During his time as a research fellow, Otheliansyah contributed to many projects ranging from artificial intelligence implementation to local government training. He found his footing in a nurturing environment of professors and resources, including International Student and Scholar Services in the Center for Global Programs and Services, and received the Biden School’s Peter A. Larson Prize for his research on fostering international understanding in public administration. 

For Otheliansyah, this recognition reflected his “why” behind every decision. 

“In government, we should use evidence-based policy,” Otheliansyah said, noting that his research studies have informed him to carefully evaluate processes and manage risks before making a final determination.  

This comprehensive approach is driven by his understanding of the stakes involved in public service. 

“When we choose one option, it can create an impact, whether it's good or not,” he said. By anchoring his work in evidence, Otheliansyah ensured that his research wasn’t just academic, but a tool for creating tangible, positive change. 

The skills developed at the Biden School have not only contributed to personal success but also to collective success among classmates. This is evident by Rodriguez’s recent grand-prize victory in the 2026 Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration’s (NASPAA) global wildfire mitigation simulation. 

“I believe that by focusing on the value of public interest, as a whole, is what allowed us to win the competition, because although we had competing interests, we came to a consensus. That we had to prioritize our communities and their health,” said Rodriguez. 

This annual event tasks teams with solving realistic public-sector crises — like this year's wildfire challenge — by assigning participants specific stakeholder roles, such as emergency managers or politicians. Working alongside teammate Josselyn Reader, a now-junior majoring in civic leadership and policy studies in the Biden School, Rodriguez navigated a design that often pits stakeholders against one another by prioritizing constituents' health above all else. 

For Reader, the simulation provided newfound experiential learning. 

“This was my first opportunity to apply what I've been learning in my classes to a real-world setting,” she shared, highlighting the immense value gained from her teammates and the competition overall.

“We needed to make sure that we were serving the people and not our own interests,” Rodriguez noted. 

Otheliansyah, a two-time competition participant, served as a mentor for this year’s Biden School teams, drawing on the negotiation and consensus-building skills he refined during his first attempt. By sharing his previous experiences with the new competitors, he helped support Rodriguez and Reader’s team toward their grand-prize finish. 

As Otheliansyah and Rodriguez look toward the future, they carry a shared philosophy of inclusive service into their careers. For Rodriguez, the NASPAA simulation was a transformative first-time opportunity to “connect leadership theory to real life” while working collaboratively with a new team. 

“I was reminded that differences don’t necessarily stop people from working toward a common goal,” she said, noting that prioritizing the well-being of the community allows these differences to “add innovation and diverse perspectives.”

As he returns to Indonesia’s Ministry of Finance this summer, Otheliansyah imparts a similar leadership lesson discovered through the unique challenges of being an international student. 

“For the next scholar who wants to be a good public policy maker, regardless of where you are from, I think the capacity of listening to others is very important,” he said.

While he initially felt his language barrier was a hurdle, he now realizes it actually sharpened his ability to “really absorb what people are saying.” By learning to listen more than he spoke, Otheliansyah turned a linguistic challenge into a critical leadership tool. Together, their journeys prove that the most impactful leaders are those who recognize that diverse voices are not obstacles to consensus, but the very key to ensuring “every community is heard.”

About the Institute for Public Administration

The University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA) addresses the policy, planning, and management needs of its partners through the integration of applied research, professional development, and the education of tomorrow’s leaders. As a research and public service center in the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration, IPA collaborates with state agencies, municipal governments, nonprofits, communities, and businesses to examine complex policy issues and improve quality of life in Delaware and beyond.

About the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration 

Established in 1961 and named in 2018 for the University of Delaware’s most distinguished alumnus, the 46th President of the United States, the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration prepares students with the knowledge and skills necessary to engage in research and public service to improve the quality of life in communities around the world. Biden School faculty, staff, students, and alumni create and use interdisciplinary, nonpartisan research, and empirically based analysis to inform effective decision-making and policy and improve leadership and administration. The Biden School partners with organizations from all sectors to discover innovative and equitable solutions to the critical challenges of our time.