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!