Find out more about our faculty and student panelists that will be joining us for Experience Day!
Meet Our Faculty and Students
Faculty Round Table Panelists
Current Student Panelists
- Brady Creef
Brady Creef is a current MPA candidate with concentrations in community and economic development and information systems. Originally, from the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Brady received his undergraduate degree from UNC-Chapel Hill before moving to Indiana for Teach for America. At O'Neill, Brady is an active member of the Graduate Student Association and the O'Neill Leadership Program with a placement at Hoosier Hills Food Bank. After graduation, Brady will work as a public sector strategy consultant at Crowe.
- Owen Garrett
I am from Indianapolis but spent many years living in Los Angeles, CA. I am an MPA student concentrating in International Development. This summer I will be participating in the O'Neill GLP in Guatemala for 8 weeks. After graduation, I plan to work in Latin America and within Spanish speaking communities in the US. Outside of school, I enjoy performing stand up comedy, jiujitsu, and filmmaking.
- Kara Lynn Hayes
Kara Lynn Hayes currently works at the Indiana University Foundation and teaches a mindfulness seminar at a local recovery center. Passionate about affordable and sustainable housing, they are also in the process of developing a tiny home micro-village just 25 minutes west of campus. In pursuit of furthering their impact, they are working toward a Master of Public Affairs degree on a part-time basis. Outside of work and studies, Kara Lynn enjoys attending concerts, comedy shows, and traveling to new places.
- Grace Hall
Grace Hall is a second year in the Master of Public Affairs program with a concentration in Health Policy. She is interested in Medicare and Medicaid innovation and regulation in the healthcare industry, particularly regarding insurers and pharmaceutical manufacturers. Grace is the president of the O'Neill Graduate Student Association and currently works as a TA for Dr. Kosali Simon and a hazing prevention intern in the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life. In her free time, she likes to go on long walks and read about contemporary American politics.
- Claire Shea
Hi, my name is Claire! I am currently a second-year graduate student getting my Master’s of Public Affairs with a concentration in Nonprofit Management. My current plan after I graduate in May is to go into fundraising at a large nonprofit or foundation. I am from Leland, Michigan, but I have lived all over the Midwest while growing up specifically in Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky . Some of my favorite hobbies include reading, playing pickleball with my family, and trying new restaurants and coffee shops.
- Valeria Pittsford
Hello! My name is Valeria. I am originally from Lima, Peru. I am in the MIA program with a concentration in Global Development, Environment, Sustainability. I have a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in Spanish from IU. Prior to entering the MIA program, I was working for the federal government and also taught Spanish. I am in the MIA program because I want to learn new skills and pursue another career. I am part of La Casa and the Ambassador program at IU. In my spare time, I enjoy hiking, crocheting, traveling, meeting new people, and learning new skills.
- Kellen Cesarone
I'm a dual MPA-MIA focusing on public management and security, diplomacy and governance. I'm from Geneva, Illinois and I studied political science at DePauw University. I currently work as a Teacher's Assistant here at O'Neill helping out with global policy and national security courses. I've been using the MPA to study administration, things like management, contracting and strategic planning, while for the MIA I focus more on international security issues and the international system as a whole. I plan on working for the government in some capacity or at an organization focused on international affairs.
- Jordan Andress
My name is Jordan Andress, and I am a current MPA-MIA dual degree candidate with concentrations in Public Management (MPA) and Security, Diplomacy, and Governance (MIA). I'm originally from the Phoenix-metro area in Arizona, where I worked as a public-school social studies teacher from 2019–2024. I hope to work with a legislator after graduation, focusing on education reform and community development. I’m currently part of the Global Leadership Program and will be interning in Lisbon, Portugal this summer, and I'm also a part of La Casa, the Latino Cultural Center on campus. In my spare time, I enjoy hanging out with my dog, Zoey, exploring Bloomington, and spending time with the friends I’ve made here.
- Lauren McDonald
Bio
- Chelsea Gaju
Bio
- Madison Brown
I am a first-year MPA/MSES student from Covington, GA. I graduated from the University of Georgia in May of 2024 where I received my Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. I have a thesis concentration where I am looking at the impact of human disturbances on the gut microbiome of red colobus in Kibale National Park in Uganda. I am also the Graduate Assistant for Undergraduate Recruitment for the Undergraduate Office in O’Neill. I am passionate about conservation biology and after graduation would like to work for the Department of Natural Resources or a NGO focused on conservation, ideally in Georgia.
- Sofia Balashvili
My name is Sofia Balashvili, and I’m a dual MPA-MSES student concentrating in Energy and Climate Change Solutions. I’m originally from Russia and am passionate about expanding access to clean, affordable, and reliable energy, especially in underserved communities. I have professional experience in consulting and international development. I currently work at the O’Neill International Office and at the Russian Flagship Program and serve on the executive team of the O’Neill Environmental Professional Student Association and as a Representative at the Graduate and Professional Students Government. Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with friends, hiking, and hanging out with animals.
- Joshua Peters
Joshua is a Master of Arts in Arts Administration student at the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, where he likes to call it the study of “creativity management.” He comes from the beautiful twin-island republic of Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean. His passion lies in cultural studies and the business of performing arts, which led him to pursue this degree as a Fulbright scholar. Before coming to IU, he was a member of the National Steel Symphony Orchestra of Trinidad and Tobago. He aims to help build a thriving arts community in the Caribbean, fostering economic growth, cultural awareness, and social development.
- Keenan Reilly
Bio
- Elena Reid
Elena is a first year MAAA from Houston TX! She is a lifelong violinist and earned her Bachelor's in Music from Smith College in 2024. Outside of her studies, she works for the communications department of the Jacobs School of Music and is doing a project with the City of Bloomington to create an online public art map.
- Jane Kim
I am Jane Kim, a MAAA-MPA dual degree student with a background in cello performance and recording arts. My journey into arts administration began with an internship at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, which sparked my interest in nonprofit management, operations, and data analysis for arts organizations. Currently, I serve as the Communication and Outreach Coordinator at Echoing Air and previously worked as an Artist Liaison for the Ives Conference. I am passionate about supporting arts organizations that enrich the cultural life of their communities. You'll likely find me exploring the best coffee spots in town in my free time!
- Jada Collins
Hi, my name is Jada Collins, and I am a first-year MAAA student from Winamac, Indiana. I currently serve as an Event Coordinator at the IU Auditorium and as a practicum student with the African American Dance Company. I stay involved on campus by serving on the MAAA Social Events Committee, volunteering with IU Cinema and the Arts & Humanities Council, and engaging with student groups as a free events consultant. This summer, I will be interning with Heartland Film as their Operations and Outreach Intern, with the hope that it will be my first step to becoming a professional in the film festival space. As for hobbies, I love to watch movies, cheer on my favorite F1 drivers, solve puzzles, grab coffee with friends, journal, and create vision boards on Pinterest. I would love to chat about my past experiences or new opportunities!
- Cecilia Gonzalez Hernandez
Hello, my name is Cecilia and I am currently part of the MSHM Program. I was born in Mexico and have lived in Indiana since I was 13. After graduation, I am excited to pursue a role within the operational excellence team as a project coordinator or improvement leader. I believe these positions will enable me to make a broader impact, enhancing both the quality of care and the work environment for staff. Throughout my experience in the program, I had the opportunity to work as the Education Development Coordinator at the ADRS Department at IU Health, while also serving as a graduate assistant for the MSHM program. Additionally, I continued working PRN as a certified nurse assistant and became involved with organizations like ACHE and NALHE.
- Christian Brooks
Hello, I am a current MSHM candidate graduating in May 2025, where I serve as a practicum intern with the Alzheimer's and Dementia Resource Service through IU Health. I am from a rural part of southern Indiana, so I have found the program interesting in the sense of how we explore the broad and diverse impacts of healthcare. As someone interested in becoming a physician, I have used the MSHM program to gain valuable insight into how the healthcare system functions, especially in terms of business flow and function. I am grateful for my time in the MSHM program and the many ways I have been able to expand my knowledge and grow as a person and leader.
- Zachary Crouch
Bio