Caroline is a Virginia native, having grown up in Northern Virginia. She graduated in 2022 from Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia, where she majored in Environmental Studies. She came straight to O'Neill after finishing her undergraduate degree.She is am pursuing a consulting career back in Northern Virginia/Washington, D.C. with hopes to work in Risk Advisory.

Bayram is an MPA international student from Turkmenistan with professional background in public sector and international development. His past aspirations have guided him to intervene into development matters for the goal of bringing value to his organizations and surrounding communities. During two years at O’Neill SPEA, his program courses and faculty members have equipped him with the in demand skills in the field of international development, which will guide towards creating lasting positive impact for all.

Bio

Connor is from Huntingdon, Pennsylvania where he lived with his mom, dad, and two cats, Smokey, and Bandit. After graduating with majors in Political Science, Environmental Studies, and Anthropology, he came to O'Neill to pursue his passions for environmental policy and justice. He also currentlys work at the O'Neill School's Master's Program Office as a Graduate Admissions Assistant. His favorite part of SPEA has been getting to know fellow graduate students and experiencing Bloomington with them.

Alexis Weidner-Bennett is a third-year MPA/MIA graduate student who is graduating in May 2024. She has a passion for international development and travel. She will spend hours talking about how wonderful Lisbon, Portugal is if you let her. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, horseback riding, and hiking. Fun fact: she ran track and field at the collegiate level as an undergrad and is currently training for her first half-marathon.

Ayomide is an international student from Nigeria. His career interests are in waste management, circular economy and social impacts. Through collaborations with communities, organizations and government agencies, he has actively contributed to zero waste initiatives in West Africa and the United States. Additionally, Ayomide founded a nonprofit organization, the Cleaner and Healthier Nature Initiative addressing environmental and public health challenges in his home country, Nigeria. Ayomide envisions a future where human consumption enhances both the environment and economy through effective waste management.

Sofia is a first-year international student focusing on Energy and Climate Change solutions. Before coming to O’Neill, she was a regulatory consultant in Russia and Georgia and had a chance to work on projects in Europe, Central Asia, and Latin America. Sofia is passionate about international development and wants to make meaningful change in the energy sector worldwide.

Kaylin grew up in northeastern Ohio where she got her love for chemistry from her mom. Prior to coming to O'Neill in Fall 2023, Kaylin attended California University of Pennsylvania where she played volleyball and earned her Bachelor's Degree in chemistry. Her hobbies include hiking, reading, and working out. In the future, she wants to work on improving water quality in either the government or private sector.

Bio

Bio

Sarah Smith is a 1st year MAAA student originally from Rogers, Arkansas. She attended Arkansas Tech University for her undergraduate degree in Vocal Music Education, and she hopes to work for a nonprofit performing arts organization in development, events, or education upon her graduation in May of 2025. Sarah is currently the Alumni & Communications Graduate Assistant for the Office of Community & School Partnerships & University-wide Herbert Presidential Scholars Program, as well as a Recruitment Graduate Assistant for the Master's Programs Office at the O'Neill School!

Marcus is a second-year graduate student pursuing an MA in arts administration, focusing on visual art administration, art in public places, and museum management. Marcus is a Quality of Place intern at IU's Center for Rural Engagement, as well as a teaching assistant and research assistant in the O'Neill School.

Van Tran is a pharmaceutical professional from Vietnam. She holds a Bachelor's in Pharmacy and Master's in Clinical Pharmacology. Driven by a genuine passion for the clinical and health economics field, she aspires to apply her expertise to inform effective business strategies and advance healthcare management.

The MSHM program has equipped me to become a transformational leader in healthcare. Through classroom learning and real-world experience at my practicum site, I honed my business acumen and gained the ability to apply technical skills to complex situations. As an incoming medical resident with a patient population facing health disparities, I'm passionate about health equity and policy-making. I will leverage the knowledge and skills gained from the MSHM program to tackle current healthcare challenges and strive to improve the lives of my patients in these underserved communities.