A Welcome from Our Director
Hello from the Civic Leaders Living-Learning Center (LLC), Indiana University’s newest residential community for freshmen students located in Briscoe Residence Center. The Civic Leaders LLC will open its doors for the first time this fall, and I’d 
personally like to invite you to apply to be a part of our inaugural class.
IU is a great place to study. I should know: it seems like just yesterday that I was standing in your shoes, preparing to head to Bloomington. As an undergraduate at IU, I studied political science and was president of the student government. Those educational and leadership experiences served me well at Yale Law School and then later as the three-term mayor of Fort Wayne (Indiana’s second largest city) and as the president of two national organizations, the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence in Washington, D.C. I’ve always been passionate about public service, and I’m excited about returning to IU and having the opportunity to help students like you develop the skills the world needs from your generation of civic leaders.
The Civic Leaders LLC is accepting applications from incoming freshmen across all majors at IU. Our aim is to create a unique, supportive community for students interested in public affairs, which includes politics, civic engagement, management, policy, and the promotion of the arts. You’ll take one SPEA class together per semester, have access to alumni mentors and influential leaders who visit campus, and take trips to places like Washington, D.C. Because it’s our first year, you’ll also have the chance to help shape our programming and offer valuable input about how to create a rewarding, challenging, and exciting environment.
I hope you’ll take a minute to look at our website and consider launching your career as a Hoosier in the Civic Leaders LLC. Applications are being accepted beginning in January, and we have up to 35 scholarships available for this year alone. Look for us when you complete your housing application through Residential Programs and Services. And if you have any questions, feel free to get in touch.
Sincerely,
Paul Helmke, ‘70
Professor of Practice and Director, Civic Leaders LLC
School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA)
Indiana University