People : Advisory Boards

Faculty Advisory Board

Russell Hanson, Dept of Political Science
Marjorie Hershey, Dept of Political Science
Ajay Mehrotra, Maurer School of Law & Dept of History
James L. Perry, School of Public & Environmental Affairs
Phaedra C. Pezzullo, Dept of Communication and Culture
Whitney M. Schlegel, Human Biology and Biology
Ex-officio: Jean Robinson Assoc. Dean for Undergrad. Educ., College of Arts & Sciences

External Advisory Board (TBA)

Student Advisory Board

Carmen Antreasian
Michael Brown, Class of 2013
Kristen Damon,Class of 2013
Erin Halstead
Alex Luboff, Class of 2010
Renisha Mays, Class of 2011
Kyle O'Rourke, Class of 2010
Caroline Shurig, Class of 2012
Taylor Smith, Class of 2012
Jonathan Todd, Class of 2012
Jonah Williams, Class of 2010

Personal Statements

Renisha Mays
Class of 2011
Political Science and Philosophy Major
Criminal Justice Minor
PACE Certificate

I graduated in May 2009 from Ivy Tech Community College-Wabash Valley, Terre Haute with an Associate of Science degree in Criminal Justice

I am engaged to a wonderful man, Curtis Matthias. We have 4 beautiful children, DevonDre 12, DeTonyea 9, Curtis Jr. 6, and Xavier 2. We live in a small quiet community in which we enjoy volunteering and participating in Girl Scouts and North Putnam Youth Athletics.

I am interested in PACE because I know the program has the potential to develop me into a better leader. My ultimate goal is to become an attorney and possibly even run for a public office. I am confident that PACE will teach me the core skills that I need to be successful in my undergraduate and postgraduate education as well as in my career and future.

PACE is also a great opportunity for me to network and enhance my knowledge of the political and civil arena. I am interested in being a public servant and a volunteer for the many events that are scheduled for the PACE program.

I think the program would be beneficial to anyone who is interested in public service of any kind (i.e. government, journalism, environmental affairs etc). The PACE program has a wide variety of ideas, suggestions and scheduled activities for its participants; there is a place in the PACE program for everyone.
You do not have to be involved in politics or be a political science major to take part in the PACE program. If you have a desire to establish or enhance the skills necessary to be an effective leader in your area of expertise, the PACE program is a great foundation.

Caroline Shurig
Class of 2012
International Studies Major
Global Development and Integration With Regional Focus on Sub-Saharan Africa

I have found that the times in my life that I have learned the
most has been when I am helping others. I see great importance in the
focuses in textbook education, but PACE takes the undergraduate degree to a
new level linking classroom experiences with real world opportunities that
will allow me to link my passion for service and education together.

I believe PACE is for people that see the importance of involvement in their community or country at any level. Pace is for people that want to learn more about making a difference in the direction they are passionate about.

I am from Indianapolis, Indiana. I have spent extended periods of time
working in South Africa and Serbia. I hope to continue my education through
law school with the intention of becoming an international adoption
attorney. I am most fascinated by child advocacy and early childhood
development in poverty.

Kristen Damon
Class of 2013
Studying Criminal Justice, Psychology, and Political Science
I am interested in PACE because I am fascinated by politics, and
getting involved in the affairs of the public is a stepping stone for
getting involved with people on a broader scale. When I graduate, I plan on
being accepted as a Field Agent in the FBI and, from there, getting involved
in Middle Eastern quandaries and their effect on life in the United States.

Taylor Smith
Class of 2012
Journalism Major
Spanish Minor
PACE Certificate

I want to dedicate my life to philanthropy - specifically helping women
and children around the world who suffer from human rights abuses. I hope
to work with groups ranging from local governments to large corporations in
order to raise awareness about human rights and to make changes in the lives
of those in need. I have started my own organization, Us Kids Need Help,
which helps children in Portland, OR (my hometown) who are in need of school
supplies. My organization also helps support boys in South Africa receive a
college education. In the future, I hope to work with other non-profits and
to expand my own.

PACE is a great opportunity for students at IU. The program's goals— to incorporate the voluntary sector with the political sector, on local, national, and world stages, is truly a way for students to gain awareness and skills in order to better communities and be advocates for the rights of others.

This summer, I hope to attend the Institute on Philanthropy and Voluntary Service in Washington DC where I will intern with a service oriented organization and take classes on philanthropy through Georgetown University.

Alex Luboff
Class of 2010
Political Science Major
Minors in: Leadership, Ethics, and Social Action
Global Integration and Development
Public and Environmental Affairs

There are too many people in the world that will dream up great ideas yet never act on them. PACE has been created to change that and change community action at the college level. As a volunteer all across campus and Bloomington, I have learned that there are no easy answers because there are no easy questions, and dedicated exposure to and passion for the political, social, and cultural boundaries and opportunities of your community can help you be a better advocate. It is my belief that the PACE program seeks to ask the right questions and strives to find answers, and students that will be involved with this program in the future will discover a world in their own community they may have never known otherwise.

I've had five internships as an undergraduate, from political organizations to lobbying groups to academic endeavors. Along with those experiences, I am a very active volunteer with several campus organizations, and my religious, family, and academic backgrounds have instilled in me the value of public service. I am seeking to work in not-for-profits and/or government as a career and truly seek to serve however I would be able to best do so. I want to work a few years after IU and then return for graduate school. In order to be a change agent, you need to have a sense of what is going on in the world, and there is no better way to do that than by working among disadvantaged and underrepresented populations, and that is what I hope to do after graduation.

Michael Brown
Class of 2013
Exploratory Major
Considering a major in Public Affairs Non-Profit Organization Management
Minor in Human Resources
PACE Certificate
I am interested in PACE because it is a golden opportunity to get hands-on experience in activism, and will prepare me for a life full of civic duty and political engagement. My passion in life is to become a leader and help people make positive changes in their community. PACE brings me one step closer to my goal by giving me the leadership assets I need to be an effective and successful leader.

Jonah Williams
Class of 2010
Journalism and Anthropology Major
Leadership, Ethics, and Social Action Minor
The Political and Civic Engagement program looks at politics in a new way.
It’s easy to be discouraged by the adversarial nature of American politics. People seem to develop ideas of what is right and wrong and then they reinforce their beliefs through selective media consumption. Most beliefs fall along a linear scale: left-wing or right-wing, conservative or liberal. Doing this only concretes one’s ideas and encourages mutual misunderstanding with others. Our actual beliefs and experiences are unique and diverse; everyone has a unique perspective of every situation.
PACE students talk to stakeholders, experts, and leaders from every side of an issue. To truly engage with others requires a desire to understand their position, not as an enemy or an obstacle, but as someone with an interest.
PACE promotes political and civic understanding of leadership, communication, and decision-making, by having students engage with others through service learning projects in their communities, their governments, and through internships. Students learn by doing things outside of the academic setting, and then they bring their experiences back to the classroom to reflect.

Kyle O'Rourke
Class of 2010
School of Public and Environmental Affairs
Majoring in Public Financial Management
Minor in Leadership, Ethics, and Social Action
Interests:
Community Service, especially program development
Cost-Benefit Analysis of social programs and community projects

Jonathan Todd
Class of 2012
Political Science and History Major
Minor in Policy Analysis through SPEA
PACE Certificate
I believe that PACE is a great way for I.U. students to get involved with their community and learn invaluable leadership skills in the process. The core courses force the individual to really examine his or her personal strengths and weaknesses and help the individual to determine his or her place and responsibilities as a citizen, not only within the I.U. community, but also within the greater global community. Because the electives available in the PACE program cover such a large spectrum of interests, a student pursuing any number of academic options could find a niche within the program and a course of study that would be both beneficial to the student's later career and enjoyable at the same time.

I personally would like to attend law school after undergraduate work and
ultimately pursue a career in public service, ideally as a legislator.

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If you are interested in serving in this leadership position while you pursue the PACE certificate, please contact paceindiana.edu.