ICMA Student Chapter

Connect with and learn about local government management!

The International City/Count Managers Association Student Chapter at The Ohio State University is an official chapter of ICMA. We will be hosting a variety of events this year including site visits to local municipalities, guest speakers in local government, and networking events.

Upcoming This Semester:

We are excited to announce that we will be hosting a site visit to the City of Athens in late March (date to be announced soon!). Similar to our successful visit to Hilliard last fall, attendees will have the opportunity to explore local government operations and key community projects. Stay tuned for more details!

Join us to:

  • Learn about local government management careers.
  • Establish connections between local government management theories, practices and applications through tangible and actual examples.
  • Join a community, share experiences with other students and learn from one another.
  • Learn about ICMA, the premier local government management association, its members, resources and policies.

Membership Includes:

  • Access to ICMA’s vast variety of resources: online, electronic publications, informational networks, and annual conference.
  • Access to exclusive events such as site visits to local municipalities with the city management form of government
  • Access to local government speakers at meetings
  • Input into future site visits or events
  • Great networking opportunities
  • Chance to learn more about internships and/or career opportunities in local government
How to join: Contact President Ethan Combs

Featured Event

ICMA-OSU Student Chapter Hosts Ethics Roundtable at OCMA 2025

The ICMA-OSU Student Chapter had the incredible opportunity to host a breakout session at the 2025 Ohio City/County Management Association (OCMA) Conference. Titled Generations at the Table: A Roundtable Journey Through Real-World Ethics in City Administration, this session facilitated meaningful discussions between students and experienced city management professionals on ethical dilemmas in local government.

This engaging session was presented by President Ethan Combs, Vice President Zachary Howes, and Member Taylor Lefkowitz, with additional support from all attending club members who helped facilitate the roundtable discussions. This presentation was made possible through the invaluable support of club advisor Judith Zimomra and OCMA, who provided our student chapter with the valuable opportunity to lead a conference session.

Beyond the session, conference attendees gained valuable insights from various conference discussions and networking opportunities. The experience was both inspiring and educational, reinforcing the importance of ethical leadership in public service.

Featured Event

Managing from within a Media Frenzy with Bryan Heck, City Manager of Springfield, Ohio

In February, we had the incredible opportunity to host Bryan Heck, City Manager of Springfield, Ohio, for an insightful discussion on leadership/ city management during a media crisis. Bryan shared firsthand experiences of navigating intense press scrutiny, combating misinformation, and leading with transparency in high-stakes situations.

Attendees gained valuable perspectives on real-world strategies for crisis communication and maintaining resilience under the media spotlight. It was an engaging and thought-provoking session that highlighted the challenges and responsibilities of local government leadership in turbulent times.

ICMA events and meetings will continue to feature guest speakers from local government, providing unique learning opportunities and meaningful discussions on public service leadership.

Featured Event

In November we hosted a site visit to the City of Hilliard! Members toured Hilliard’s City Hall Council Chamber, Downtown Hilliard and Hilliard’s cutting edge City Lab. Presentations included an Overview of their Recreation & Parks with a focus on the Recreation & Wellness Campus, an overview of economic development in Hilliard, and a Q&A about their local government & the City Management profession.

ICMA events and meetings will include guest speakers working in local government as well as more site visits.

Explore the profiles of the current ICMA officers.