The Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs is welcoming five new faculty members for the 2026-27 academic year.
The newest members of the O’Neill School faculty include both tenure-track and clinical appointments and reflect the school’s ongoing commitment to research, innovative teaching, and expertise to develop the next generation of leaders.
“We are thrilled to welcome these exceptional educators and researchers to the O'Neill School family,” said David Audretsch, interim dean of the O’Neill School. “Each of these scholars brings a dynamic perspective and deep expertise that will enrich our classroom experiences, advance critical public policy discourse, and mentor the next generation of public leaders.”
The new faculty hires include:
Chandler Inman, Assistant Professor
Inman focuses his research on the intersection of public finance and labor economics. He is particularly interested in the economics of child adoption and foster care.
Ma specializes in how technology and society interact, specifically across advanced technologies in the public and nonprofit sectors; computational and AI-assisted methods for social science research; knowledge production for evidence-based policymaking and nonprofit studies; and state-society relations in China.
Shana Scogin, Assistant Professor
Scogin’s research agenda centers on how people, communities, and institutions interact with changes in physical environments resulting from development and climate- and non-climate-related hazards. Her interests include governance, environmental politics, disasters, and public goods, with a particular focus in South Asia.
Erin Engels, Clinical Associate Professor
Engels brings extensive experience in legal studies, experiential learning design, and administrative law to the classroom. She will focus on teaching in O’Neill’s public policy program.
Christine Walsh, Clinical Assistant Professor
Walsh is an attorney who has previously practiced in Indianapolis as part of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP. She also brings vast experience as a judicial law clerk to the classroom, including time with the U.S. Department of Justice.