MPA graduates to present City-centric Alumni-in-Residence program

The University of Southern Indiana College of Liberal Arts' Master of Public Administration program hosts Alumni-in-Residence Lana Abel Utley '10 and Steve Schaefer '07 at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 17, in Kleymeyer Hall in the lower level of the Liberal Arts Center. 

Both Utley and Schaefer work for the City of Evansville. Utley is senior project manager in the Department of Metropolitan Development and Schaefer is chief of staff for Mayor Lloyd Winnecke.

In addition to the MPA, Utley holds a Bachelor of Science degree in political science from USI. In her role at DMD, she attends meetings of the Evansville Redevelopment Commission, which focuses primarily on urban redevelopment, especially in downtown Evansville.

She owned the Flying Saucer Café, a popular downtown Evansville restaurant that hosted art exhibits, poetry readings, and live music in the late 1990s, and was employed by Communities United to Strengthen America as center/communications director. She serves on the Alhambra Theatre Board of Directors.

Schaefer worked on the legislative staffs of U.S. Congressmen John Boehner (OH-08), John Hostettler (IN-08) and Dr. Larry Bucshon (IN-08), was executive director of the Hoosier Voices for I-69, and served as vice president of public policy for the Evansville Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to the MPA from USI, Schaefer holds a Bachelor of Science degree in public administration from Indiana University. He recently served as president of the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Commissioners.  In 2010, he was selected as a member of the inaugural "20 under 40" class by the Evansville Courier & Press.

The program is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Dr. Matthew Hanka, assistant professor of political science and director of the Master of Public Administration program, at 812/461-5204.