When Fadness invited a law enforcement officer to share his experiences, she paid close attention as she aspires to work in law enforcement, conducting investigations.
“Mayor Fadness emphasized the importance of adaptability, teamwork and problem-solving qualities,” said Nelson, from Ligonier, Indiana. “But also hearing firsthand about the challenges officers face, from crisis response to community relations, was eye-opening. I plan to apply what I learned by leading with integrity, staying informed on policies and fostering strong communication.”
In Bloomington, “The Call to Public Service” is taught by Tim Berry, a public finance expert with over 20 years of experience in state and local governments. He invites elected officials to the classroom to help students see themselves as leaders.
“We often expect somebody else to take the initiative, but leadership is about stepping up,” Berry said. “I encourage all of my students to become involved in the community, to be better advocates for a cause they are passionate about. That’s leadership and advocacy combined.
“Nowadays, we are seeing local leaders that are young and vibrant, who provide energy and new direction for their communities. That’s inspiring to the students; they start to recognize that they too can become involved at a young age.”
He recently hosted a lecture with current faculty member and former three-term Fort Wayne mayor Paul Helmke. It featured Terre Haute Mayor Brandon Sakbun, an O’Neill alumnus who was inaugurated as mayor one month after graduating, and Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen, who initially hesitated at the thought of becoming a political candidate.
“Mayor Sakbun and I owe it to the next generation to tell our stories and inspire them like we were when we were students, to show them what a pathway looks like within public service,” Jensen said.
Gabriel Rivera, a law and public policy major with a leadership and advocacy minor, said she found the mayors’ discussion on economic development in small towns insightful.
“Hearing Mayor Jensen and Mayor Sakbun address the dichotomy of building up local economies to attract future generations while honoring the history and legacy of small towns was super valuable because I want to go into rural law,” said Rivera, from Waukesha, WI.
“In that context, your legal specialty becomes whatever the community needs, which is why the public service component is so important.”
She said she hopes to positively contribute to the conversation when the community she wants to practice in starts planning economic development for the next generation. Due to her growing interest in advocacy, she wants to ensure that rural constituents receive an equal voice in any developments that impact their community.
“After these conversations with students, I hope that we have future public-service leaders in the crowd,” Sakbun said. “I enjoy coming to Indiana University, especially as a two-time graduate. The faculty and my peers here helped prepare me to run for mayor, and I hope that these students leave here saying, ‘I will be a leader too.’”
SOURCE: News at IU