Roberta Jaggers - O’Neill Distinguished Alumni Speech

Posted on May 15, 2026

The O’Neill School of Public & Environmental Affairs named Library Foundation President Roberta Jaggers a 2026 Distinguished Alumni. She shared the following remarks during the School’s Celebration of Commencement in Indianapolis.

Good afternoon, and congratulations to the Class of 2026.

Graduates, today is a celebration of your hard work, persistence, and commitment to service. You should be proud of what you have accomplished—and of the paths you are about to begin.

I am deeply honored to receive the O’Neill Distinguished Alumni Award. To be counted among past recipients whom I so admire, and to accept this award in the presence of future recipients—those of you graduating today—is truly meaningful to me.

Many of us chose to pursue degrees at the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs because we care deeply about our communities and hold strong beliefs about what is “good” for society. When I entered O’Neill as a Master of Public Affairs student nearly 25 years ago, I did not know exactly what my career would look like. But I did know this: I wanted to be part of creating opportunity for everyone.

Today, I have the privilege of doing that work as President of The Indianapolis Public Library Foundation. Every day, I partner with generous donors to support extraordinary library programs that help people learn, connect, and thrive. It is my personal vision of what is “good”—made real.

This spring, I enjoyed two high school productions of Into the Woods, including locally at Franklin Central High School. There is a lyric that has stayed with me: “You decide what’s right. You decide what’s good.” O’Neill helped me understand that “good” is rarely simple. Here, I learned to appreciate the many perspectives and values that make up our civil society—and to regard thoughtful, respectful disagreement as a hallmark of democracy.

I also learned practical tools to turn values into action. I still think about lessons like SWOT analysis and strategic planning—not just as academic concepts, but as frameworks for navigating complexity and advancing mission-driven work.

As we celebrate today, I also want to acknowledge that moments of significant transition—like graduation—can come with uncertainty and stress. That was true for me during my undergraduate years and, to a lesser extent, during graduate school. If that resonates, I want to reassure you, again borrowing from Sondheim: “You are not alone. Truly, you are not alone.” And if you think you might need to talk to someone, I encourage you to seek that support. You deserve to feel your best. We need you—your talent, your compassion, and your ideas about what is “good.”

Graduates, I wish you every success as you leverage your O’Neill education to grow professionally and expand your impact. We are deeply privileged to work in fields where our careers can align with our values.

Congratulations again! Thank you for the honor of allowing me to share this moment—and for bestowing upon me the O’Neill Distinguished Alumni Award.