NEW YORK, Oct. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Below are experts from the ProfNet network who are available to discuss various topics regarding the 2016 presidential election.
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American Politics
Alan M. Dershowitz
Dershowitz's new book, "Electile Dysfunction: A Guide for Unaroused Voters" (RosettaBooks, Sept. 6), offers much-needed perspective on the 2016 presidential election for voters of all affiliations. With his usual incisive style, Dershowitz cuts through the campaign rhetoric and analyzes the dozen most important issues that divide the two candidates. The book clarifies how we've arrived at this point in the political process and settled for candidates who don't turn on so many voters. The critical takeaway is that this may be the most important election in modern history because of the instability in the country and around the world. The book provides guidance for those who are frustrated by the choices with which they've been presented.
Dershowitz, the former Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law at Harvard, was described by Newsweek as "the nation's most peripatetic civil liberties lawyer and one of its most distinguished defenders of individual rights." He has published more than 1000 articles in magazines, newspapers, journals and blogs such as The New York Times Magazine, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Harvard Law Review, the Yale Law Journal, Huffington Post, Newsmax, Jerusalem Post and Ha'aretz. He is the author of 35 fiction and non-fiction works with a worldwide audience, including The New York Times #1 bestseller "Chutzpah" and five other national bestsellers. His autobiography, "Taking the Stand: My Life in the Law," was published in October 2013 by Crown, a division of Random House. Earlier titles include the bestselling "The Case for Israel; The Case for Peace," "Blasphemy," "Preemption," "Finding Jefferson," and "Shouting Fire."
Contact: Dean Draznin, [email protected]
American Politics
JD Vance
Vance is author of the memoir Hillbilly Elegy, which is #4 on the NY Times bestseller list. His brutally honest memoir exposes America's "forgotten" white working class poor, the voting block that's been the engine behind Donald Trump's campaign for the presidency. He shows how hopelessness and futility have been passed like a hot potato from one generation to the next in a seemingly endless spiral of defeatism that shows no sign of release. For the first time, he offers a mirror to this neglected demographic and perhaps offers a first step toward healing and progress.
Vance has been on ABC This Week, CNN's The Lead with Jake Tapper and Reliable Sources, MSNBC's Morning Joe twice, NPR's Fresh Air and Morning Edition and On Point, in the New York Times three times, in Huffington Post, Fox News Opinion, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, US News, The Atlantic, National Review, Chicago Tribune, Associated Press, Washington Post, New York Post and more.
Website: http://www.jdvance.com
Contact: Dean Draznin, [email protected]
American Politics
FH Buckley
Foundation Professor
George Mason University School of Law
Buckley is a Foundation Professor at George Mason University School of Law, where he has taught since 1989. He is the author of The Way Back: Restoring the Promise of America (Encounter Books, 2016; see http://tinyurl.com/jlem7zm). The book provides an indispensable, nonpartisan roadmap for choosing the president in 2016, and a viable guide for restoring America's promise. He has gathered a group of over 145 "Writers and Scholars for Trump" and the group has issued an official letter of support. His previous book is "The Once and Future King: The Rise of Crown Government in America" (Encounter Books, 2015). He is a citizen of Canada and also became an American citizen on Tax Day, April 15, 2014.
Contact: Dean Draznin, [email protected]
American Politics
Thomas P. O'Neill III
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
O'Neill and Associates
A former Lt. Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, O'Neill offers a veteran's view of New England politics and running political campaigns. During his term of office from 1975 to 1983, O'Neill created and administered the Office of Federal-State Relations in Boston and Washington, D.C. Prior to becoming lieutenant governor, O'Neill served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. The son of the late U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill Jr., O'Neill offers a unique vantage point from which to comment on the politics of the 2016 presidential race, the U.S. Congress, and New England statewide races, as well as the past, present and future of the Democratic Party, from FDR to today. Founder and CEO of O'Neill and Associates, New England's leading government relations and communications firm, O'Neill is an expert in messaging, crisis communications, public speaking and the intersection of government and business. He is available to provide analysis on the following topics: 'all politics are local' in today's arena of big money and big data; digital persuasion for connecting with voters; campaign 101 -- effective messaging, field, and media; Trump's campaign as a sign of the next modern campaign; the importance of surrogate and disseminating campaign message; the end of classic/traditional campaigning; and the importance of the presidential election on the infrastructure and healthcare industries.
Contact: Jennifer Hardin, [email protected]
American History, Underrepresented Groups in America
James Downs
Associate Professor of History
Downs specializes in U.S. History, the gay liberation and African American Studies. Downs looks to explain and understand the history of underrepresented groups in the U.S. and what that means for them moving forward. Downs was most recently an Andrew W. Mellon New Directions Fellow at Harvard University and published "Stand By Me: The Forgotten History of Gay Liberation" (Basic Books, 2016) and "Sick from Freedom: African-American Illness and Suffering during the Civil War and Reconstruction" (Oxford University Press, 2012).
Contact: Kerry Meehan, [email protected]
American and International Politics
Steve Wuhs, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair of Political Science
University of Redlands
Dr. Wuhs is available to discuss a broad range of topics in American and international politics.
Contact: Jennifer Dobbs, [email protected]
American Politics
Saladin Ambar
Associate Professor, Political Science
Lehigh University
Ambar teaches courses in American politics on the American presidency and governorship, race and American political development, and political parties and elections. He is the author of "How Governors Built the Modern American Presidency" and "Malcolm X at Oxford Union: Racial Politics in a Global Era." He is currently working on a book about the political career of New York Governor Mario M. Cuomo called "American Cicero: Mario Cuomo and the Defense of Liberalism in America." He is available to discuss race, class and politics; presidential politics; American institutions; and Liberalism.
Regarding the legacy of the Obama presidency (from The Root; see full article at http://tinyurl.com/jq7h679http://www.theroot.com/articles/politics/2015/12/historic_presidency_historic_opposition_the_legacy_of_president_barack_obama/): "I think he's going to be viewed as a transitional figure, someone who was not quite part of the Civil Rights era, yet not young enough to belong to this Black Lives Matter generation. He is often mentioned as a figure from the Joshua generation, the first group of African-Americans to obtain political and economic success during a time where they had to be first. Part of that transitional legacy will be lots of praise and pride for Obama, but there will also be tremendous disappointment."
Bio: https://polisci.cas2.lehigh.edu/content/ambar-saladin
Contact: Lauren Stralo, [email protected]
American Presidency, History
James Hedtke, Ph.D.
Professor, History and Political Science
Cabrini University
"Reality television pales in comparison to the 2016 presidential election. The race for the highest office in the land has seen some of the lowest rhetoric in presidential campaign history. If image is everything, both candidates seem intent on destroying their opponent's image even at the expense of their own. The winning candidate may well be the individual who irritates the American public the least."
An expert on the American presidency, the Civil War, and World War II, Hedtke has been a featured guest on multiple programs including WHYY Newsworks Tonight, POTUS 2016(CUNY), NBC10 In Focus, and the Christian Science Monitor. He has authored books on topics including lame duck presidents, the Civil War, and the Freckleton, England Air Disaster of 1944. He is available to discuss the American presidency, the Electoral College, and lame duck presidents.
Contact: Lori Iannella, [email protected]
American Presidency
Kevin R. Hardwick, Ph.D.
Professor of Political Science
Canisius College, Buffalo, N.Y.
Dr. Hardwick has nearly three decades of experience in the political science department at Canisius College. In addition to introductory American government courses, he teaches courses in public policy, public administration, state and local government and the American Presidency. Dr. Hardwick is the host of "Hardline with Hardwick," a weekly radio program on local politics and he serves as a Republican member of the Erie County Legislature. His unique blend of formal training and practical political experience contributes to lively discussions in his classrooms. Dr. Hardwick is often called upon by the media for his expert commentary.
Bio: http://www.canisius.edu/person/kevin-r-hardwick-phd
Contact Kristin Etu, [email protected]
Battleground Ohio
Dan Birdsong
Lecturer, Political Science
University of Dayton
"The 2016 election will be fascinating to watch as unlimited Super PACs bring more money into the race than before, and candidates harness social media tools to reach voters and influence the news media. Ohio will be at the heart of it all as a critical battleground state for the general election. No Republican has won the White House without winning Ohio, and since 1960 no Democrat has won the presidency without winning Ohio."
Birdsong is available to discuss Battleground Ohio. He teaches courses on American politics, the presidency, campaigns and elections, media and politics, and public opinion and political behavior. He has a background in polling and policy research. He also has tracked presidential candidates' use of Twitter.
Bio: go.udayton.edu/ElectionExperts
Contact: Meagan Pant, [email protected]
Battleground Ohio: Ohio's Role in the Election
Jenny L. Holland, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Politics and Government
Ohio Wesleyan University
Holland's university office sits in the City of Delaware, in the County of Delaware, in the State of Ohio -- and in the thick of the 2016 presidential campaign. Holland has discussed Ohio's role in the election recently with The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, MSNBC, and CBC/Radio-Canada. In addition to Ohio issues, Holland also is available to discuss the general political environment more broadly. Her teaching and research interests include American public opinion, voting and elections, and political communication. As a graduate student, Holland's dissertation examined the influence of age on voting behavior, particularly the "generation gap" between the young and old in American politics.
Contact: Cole Hatcher, [email protected]
Bernie Sanders and Millennial/Independent Voters
Cary Lee Peterson
Lobby Solicitor
Robert Peterson Fields Associates PLLC
"It's a shame it's come to this and he's let so many of his loyal followers down. I have supported Sen. Sanders since serving as a regional director for National Independent American Party and launching his first social media support groups back in 2014 that has amassed 3 million members and followers since then. A majority of these group members followers who rode the wave of #BETONBERNIE and #FEELTHEBERN over than past year or more are now posting #BERNINHELL and #BERNIEBENEDICT after Sanders endorsed Hillary Clinton at the Democratic Convention and was caught accepting super PAC money."
Peterson is a registered lobby solicitor for multiple U.S. congressional coalitions that support law enforcement and public safety. He is also active with foreign relations and diplomatic affairs in U.S. Pacific territories and associations. Peterson is fluent in Spanish. He is located in New York City.
Website: http://www.rpflegal.com
Contact: Allan Anderson, [email protected]
Body Language and Personality
Dr. Bart Rossi
Political Psychologist
Dr. Rossi, an expert in the analysis and study of personality and body language, can speak directly to the way both presidential candidates have resonated with voters throughout the campaign. He can explain what it means to have a "winning personality" and how the psychology of that plays into a voter's final decision. He can also weigh in on aspect of their debate performance -- who did well/won or lost and why.
Dr. Rossi is go-to source for the media on both the local and national levels. Here is a recent link from the Los Angeles Times: http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-debate-psychology-20160926-snap-htmlstory.html
Contact: Kyra Harris, [email protected]
Child Care and Family Medical Leave
Dr. Linda Houser
Associate Professor of Social Work, Center of Social Work Education
Widener University, Chester, Pa.
Dr. Houser is available to discuss candidates' platforms on child care and Family Medical Leave. She has focused her research on efforts to improve financial, workplace, and caregiving security for families across the age and socioeconomic spectrum. She has analyzed both the benefits and the missed opportunities apparent in both candidates' platforms. While she believes it's great to see these issues being addressed in the election process, both platforms have room for improvement.
Dr. Houser sees Trump's focus solely on maternity leave as a missed opportunity. "We set ourselves back with a singular focus on women as child caregivers. Trump's maternity leave proposal would cover both birth and adoption, which recognizes the importance of bonding for all growing families. However, it reveals that the logic behind its women-only focus is not the physicality of childbirth but, rather, the assumption that women not only are, but will continue to be, society's primary caretakers. Clinton's plan does focus on caregiving as a whole -- caregiving by people regardless of gender and for people regardless of age -- and better aligns with what states have already been doing. However, Clinton has yet to provide details for how her plan is going to be paid for."
Contact: Jennifer Kitchen, [email protected], or Linda Houser, [email protected]
Clinton Email Scandal
Chuck Ambrose
Ambrose, a retired federal prosecutor, can discuss the "Comey Conundrum" -- why James Comey's reasoning for not prosecuting Clinton on her email scandal is flawed and why this further proves that the justice system should be separate from the president's cabinet. Chuck writes crime thrillers under the name Marc Rainer.
Website: www.marcrainer.com
Contact: Elizabeth Martins, [email protected]
Conservative Movement
Leslie Lenkowsky
IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs
Indiana University
Lenkowsky is available to weigh in on the role of Mike Pence in the conservative movement: "Pence adds a strong culturally and religiously conservative element to the ticket, which may reassure voters who are worried about Trump's support for their concerns. His political experience in Washington and Indiana is a plus, but not a big one. Pence is also a good communicator, though he is going to have to improve his ability to handle the kinds of questions he will get as a vice-presidential candidate."
Lenkowsky is a renowned public affairs and philanthropy expert, specializing in civil society issues, public policy, education and social welfare policy and entrepreneurship. He was appointed by President Bush to lead the Corporation for National and Community Service designed to improve local communities (President Clinton appointed Lenkowsky as one of the founding directors in 1993).
Bio: https://spea.indiana.edu/faculty-research/directory/profiles/faculty/full-time/lenkowsky-leslie.html
Contact: Brianne O'Donnell, [email protected]
Constitutional Law
George A. Nation III
Professor, Finance
Lehigh University
Nation's research focuses on constitutional law, particularly Article V and the Second Amendment, gun regulations, direct democracy, health care, hospital billing of the uninsured, products liability, contracts, commercial lending and environmental law. He has published extensively in law reviews and practitioner journals. He can discuss gun control; Second Amendment; constitutional law; health care laws; hospital billing.
Quotes: From an op-ed on gun control: "Heller identified self-defense as the core right protected by the Second Amendment. As a result, weapons that are less related to the purpose of self-defense are more easily regulated. This is one reason that banning assault weapons is constitutional. Another reason is because such bans are a reasonable government response to the problem of mass shootings. Now we just need the political will to stand up to the NRA and pass reasonable gun laws." From an op-ed on race-based college admissions: "The inherent problem with affirmative action is that it claims that race is a legitimate basis upon which to judge someone, while the Constitution says that it is not. Ultimately, the Court will recognize that race can never be used by public schools in making admissions decisions. However, Justice Kennedy's newfound reluctance to recognize this fact in Fisher II has unnecessarily postponed that day."
Bio: http://cbe.lehigh.edu/faculty/finance/george-nation-iii
Contact: Lauren Stralo, [email protected]
Constitutional Law and Politics
Arthur Svenson, Ph.D.
Professor of Political Science
University of Redlands
Dr. Svenson is available to discuss the U.S. Constitution, constitutional law, end-of-life rights, and American politics.
Contact: Jennifer Dobbs, [email protected]
Contemporary Politics
Herb Smith
Professor of Political Science and Director of Government Relations
McDaniel College
Smith is a noted political analyst and expert on politics. He teaches courses such as "Contemporary Politics" and "Campaigns and Elections" at McDaniel. He is also the co-author of "Maryland Politics and Government: Democratic Dominance." He is available to speak on politics and the 2016 election.
Bio: http://www.mcdaniel.edu/information/media-center/experts-sources/expert-herbert-smith
Contact: Cheryl Knauer, [email protected]
Cybersecurity, Cyber Breaches
Neill Feather
President, SiteLock
Board Member, Online Trust Alliance
There are a number of ways cybercriminals may try to influence this election season. Feather can speak to these, as well as the various points at which voter information is most vulnerable. Feather foresees the following threats cybercriminals may utilize to influence the election: 1) Hacktivism: The current political and economic landscapes in the U.S. could result in cyberactivists with an agenda working to push their priorities both by U.S. citizens and outside foreign entities. We've already seen this in Arizona and Illinois – expect more breaches to be reported as voting gets underway. 2) Unsecure Infrastructure: The FBI recently warned state and local governments to be on alert to potential cyber threats in light of the Arizona and Illinois breaches. Campaigns, political advocacy groups, and government organizations need to ensure that all infrastructure points are secure. Hacktivists can exploit vulnerable web applications and servers as entry points to gather sensitive voter information, and disseminate false information to sway the election. 3) "Zombie" accounts: In Illinois, hacktivists gained access to a 10-year-old Board of Elections database containing sensitive voter information. Organizations that have access to voter information should regularly purge and delete "zombie accounts" to minimize the damage if a breach occurs.
Feather is the president of SiteLock, the leading provider of website security solutions for business. At SiteLock, Feather leads the company's approach to 360-degree domain security by providing industry analysis and utilizing rapidly evolving data sets related to security and hacking trends. Feather has over 20 years of experience in the technology and systems industry, notably providing technology solutions and industry insights for Johnson & Johnson prior to joining SiteLock. He holds B.S. degrees in Statistics & Information Systems and International Business from the Pennsylvania State University, and an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business. He is a board member of the Online Trust Alliance (https://otalliance.org) and a member of the Young Entrepreneurs Council (https://yec.co), as well as the Forbes Technology Council (https://forbestechcouncil.com).
Website: www.sitelock.com
Contact: Chris Piedmont, [email protected]
Debates
Allan Louden
Professor of Communication
Wake Forest University
Louden is an expert on political campaigns, advertising and debates. He has worked on political campaigns as a consultant and is a frequent commentator for TV and Newspapers during election cycles. Louden has provided expert commentary and analysis for USA Today, The Los Angeles Times, MSNBC, Newsweek and a wide range of other media outlets.
Bio: http://news.wfu.edu/experts/allan-louden/
Contact: Bonnie Davis, [email protected]
Debates and Speeches
Randy Sparks
Professor, Marketing
University of Dayton
Sparks is available to discuss debates and speeches. He is less interested in what candidates say than in how they say it. With a background in radio broadcasting and research in the art of persuasion, Sparks is highly attuned to how convincing candidates are in speeches and debates. Sparks analyzed candidate speeches during the 2008 presidential campaign and is available for morning-after comments on speeches and debates. Watch him discuss Election 2016 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cebOQps8eNU.
Bio: go.udayton.edu/ElectionExperts
Contact: Meagan Pant, [email protected]
Donald Trump, Conservative Politics
J.P. Bernbach
Bernbach, author of the new book "Beyond Reason: Debunking Conservative Lies, Delusions and Falsehoods and What You Really Need to Know Before You Vote," can discuss lies told by Donald Trump to the American people that have been called out by mainstream media, why many Americans have bought what he has told them, another conservative myth that states that what's good for business is good for society, and more. He recently appeared with Thom Hartmann on "Conversations With Great Minds" (see http://tinyurl.com/hfm7mbt and http://tinyurl.com/ha6satn), and recently did with Ian Masters on Pacifica Radio in Los Angeles (see http://bit.ly/BeyondReason_IanMasters).
Contact: Deb Zipf, [email protected]
Economy
Josh Green
Co-founder and CEO
Panjiva
Green, CEO of Panjiva, a global trade intelligence platform, is available to discuss which presidential candidate is better for the economy. Here is a snapshot of his direct commentary for reference: "What the business community wants most from our political system is stability. There's a reason why so many business leaders are supporting Clinton -- because, if she's elected, it is very likely that our economic system will look much the same as it does today. Trump represents uncertainty. Would he actually rip up trade deals and unwind political alliances? If so, he may well throw our economic system into chaos by disrupting supply chains that have been built over decades. This uncertainty is terrifying to many in the business community, particularly those whose businesses operate internationally. Ironically, it is exactly this unpredictability that makes Trump so attractive to many voters."
Green can also serve as a source for any post-debate segments you're planning on trade. He is an experienced speaker and can offer his thoughts on the debate (and the election overall), highlighting how: 1) Trump's best moments were on trade. He makes an argument that connects in a visceral way by talking about the effects of jobs leaving this country. In fact, if you only watched the first 30 minutes -- the part that focused on trade -- you might have thought that Trump won. 2) Trump's advisers will be telling him to talk exclusively about trade for the rest of the election -- and Hillary's advisers will be telling her to talk about anything but. 3) Why last week's debate must spark a bigger conversation that will be key in many swing states: manufacturing will not bring jobs back to the U.S. But Green believes combining trade deals with job programs is more politically palatable.
Website: https://panjiva.com
Contact: Sarah McCormick, [email protected]
Education Policy
Phil Schuman
Director of Financial Literacy
Indiana University
Schuman can extensively discuss the student debt issue and how IU and other universities are addressing the issue. He is also available to weigh in on political analysis of the current student debt and financial literacy debate, especially changes that can be made from the public and private sector.
Bio: http://moneysmarts.iu.edu/mentoring/team/schuman-phil.shtml
Contact: Brianne O'Donnell, [email protected]
Election Anxiety, Voter Behavior
Jonathan Alpert
Psychotherapist
Alpert, a Manhattan psychotherapist, columnist for Inc.com and Huffington Post, and author of "Be Fearless: Change Your Life in 28 Days," is available to provide commentary on the 2016 election. An expert in human behavior, Alpert has a finger on the psychological pulse of the nation and can provide insight into the minds of Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton and voters. He can also discuss the election anxiety that has gripped the country – 75% of his patients express anxiety in some form over the election – and the impact it has on couples with varying political views.
Contact: [email protected]
Election History
Jerald Podair
Professor of History and Robert S. French Professor of American Studies
Lawrence University
Podair's expertise encompasses the history of presidential elections, including debates, strategies, candidate gaffes, third parties, vice president candidates and presidential candidates' personalities. He can often provide that "nugget" of information that isn't widely known. He is currently finishing a book on former Vice President Spiro Agnew and the "populist turn" of the Republican Party in the 1960s and 1970s. He has been interviewed by CNN, Christian Science Monitor, the nationally syndicated public affairs radio program "Viewpoints," Voice of America, Politifact.com, among others.
Contact: Rick Peterson, [email protected]
Electoral Politics, Polling, Campaigns
Christopher Borick
Professor of Political Science; Director of Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion
Muhlenberg College
Borick is available to discuss: electoral politics, polling, Pennsylvania politics, campaigns, Pennsylvania as a swing state, and climate change and public perceptions. He is a nationally recognized public opinion researcher who has conducted over 250 large-scale public opinion surveys during the past fifteen years. The results of these surveys have appeared in numerous periodicals including Time Magazine, The Wall St Journal, New York Times, Los Angeles Times and Washington Post. He has also provided analysis for the BBC, National Public Radio, PBS, CBS News and NBC Nightly News and had his survey results aired on, CNN, FOX News and C-Span. During his career he has conducted surveys for a variety of government agencies and organizations including the Center for Disease Control, The United Way, Wisconsin Public Radio, The Wisconsin Department of Commerce, the Oneida Indian Nation, The U.S. Department of Labor, and Habitat for Humanity. Dr. Borick currently conducts surveys for the Morning Call newspaper in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He has served as President of the Wisconsin Political Science Association and is the incoming President of the Pennsylvania Political Science Association. Along with Barry Rabe of the University of Michigan, Dr. Borick co-directs the National Surveys on Energy and the Environment. He has government experience at both the federal and local levels, including positions with the Internal Revenue Service and Monroe County Pennsylvania Planning Commission. He has published over thirty articles and four books in the area of public policy and public opinion, and has held teaching positions at The State University of New York at Cortland, St. Norbert College, Lehigh University and currently at Muhlenberg College.
Contact: Nikki Gum, [email protected]
Environmental Policy
Michelle Pautz
Associate Professor, Political Science
University of Dayton
"Environmental issues are likely to take a back seat to other policy issues, despite growing movement internationally to address climate change. Although significant portions of the American public say they would like candidates to address environmental issues, candidates are unlikely to do so. A candidate's view on climate change is likely to continue to be an important litmus test with the base of their political party."
Pautz's research focuses on environmental policy and regulation; government accountability; film and politics; and the administration of policy.
Bio: go.udayton.edu/ElectionExperts
Contact: Meagan Pant, [email protected]
Evangelical Voters, Religion and Politics
Carter Turner
Chair, Philosophy and Religious Studies
Radford University, Virginia
"What matters most to a lot of evangelical voters is not Trump's personal relationship with Christ; rather, it's his understanding of America and America's place in the world. America, and American exceptionalism, is the overlap between Trump and Evangelicals. It's not Jesus."
Turner is associate professor of religious studies and chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Radford University. His area of expertise is religion and culture with a particular interest in religion and sports and religion and politics.
Contact: Chad Osborne, [email protected]
Evangelical Voters and the Election
Bill Leonard
James and Marilyn Dunn Chair of Baptist Studies, School of Divinity
Wake Forest University
"Overall, the evangelical vote is still important to the Republican base, but politicians are confronted with a society in which one in five adults, and one in three millennials is a 'none' without religious affiliation or connection. That reality will impact this election cycle dramatically where religion and voting blocs are concerned. Almost all 'nones' vote Democratic."
Widely known for his work in American, Southern and Baptist religious studies, Leonard is the author or editor of 24 books.
Website: http://news.wfu.edu/election-2016-faculty-experts/
Contact: Cheryl V. Walker, [email protected]
Family and Parental Leave Legislation
Stephen Sweet
Professor of Sociology
Ithaca College
Sweet is available to comment on work-family and parental leave legislation in the context of the 2016 election. He is the author of numerous books and articles that focus on the intersections between work, family, and community. By studying the connections between these different institutions, his research highlights the strains jobs can introduce in family lives, how families respond to these strains and the ways work contributes to individual and family potentials.
Contact: Dan Verderosa, [email protected]
Financial Markets
Paolo Pasquariello
Associate Professor of Finance
University of Michigan's Ross School of Business
"There are at least three reasons why election years magnify financial market volatility. First, greater political uncertainty in election years may magnify existing asymmetries between informed and uninformed market participants -- since, after all, better information is more valuable when there is greater uncertainty. Second, greater political uncertainty in election years may magnify existing ambiguity among financial market participants about economic fundamentals affecting the value of the assets traded in financial markets. For instance, market participants may be wondering about whether a Trump or a Clinton administration may be more or less favorable to the financial industry. It is therefore perhaps not surprising that financial institutions generally tend to hedge their political bets by contributing to either side. It is telling that, according to some media reports, contributions are leaning Democratic in this election cycle, despite that party's reputation for greater 'hostility' toward Wall Street. Wall Street may prefer the well-known to the uncertain. Third, greater political uncertainty in election years may magnify the disagreement among financial market participants about economic fundamentals. For instance, investors may disagree about whether a Trump administration may support or unravel current efforts to regulate monopolies or 'too big to fail' banks, or to ratify large international trade agreements."
Pasquariello's research interests are in the areas of information economics, international finance, and market microstructure. His research analyzes the impact of important features of trading (e.g., price manipulation, information asymmetry and heterogeneity, and imperfect competition among agents) and of human behavior (e.g., agency, short-termism, loss aversion, and risk seeking in losses) on the process of price formation in domestic and international equity, government and corporate bond, currency, and real estate markets.
Contact: Jen Kaye, [email protected]
Foreign Policy
Srinivasan Sitaraman
Associate Professor of Political Science
Clark University, Worcester, MA
Sitaraman is available to discuss pivotal foreign policy topics related to the U.S. election: "This is a pivotal election in the area of foreign policy." He can speak on these topics: China's assertiveness and aggressive posture in South China Sea; growing terror threat and radicalization of youth by ISIS in Europe and North America; foreign policy trajectory of the United States; future of Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan; U.S.-Russia cooperation on Syria (will the U.S. have to accept to Assad?); North Korea's missile and nuclear saber-rattling; possibility of India-Pakistan nuclear escalation; Japan's growing attempts to revoke Article 9 of its constitution; coup and growing authoritarianism in Turkey; UK's European exit and its implications for immigration policy and European unity.
Contact: Jane Salerno, [email protected]
Foreign Policy
Grant Neeley
Chair, Political Science
University of Dayton
Neeley is available to discuss foreign policy. His research interests include public opinion, voting behavior, public administration and political behavior. He is a public affairs officer in the Navy Reserve. Watch him discuss foreign policy here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nWAsnVZvxw.
Website: go.udayton.edu/ElectionExperts
Contact: Meagan Pant, [email protected]
Global Trade
Linda Lim
Professor of Strategy
University of Michigan's Ross School of Business
"Is the Trans-Pacific Partnership fair or good for America? The TPP advances and protects U.S. interests in a way previous agreements, including NAFTA, have not. In addition to lifting barriers to U.S. goods exports (which other trade agreements like NAFTA have done), it liberalizes trade in services, in which the U.S. is highly competitive. It tightens intellectual property rights protection, which benefits U.S. high-tech industries. It opens Japan's agricultural market, which benefits U.S. farmers. Member countries must abide by labor and environmental standards, and refrain from manipulating their currencies. These are major changes/improvements that address critics' complaints of previous trade agreements, but they have received very little light during this election season. Trade and the globalization of supply chains are going to happen with or without the TPP. Far better that they occur under TPP rules, which ensure a more level playing field for U.S. businesses and workers. Demonizing TPP has a lot to do with dissatisfaction with how some communities have been hit with job loss without receiving assistance to transition to other industries. So there is sentiment against any and all new trade deals. But if you read the details of TPP you see it is more free-trade and fair-trade than previous agreements."
Lim's research focuses on the political economy of multinational and local business in Southeast Asia, including the changing international trade and investment environment, and the influence of domestic politics, economic policy and culture on business structure, strategy and operations. She also has related interests in business-government and business-labor relations.
Contact: Jen Kaye, [email protected]
Gun Control Issues
Paul Helmke
Professor of Practice, IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University
Former Mayor of Ft. Wayne; Former President, Brady Campaign
Helmke can speak to why Mike Pence is not universally popular with evangelicals in Indiana and how Indiana as a swing state is not good for Trump. A gun control expert, he can discuss gun control issues in depth (e.g., the role and importance of regulation, background checks, types of weapons, magazine size, and trafficking); and is available to weigh in on political analysis of the current gun control debate, especially the excuses and defenses that prevent proper legislation.
Bio: https://spea.indiana.edu/faculty-research/directory/profiles/faculty/full-time/helmke-paul.html
Contact: Brianne O'Donnell, [email protected]
Hacking and the Election
David Brumley
Director, CyLab
Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon's College of Engineering
Brumley is an expert on hacking and the election (e.g., vulnerabilities, potential fixes, why Americans should be concerned); hacking as a viable (and lucrative career); and why the country needs to grow the cybersecurity talent pipeline if we are to address critical need.
Bio: https://www.cylab.cmu.edu/education/faculty/brumley.html
CyLab: https://www.cylab.cmu.edu
Contact: Brianne O'Donnell, [email protected]
Health Policy
Dena Davis
Professor, Religion Studies
Lehigh University
Davis holds the Presidential Endowed Chair in Health. Her research is primarily in bioethics, but also in church and state, and religion and law. Within bioethics, she works on issues in genetic research, Alzheimer's, reproductive technology and genetics, and decision making at the end of life. She is the author of "Genetic Dilemmas: Reproductive Technology, Parental Choices, and Children's Futures." She can discuss bioethics; religion and law; abortion law; genetic research; reproductive technology; and end-of-life decisions.
Quotes: From her blog on mandatory vaccinations (see https://denasusandavis.wordpress.com): "In an earlier post, I argued that laws that allowed parents to refuse vaccinations on religious but not 'philosophical' grounds, were incoherent and unconstitutional. I am happy to see that California is set to end both types of exemptions. The only remaining exemption would be for medical reasons." On Trump saying women should be punished for having abortions: "By saying that laws should punish women as well as providers, Trump was at least giving women the respect of acknowledging that they were not poor vacillating victims, but responsible deciders who stood by their actions. The 'victimhood' road is a very dangerous path."
Bio: https://religion.cas2.lehigh.edu/content/dr-dena-davis
Contact: Lauren Stralo, [email protected]
Health Policy
Laura Olson
Professor, Political Science
Lehigh University
Olson's research is in the field of aging, health care and women's studies, and her articles address topics including Medicaid, Medicare, long-term care of the elderly, pensions, Social Security and problems experienced by older women. She has been a Scholar at the Social Security Administration, a Gerontological Fellow and a Fulbright Scholar. She has published eight books, including "The Politics of Medicaid" and, most recently, "Elder Care Journey: A View From the Frontlines."
Quote from her book "Elder Care Journey: A View From the Frontlines": "In my view, in order to meet the current and future needs of care-dependent individuals, the United States must implement a mandatory, government-run LTSS social insurance program. It would broaden the risk pool and ensure sustainable per-capita financing. At the same time, a universal single-payer system would de-stigmatize the receipt of benefits; eliminate the pauperization of middle-class households; drastically reduce income verification requirements, recertification and other burdensome procedures; and save money through lower administrative costs. It would also equalize access and benefits, irrespective of household income or where one resides."
Bio: https://polisci.cas2.lehigh.edu/content/olson-laura-k
Contact: Lauren Stralo, [email protected]
Health Policy, ACA
Thomas Buchmueller
Waldo O. Hildebrand Professor of Risk Management and Insurance; Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy
University of Michigan's Ross School of Business
"I would urge the new president, as well as the Congress, governors and state legislators, to build on the Affordable Care Act to further advance the goals of expanding insurance coverage and controlling healthcare costs. Although more than 20 million Americans have gained insurance since the law was signed in 2010, there are still about 30 million who remain uninsured. Further coverage gains can come from more states adopting the ACA's Medicaid expansion and by improving take-up in states that have already done so. Expanding take-up could be done by more aggressive outreach and education. The experience of Michigan illustrates how expanding coverage can benefit a state's population and its economy. Controlling costs requires a multipronged strategy that includes vigorous enforcement of antitrust laws to prevent providers from accumulating and exploiting market power. A rare area of agreement among Democrats and Republicans in Congress is that many would like to repeal the ACA's high-cost health plans. But this 'Cadillac tax' is a key element of the law's strategy for controlling costs. It should be left in place and given time to work."
Tom Buchmueller is a health economist whose research focuses on the economics of health insurance and related public policy issues. His recent work has examined the relationship between employer-sponsored insurance and labor market outcomes, interactions between the public sector and private insurance markets and consumer demand for health insurance.
Contact: Jen Kaye, [email protected]
Identity Politics, Sexism
Kathleen Marchetti, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Political Science
Dickinson College
Marchetti can discuss identity politics (gender and race), interest groups, and sexism in campaigns. Her areas of expertise include a focus on gender and politics, race and politics, interest groups, intersectional identity and political representation. She can speak to sexism in campaigns and the media and examine the political conditions that affect female candidates. Her research has been featured in The Washington Post's "Monkey Cage" blog.
Note: Dickinson offers an HD TV studio for live or taped interviews and professional audio tape-sync services for radio stations. Producers, please call or email for more details.
Websites: http://www.kathleenmarchetti.com and www.dickinson.edu
Craig Layne, [email protected]
Immigration
Eric Ruark
Director of Research
NumbersUSA
Ruark is available to discuss immigration: "U.S. immigration policy should reflect American workers' interests."
Ruark is director of research at NumbersUSA, the nation's largest grassroots immigration-reduction organization. He has testified before the Senate (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyHkXaLrz0I), provided analysis to major publications such as the New York Times (http://tinyurl.com/zr38ngs) and Fox News (http://tinyurl.com/j8rznbh), and published numerous research articles and papers on the effects of current immigration policies (see http://tinyurl.com/hxwoltx).
Website: https://www.numbersusa.com/about
Contact: Colin Valentine, [email protected]
Immigration
Abel Rodríguez, JD
Assistant Professor of Religion, Law, and Social Justice
Cabrini University
"With the impending presidential elections, immigration has again risen to the forefront of the collective American consciousness. Predictably, the political rhetoric continues to overlook the root causes of migration, and justice for our immigrant communities remains elusive. The dominant political discourse continues to conflate migration with criminality as politicians threaten to build literal and metaphorical walls, as well as exclude individuals on the basis of religious affiliation."
Rodríguez teaches courses on religion, law, and social justice. Prior to Cabrini, Rodríguez held a split position as the immigration specialist at the Defender Association of Philadelphia and staff attorney at Nationalities Service Center, in which he advised noncitizen clients about the immigration consequences of their criminal convictions and represented the formerly convicted in deportation proceedings. He is available to discuss immigration law and policy, the intersection of criminal and immigration law, and public interest law.
Contact: Lori Iannella, [email protected]
Immigration
Jennifer Nájera
Associate Professor of Ethnic Studies
University of California, Riverside
Nájera is a cultural anthropologist who is available to discuss the impact of anti-immigrant rhetoric in the campaign. Her current research focuses on undocumented students in higher education. Her expertise is in Mexican racial categorization, Latino/a education (including higher education), the history of Mexican immigration, and contemporary immigration policy. She is the author of "The Borderlands of Race: Mexican Segregation in a South Texas Community."
Bio: http://ethnicstudies.ucr.edu/people/faculty/najera/index.html
Contact: Bettye Miller, [email protected]
Immigration, Foreign Policy, Terrorism
Jennifer Merolla
Professor of Political Science
University of California, Riverside
Merolla is available to discuss how the political environment shapes individual attitudes and behavior across many domains, such as candidate evaluations during elections, immigration policy attitudes, foreign policy attitudes, and support for democratic values and institutions, as well as the impact of terrorism on the candidacies of Democratic women. She is co-author of "Democracy at Risk: How Terrorist Threats Affect the Public." The Democratic Party is viewed as less capable than the Republican Party when it comes to leadership, national security and foreign policy, she says. When terrorism is in the headlines, these voter perceptions hurt women candidates in the Democratic Party, but not the male candidates, whose gender counteracts the party's weak reputation on national security. Terrorism headlines also do not hurt women in the GOP, whose reputation of being tough on terrorism appears to inoculate its female office-seekers from the weak-on-national-security stereotype ascribed to Democratic women.
Bio: http://politicalscience.ucr.edu/people/faculty/jennifer-merolla/
Contact: Bettye Miller, [email protected]
Immigration, Race
Karthick Ramakrishnan
Professor of Political Science and Public Policy
University of California, Riverside
Ramakrishnan's research focuses on civic participation, immigration policy, and the politics of race, ethnicity, and immigration in the United States. Ramakrishnan directs the National Asian American Survey and is founder of AAPIdata.com, which seeks to make policy-relevant data on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders more accessible to a variety of audiences. He is the author of "The New Immigration Federalism" and is founding editor of the Journal of Race, Ethnicity, and Politics, an official section journal of the American Political Science Association.
Bio: http://facultyprofiles.ucr.edu/spp_dept/faculty/Karthick_Ramakrishnan/index.html
Websites: http://www.naasurvey.com and http://www.aapidata.com
Contact: Bettye Miller, [email protected]
Immigration, Race
Benjamin G. Bishin
Professor of Political Science
University of California, Riverside
Bishin is available to discuss questions of democracy, representation, public opinion, legislative politics, Cuban-American and LGBT politics, Hispanic voters (especially in Florida and pertaining to Cuban Americans and Puerto Ricans), and congressional elections. In his 2009 book, "Tyranny of the Minority," Bishin describes how intense minorities are able to achieve their policy objectives: "Politicians gain disproportionate benefits by appealing to citizens who feel very strongly about things. Usually they are able to tap in to some aspect of how individuals see themselves. It's particularly easy for this intense minority of tea party supporters to achieve their policy objectives because their objectives are to stop things from happening in Congress. Congress and our government in general are designed to make it difficult to get things to happen."
Bishin was the principal investigator for exit polling in Miami-Dade County in the 2004 election. Research he and scholars from the University of Miami and the University of Exeter conducted before the November 2008 presidential election found that Cuban-American voters remain strongly Republican, conservative and opposed to easing sanctions on the Castro regime. Cuban American voters in Florida are more conservative than those nationally, however, so backing for normalization among Cuban American voters generally is likely strong. Exit polling in Florida found greater diversity on social issues, which may portend changing political allegiances.
Bio: http://politicalscience.ucr.edu/people/faculty/bishin/
Contact: Bettye Miller, [email protected]
Immigration, Race, Crime
Jamie Longazel
Assistant Professor, Sociology
University of Dayton
Longazel researches the local and national politics of immigration, as well as other issues pertaining to race, law and crime. He published "Undocumented Fears: Immigration and the Politics of Divide and Conquer in Hazleton, Pennsylvania" on the politics surrounding local immigration laws, such as those in Alabama, Arizona, South Carolina and Hazleton, Pa. Watch him discuss immigration and Donald Trump here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hf8rpmw4eus
Bio: go.udayton.edu/ElectionExperts
Contact: Meagan Pant, [email protected]
Immigration, Refugees
Alfonso Gonzales
Associate Professor of Ethnic Studies
University of California, Riverside
Gonzales is available to discuss Latinos in politics, immigration, migrant detention, Latino refugees, Mexico and Central America. He is the author of "Reform Without Justice: Latino Migrant Politics and the Homeland Security State" (Oxford University Press, 2014), which focuses on post-9/11 immigration control policies and Latino migrant activism. The book won the 2014 Americo Paredes Book Award for the best nonfiction work in the fields of Chicana/o or Latino/a studies.
Bio: http://ethnicstudies.ucr.edu/people/faculty/gonzales/index.html
Contact: Bettye Miller, [email protected]
Interest Groups, Congressional Primaries
Robert G. Boatright
Associate Professor of Political Science
Clark University, Worcester, Mass.
Boatright is available to discuss civility in the presidential debates; congressional primaries; and interest group spending. He studies political interest groups, campaign finance, American political behavior, political participation and political theory. He is research director for the National Institute for Civil Discourse, editor of "The Deregulatory Moment? A Comparative Perspective on Changing Campaign Finance Laws" and authored "Getting Primaried: The Changing Politics of Congressional Primary Challenges." He is part of a bipartisan task force convened by the DNC and RNC attorneys to look at campaign finance in this year's election.
Contact: Jane Salerno, [email protected]
Latina/Latino Voters
Betina Wilkinson
Assistant Professor of Politics and International Affairs
Wake Forest University
"In the last few elections, more emphasis has been placed on the Latino vote, since Latinos are turning out in record numbers and their allegiance to one political party is not as fixed as that of African-Americans. Because North Carolina is a battleground state (Obama won by only 1 percent in 2012), the Latino vote is growing in importance even though North Carolina does not have a large Latino electorate – slightly less than 2 percent in 2012. With an increasing number of Latino citizens reaching voting age, Latino voters could play a pivotal role in North Carolina. Other states to watch: Arizona and Texas."
Wilkinson won the Best Book Award for Inter-Race Relations at the annual meeting of the Racial and Ethnic Politics Section of the American Political Science Association for "Partner or Rivals? Power and Latino, Black and White Relations in the 21st Century." Her research has been published in several political science and multidisciplinary journals. She joined the Wake Forest faculty in 2010.
Website: http://news.wfu.edu/election-2016-faculty-experts/
Contact: Cheryl V. Walker, [email protected]
Latino Politics, Immigration
Heather Silber Mohamed
Assistant Professor of Political Science
Clark University, Worcester, Mass.
Silber Mohamed is available to discuss Latino politics, immigrant socialization and participation, immigration policy, and identity politics in the U.S., with a focus on the influence of race, class, and gender. She is affiliated with the Latin American and Latino Studies concentration and the program in Women's and Gender Studies at Clark. Silber Mohamed also worked for six years on Capitol Hill, in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Contact: Jane Salerno, [email protected]
Marijuana Policy
Jake Brenner
Associate Professor of Environmental Studies and Science
Ithaca College
Brenner is available to comment on the environmental implications of marijuana legalization measures on the ballot in the 2016 election. Brenner is the co-author of a recent study on the environmental impact of marijuana farming in California.
Contact: Dan Verderosa, [email protected]
Masculinity and Misogyny in the Election
Valerie Sperling
Professor and Chair, Department of Political Science
Clark University, Worcester, Mass.
Sperling is available to discuss masculinity and misogyny in the U.S. 2016 election: "The most misogynistic U.S. presidential candidate and the first woman presidential candidate are engaged in a historic political battle, exhibiting unprecedented references to masculinity, femininity, and homophobia in their statements, advertisements, and other campaign materials, to bolster their own legitimacy in the eyes of their audiences, and to undermine their opponents."
Contact: Jane Salerno, [email protected]
Media, Propaganda and Politics
Edward (Ted) Morgan
Professor, Political Science
Lehigh University
Morgan's research interests include American politics related to media, propaganda, and the 1960s. Some of the classes he teaches include: Social Movements and Legacies of the 1960s; Propaganda, Media, and American Politics; and Organizing for Democracy. He is the author of the book "What Really Happened to the 1960s."
Quote from an op-ed in Salon (see http://tinyurl.com/h6aagrd for full article): "Not surprisingly, the Democratic Party establishment embraced Hillary Clinton from the start; she plays the same big-money, managed democracy game they play. Nor is it surprising that the national news media have also embraced her candidacy while dismissing the 'unrealistic' campaign of the 'unelectable' Bernie Sanders – though he does keep surprising them."
Bio: https://polisci.cas2.lehigh.edu/content/morgan-edward-p
Contact: Lauren Stralo, [email protected]
Media Coverage
Jeff Cohen
Associate Professor of Journalism
Ithaca College
Media critic and commentator Cohen is available to comment on media coverage of the 2016 presidential election, including the presidential and vice presidential debates. Cohen has argued that the debates should be expanded to include third-party candidates like Gary Johnson and Jill Stein. Cohen is an associate professor of journalism and founding director of the Park Center for Independent Media at Ithaca College. The center's mission is to study the growing independent media sector, encourage career paths inside independent outlets and examine the impact that maverick, entrepreneurial and independent institutions are having on journalism, politics and culture. In 1986, Cohen founded FAIR (Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting), a national media watch group. He oversaw FAIR's academic studies of balance and diversity on TV and radio and helped launch its magazine, "Extra!" and its nationally syndicated radio show, "CounterSpin." He holds a law degree and previously served as an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union. In 2003 he was the Communications Director of the Kucinich for President Campaign.
Contact: Dan Verderosa, [email protected]
Misogyny
Sherri Williams
Professor of Communications
Wake Forest University
Williams, a post-doctoral fellow, studies representations of gender and race in media. She said that candidates, media and activist groups alike have engaged in uncivil discourse about women during this presidential election that seems to be normalizing sexism.
Contact: Bonnie Davis, [email protected]
North Carolina as Battleground State
John Dinan
Professor of Politics and International Affairs
Wake Forest University
"Although there are links in voters' behavior in presidential, senate, and governor elections, with most voters casting a straight-party ballot, a review of North Carolina election results since 1996 indicates that voters have engaged in some ticket-splitting. Presidential contests: Republicans have captured North Carolina's electoral votes in all but one of the five elections since 1996 (with Barack Obama's election in 2008 standing as the lone exception) and by a net margin of just over six percentage points. Senate contests: Republicans have won all but two of the seven elections since 1996 (with victories by John Edwards in 1998 and Kay Hagan in 2008 standing as the two exceptions) and by a narrow net margin of three percentage points. Gubernatorial contests: Democrats have won all but one of the five elections since 1996 (with Pat McCrory's 2012 victory serving as the sole exception) and by a net margin of just under five percentage points. Recent North Carolina elections have generally been quite competitive, certainly more competitive than in many other states. Only six of the state's presidential, Senate, and governor races in the last two decades were decided by a double-digit margin, and many were decided by fewer than five percentage points. In focusing on the different offices, Republicans have generally enjoyed a modest advantage in presidential races and a slimmer advantage in senate races, while Democrats have held a modest advantage in governor races."
Dinan teaches courses on campaigns and elections, state politics and congress and policymaking. He frequently provides commentary for the Associated Press, the Economist, the Charlotte Observer and other news outlets across the country. He is the author of "The American State Constitutional Tradition" and an annual review of state constitutional developments in the 50 states, as well as numerous articles on state and federal politics.
Contact: Cheryl V. Walker, [email protected]
Political Communication
Scott W. Dunn, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, School of Communication
Radford University
Dr. Dunn is fascinated by all aspects of political communication, including political advertising, debates, interpersonal interactions about politics, and campaign speeches. His current research focus is "how young people engage -- or don't engage -- with the political system and what can be done to facilitate their engagement." He received his B.A. and M.A. degrees from Virginia Tech and his Ph.D. in mass communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Website: www.radford.edu
Contact: Max Esterhuizen, [email protected]
Political Parties
Jack Hunter
Politics Editor
Rare.us
Hunter is a libertarian and former adviser to Ron Paul's presidential campaign, and co-author of "The Tea Party Goes to Washington" by Sen. Rand Paul. He was a recent guest on HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher" (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqqeRL8qS-4), MSNBC's "All In with Chris Hayes," Sirius XM's "Tell Me Everything with John Fugelsang," and has appeared on various regional and national radio/TV programs.
Hunter can discuss a variety of topics, including, but not limited to: the impact of Libertarian Party presidential nominee Gary Johnson, particularly among millennials and voters in swing states; the Republican Party's vision for 2020 and strategy if Trump loses the election; Trump's reputation among women, minorities and southerners; the role Trump will play in down-ballot races; Cabinet members each nominee should consider; strong opinions on hot-button topics within each party's political platforms, such as criminal justice reform, gun control, race in America and the role of the U.S. military.
Additional clips: Glenn Beck (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLSo5o4lql4); CNN's In This Hour (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbWQzBdfByA); Freedom Watch (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saWTkjc1xyY); Rare.us Politics (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgngE4kJ4vY).
Website: http://rare.us/category/rare-politics/
Contact: Andrew Agan, [email protected]
Political Social Engagement
Dr. Alok Choudhary
Founder, Chairman and Chief Scientist
4C
Dr. Choudhary is available to discuss uncovering political social engagement through a "limitless focus group." He is the founder, chairman and chief scientist of Chicago-based 4C, a global leader in data science in media technology with solutions for multi-screen convergence. Dr. Choudhary, who is also a professor of electrical engineering and computer science at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, first started using social media data to predict future outcomes over 10 years ago. (He has been doing research in the areas of big data and computational science for more than 30 years.) He has used social data for everything from tracking weather patterns to disease epidemics and found strong applications around political and social causes. In 2011, he was the first to identify the Egyptian Revolution through Twitter data. He has also turned his attention to politics this year and his company has produced reports about the impact of social media on the presidential election. 4C tracks social engagements, TV rebroadcasts and overall sentiment for candidates on social media. With his wealth of experience as a data scientist, Dr. Choudhary can provide insights based on unique applications of data science to the political landscape.
Website: www.4Cinsights.com
Contact: Stephen Sumner, [email protected]
Politics and Elections
Renee Van Vechten Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Political Science
University of Redlands
Dr. Van Vechten is available to discuss California politics, legislative process, American presidency, parties and elections, and U.S. Congress.
Contact: Jennifer Dobbs, [email protected]
Polling, Race, Immigration
Loren Collingwood
Assistant Professor of Political Science
University of California, Riverside
Collingwood is available to discuss polling, the Latino and African-American vote, and cross-racial mobilization -- that is, what Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are saying and doing to appeal to African-Americans, Latinos, Asian-Americans and others.
Bio: http://politicalscience.ucr.edu/people/faculty/collingwood/
Contact: Bettye Miller, [email protected]
Polls, Voter Behavior, General Election Questions
Dr. Harold Clarke
Ashbel Smith Professor of Political Science
University of Texas at Dallas
Clarke has extensive experience conducting polls, and is author of "Affluence, Austerity and Electoral Change in Britain, Making Political Choices: Canada and the United States and Citizens and Community: Political Support in a Representative Democracy" and numerous academic journal articles regarding elections.
Bio: https://www.utdallas.edu/chairs/profiles/clarke.html
Website: http://www.utdallas.edu/
Contact: Kim Horner, [email protected]
Poverty, the Economy, Jobs
David Brady
Professor of Public Policy; Director, Blum Initiative for Global and Regional Policy
University of California, Riverside
Brady's research focuses on poverty, inequality, and social policy. He investigates a variety of questions related to poverty/inequality, comparative political economy, social policy, politics, health/healthcare, globalization/development, and work/labor. He is the author of "Rich Democracies, Poor People: How Politics Explain Poverty" and co-editor of "The Oxford Handbook of the Social Science of Poverty."
Bio: http://facultyprofiles.ucr.edu/spp_dept/faculty/David_Brady/index.html
Contact: Bettye Miller, [email protected]
Presidential Campaigns
Michael V. Haselswerdt, Ph.D.
Professor of Political Science
Canisius College, Buffalo, N.Y.
Dr. Haselswerdt has more than four decades of experience in political science. He teaches courses in American political behavior, the U.S. Congress and research methods. Dr. Haselswerdt has been involved in several local political campaigns and is frequently asked by the media to comment on local, state and national issues. Haselswerdt teaches a course on Presidential Campaign Advance every four years and as a result, several former students have worked on presidential campaigns. He served on the campaign staff for Michael Dukakis at the 1988 convention in Atlanta.
Bio: http://www.canisius.edu/person/michael-v-haselswerdt-phd
Contact Kristin Etu, [email protected]
Presidential Politics, Impact of the Media, Interest Groups
Dorothy James
Professor of Government and International Relations
Connecticut College
A former provost and dean of the faculty at Connecticut College, James is one of the country's most highly regarded political scientists. She has published extensively on American politics and policy analysis, including her books: "The Contemporary Presidency," "Poverty, Politics and Change," "Outside, Looking in: Critiques of American Policies and Institutions," "Left and Right," and "Analyzing Poverty Policy." James is based in New London, Conn.
Contact: Kerry Meehan, [email protected]
Presidential Race
Harley Lippman
Founder and CEO
Genesis10
Lippman, a top Clinton fundraiser and donor who calls himself a "conservative" Democrat, says: "Hillary is the most qualified and the most experienced. She was a U.S. senator, she served as Secretary of State. She understands what it means and what it takes to govern."
Lippman can discuss multiple aspects of the presidential race, including the candidates' foreign and domestic policy, experience and qualifications, and nature of the campaigns. Founder and CEO of New York-based technology firm Genesis10, Lippman serves on the executive committee of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
Contact: Michelle Manoff, [email protected]
Presidential Transitions
Robert Shea
Public Sector Principal
Grant Thornton
An expert on presidential transitions and the federal workforce, Shea is available to discuss what happens to federal workers post-election and how federal managers can smooth the path for the next set of political leaders. A former senior OMB official, Shea was recently appointed to serve on a bipartisan federal commission on evidence-based policymaking. His other areas of expertise include performance management, metrics, transparency, the federal budget, Congress, and the congressional budget process.
Contact: Carling Spelhaug, [email protected]
Public Apologies
John Llewellyn
Associate Professor of Communication
Wake Forest University
Llewellyn is an expert on the public figure apology and can discuss apologies issued during the campaign. He studies and teaches rhetoric, analyzing persuasive language from the nation's most prominent politicians, coaches and civil rights leaders.
Bio: http://news.wfu.edu/experts/john-llewellyn/
Contact: Bonnie Davis, [email protected]
Race, Immigration, Voting Rights
Donathan Brown
Associate Professor of Communication Studies
Ithaca College
Brown is able to comment on including issues of race/ethnicity, immigration and voting rights in the 2016 election. He conducts research at the intersection of race, rhetoric and public policy, particularly pertaining to African-Americans and Latinos. He is the immediate past editor of the Journal of Race and Policy, and lead author of the books "Voting Rights Under Fire: The Continuing Struggle for People of Color" and "When Race and Policy Collide: Contemporary Immigration Debates."
Contact: Dan Verderosa, [email protected]
Race and History
Dr. Adrienne Jones
Professor, Department of Political Science
Radford University
Dr. Jones holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the City University of New York Graduate Center and a J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. Her research focuses on the history and politics of black Americans and on public policy issues related to the black experience. Her doctoral dissertation, "The Voting Rights Act Under Siege: The Development of the Influence of Colorblind Conservatism on the Federal Government and the Voting Rights Act of 1965," is currently being excerpted for journal publication. She is a former faculty fellow and now lecturer in the Department of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. She is a regular contributor to the Dubuque Telegraph Herald on issues of race and politics. She is an expert on the Voting Rights Act of 1965, voting rights and voting legislation. She provides a unique perspective to discussions about black politics, history and public policy.
Website: www.radford.edu
Contact: Max Esterhuizen, [email protected]
Race Relations, Political Movements
James Peterson
Associate Professor, English and Director of Africana Studies
Lehigh University
Dr. Peterson regularly appears on MSNBC as a contributor, and currently hosts the weekly local NPR podcast "The Remix." He is the author of the book "The Hip-Hop Underground and African American Culture: Beneath the Surface." He can discuss politics; race relations; social impacts of entertainment; false media; hip-hop politics; black political movements (e.g., Black Lives Matter).
Quote (from The Daily Beast; see http://tinyurl.com/zj2d7jf for full article): "Economic depression, with the rise of prison industrial complex, creates quite fertile ground for white supremacist ideology in the 21st century."
Link: https://www.youtube.com/user/DrJamesPeterson
Bio: https://english.cas2.lehigh.edu/james-braxton-peterson
Contact: Lauren Stralo, [email protected]
Refugees and the Syrian Revolution
Waed Athamneh
Assistant Professor of Arabic Studies
Waed Athamneh is a specialist in Arabic literature. Her work focuses on modern Arabic literature and 20th-century and Arab politics, including Arab/Muslim/Women's rights and feminism. Professor Athamneh has also done field work in Jordan in the al-Zaatari Syrian refugee camp.
Contact: Kerry Meehan, [email protected]
Religion, Presidential History
David O'Connell, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Political Science
Dickinson College
O'Connell is available to discuss the role of religion in politics, the role of campaign rhetoric, and presidential history. He is the author of "God Wills It: Presidents and the Political Use of Religion." His research focuses on religious politics, campaign rhetoric and presidential campaigns. He is also a presidential historian. He is currently collecting data on how Catholic members of Congress explain their positions on abortion. His expertise has appeared in outlets including The Associated Press, The Christian Science Monitor and The Hill.
Videos: Will Republican Voters Come Home to Donald Trump? (https://youtu.be/qh9jZ_xNCPc); How Trump Is Realigning America's Political Parties (https://youtu.be/pWHTITLqaWg); How Is Trump Winning Over Evangelical Christians? (https://youtu.be/7ymx4SROmlM)
Note: Dickinson offers an HD TV studio for live or taped interviews and professional audio tape-sync services for radio stations. Producers, please call or email for more details.
Websites: http://www.davidjoconnell.com and www.dickinson.edu
Contact: Craig Layne, [email protected]
Rural Radicalism and Domestic Terrorism
Catherine M. Stock
Professor of History
Connecticut College
Stock teaches social, cultural and political history of the U.S., including the American West and Rural America. She is the author of "Rural Radicals: Righteous Indignation in the American Grain" (Penguin, 1997) and has commented many times during election seasons. She has written numerous sections for "The Reader's Encyclopedia of the American West" and has written book reviews for Journal of American History and American Historical Review.
Contact: Kerry Meehan, [email protected]
Sexism in the Election
Dr. Laurie Berdahl
Berdahl, author of "Warning Signs: How to Protect Your Kids from Becoming Victims or Perpetrators of Violence and Aggression," can discuss how Trump's sexist comments negatively affect the health of young girls and how parents' reactions toward his behavior either condone or normalize them. For young boys, it is imperative to explain that his behavior is not acceptable.
Website: www.warningsignsforparents.com
Contact: Elizabeth Martins, [email protected]
Social Anxiety Over the Election
Dr. Sanjay Nath
Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology; Director, Institute of Graduate Clinical Psychology
Widener University, Chester, Pa.
According to Dr. Sanjay Nath, as the election gets closer, voters' anxiety is increasing: "Data suggests that concerns about terrorism, for example, have reached a peak we haven't had since 9/11, probably because of the number of incidents over the last year. Combining this with the election cycle, where language is also meant to increase anxiety, can be difficult. Some people experience social anxiety just talking about the election. People prefer to discuss politics with those that agree with them. There is a fear of being offensive and offending when there are differences, and for those who are undecided, this becomes even more complicated, since they reflect less than 20% of voters at this point. Those who have decided may not understand how someone cannot have decided yet, and so 'undecideds' may face even more isolation or fear of discussion at peers or with friends. Similarly, those who have sided with a party begin to become worried about their candidate not winning, and have an 'end of the world' mentality. The rhetoric of the campaigns feeds this idea, where many ideas being discussed have pros and cons and are not purely bad or good."
Contact: Jennifer Kitchen, [email protected]
Supreme Court
Mark C. Miller
Professor, Department of Political Science, Director, Law & Society Program
Clark University, Worcester, Mass.
Miller is available to discuss Supreme Court vacancies and the "three-branch election": "Given the current vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court, it seems likely that the Supreme Court will become an issue in the fall's presidential and U.S. Senate elections. The next president may have as many as four new appointments to the Court, depending on which justices choose to retire and which justices are forced to retire due to health reasons. Many of the justices are older, and there are already rumors that some of the younger justices may choose to retire soon. The Senate must confirm all of these presidential appointments to the Supreme Court. Thus, it seems likely that for many voters this may be a three branch election, meaning that their vote for president and for the U.S. Senate in states with Senate races may be based on the kind of people they would like to see appointed to the Supreme Court."
Contact: Jane Salerno, [email protected]
Trump and Women Voters
Michael Pisapia
Assistant Professor of Politics and International Affairs
Wake Forest University
"Is winning women voters a lost cause for Trump? He would have to make a proactive effort to show he respects women to retain female voters. So far, that is not the approach he has taken. Clinton is quite aware of this vulnerability for Trump, so she's trying to appeal to women, especially white suburban women voters who tend to vote Republican. What else could help Trump gain women's support? Religiously conservative voters, including many women who are pro-life and who support traditional definitions of marriage, could be kept in the Republican column, especially if Trump's running mate, Mike Pence – whom conservatives like -- gets more coverage on the campaign trail going forward. Education is one issue where Trump could still credibly gain support from parents with children in schools. Common Core, which Trump opposes, remains unpopular in many conservative school districts, while charter school and voucher plans, which he supports, remain popular with lower income voters of all racial groups, in large cities."
Pisapia won the 2013 Carrie Chapman Catt Prize for scholarship on women and politics. He is working on a book titled, "Educating a Nation: Gender, Federalism and the Rise of Women's Political Authority." He teaches "American Government and Politics" and "Political Participation."
Contact: Cheryl V. Walker, [email protected]
Undecided Voters' Subconscious Views of Clinton and Trump
Leslie Zane
Founder and President
The Center for Emotional Marketing
Zane is a brand strategy and innovation specialist who has dedicated her three-decade long career to helping companies and brands develop more effective marketing strategies. She applied her expertise in assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the Clinton and Trump brands in the minds of undecided voters. She has completed a projective research study that provides clues as to where undecided voters are leaning and why. Among the results: On the surface, undecided voters appear to be perplexed over who to vote for due to negative perceptions of both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. However, their subconscious minds tell a different story. The undecided voter has far more negative associations with Trump than Clinton. Moreover, national security is emerging as a lynchpin of the campaign, pushing undecided voters into Clinton's camp.
Contact: Sharlys D. Leszczuk, [email protected]
Vice Presidents
Christopher Devine
Assistant Professor, Political Science
University of Dayton
Devine is available to discuss vice presidents. He is co-author of "The VP Advantage: How Running Mates Influence Home State Voting in Presidential Elections." Watch him discuss Election 2016 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frcvCyz1Nb8.
Bio: go.udayton.edu/ElectionExperts
Contact: Meagan Pant, [email protected]
Voter Behavior
Jeffrey Arnett
Research Professor of Psychology
Clark University, Worcester, Mass.
Arnett is available to discuss Millennial and emerging adult voters: "Millennials are more cynical about politics and less reflexively patriotic than their parents or grandparents were, but that only continues a trend that has been going on for decades. Similarly, Millennials are more fearful of a terrorist attack than their counterparts were a generation ago, but that's true for all of us. What really sets Millennials apart from Boomers or Silents is their openness to cultural diversity, and their desire to see a lot of the world and help out with the world's problems, outside of American borders."
The originator of the theory of emerging adulthood (on development from age 18-29), Arnett authored "Getting to 30: A Parent's Guide to the Twentysomething Years" and "When Will My Grown-Up Kid Grow Up?" He is the director of the Clark University Poll of Emerging Adults and a frequent media source (including The New York Times, Time, the "Today" show and others).
Contact: Jane Salerno, [email protected]
Voter Behavior
Shaun Bowler
Distinguished Professor of Political Science
University of California, Riverside
Bowler is available to discuss voter behavior, direct democracy, and third-party candidates. His research examines the relationship between institutional arrangements and voter choice in a variety of settings ranging from the Republic of Ireland to California's initiative process. He is the co-author of "Demanding Choices: Opinion Voting and Direct Democracy" and has studied elections all over the world. He analyzes the effect of third party candidates on elections.
Bio: http://politicalscience.ucr.edu/people/faculty/bowler/
Contact: Bettye Miller, [email protected]
Voter Behavior
Kate Sweeny
Associate Professor of Psychology
University of California, Riverside
As an expert on the best wait to wait for news, Sweeny's work speaks to how anxiety-provoking it can be to wait for election results, especially in a high-stakes election. She has also studied how beliefs and expectations can predict voting behavior and reactions to election outcomes. For example, in her research, Sweeny has found supporters who remained optimistic about the passage of a 2010 proposition on the ballot in California as Election Day approached were more likely to vote but also more disappointed after the measure failed than those who braced for the worst and became pessimistic as the moment of truth drew near.
Bio: http://psychology.ucr.edu/faculty/sweeny/index.html
Mojgan Sherkat, [email protected]
Voter Behavior, Mass Media
Sarah Niebler, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Political Science
Dickinson College
Niebler is available to discuss voter behavior, polling, Pennsylvania politics, and mass media and elections. Her areas of study include polling, voter behavior and the influence of mass media on politics. She has worked on a variety of academic projects related to campaigns and elections, including the analysis of political advertising. A native of Pennsylvania, she has a deep understanding of the swing state's electorate. Her analysis has been quoted by NPR, The Hill and Roll Call, among others.
Video: Pennsylvania Primary Preview: Trump, Clinton and PA Voting Trends (https://youtu.be/DuUDrrjIR0g)
Note: Dickinson offers an HD TV studio for live or taped interviews and professional audio tape-sync services for radio stations. Producers, please call or email for more details.
Websites: https://sarahniebler.com and www.dickinson.edu
Contact: Craig Layne, [email protected]
Voting Behavior, Polling
Arnold Shober
Associate Professor of Government
Lawrence University
Shober's primary expertise is in American education policy. He is the author of "In Common No More: The Politics of the Common Core State Standards" (2016) and "The Democratic Dilemma of American Education: Out of Many, One?" (2012). He also can provide insights on voting behavior (how voters choose and why they turn out), polling, historical party politics, the electoral college and efforts to change it. He has written for Education Week, the Brookings Institute/Brown Center Chalkboard and the Conversation. He is interviewed frequently by local media and Wisconsin Public Radio.
Contact: Rick Peterson, [email protected]
Voter ID Laws, Race
Dylan Rodriguez
Professor of Ethnic Studies
University of California, Riverside
Rodríguez is available to discuss the impact of voter ID laws on African-Americans in particular, and what accounts for low levels of voter turnout among this population group: "Voter ID laws were essentially created for the purposes of strengthening U.S. racial apartheid in government and elections. The long legacy of American apartheid segregation has created an electoral system that remains stubbornly racist in both its implementation and outcomes -- from gerrymandering to the disenfranchisement of people with criminal convictions (which has focused primarily on disenfranchising African-Americans with criminal convictions). It is clear that the stubbornly institutionalized hyper-policing, racist criminalization, and structural impoverishment of black populations across the U.S. continue to make a fraud of any pretensions that the American electoral system is even remotely reflective of democratic (much less reparative and anti-racist) principles."
Bio: http://ethnicstudies.ucr.edu/people/faculty/rodriguez/index.html
Contact: Bettye Miller, [email protected]
Welfare Reform, Public Policy
Holona Ochs
Associate Professor, Political Science
Lehigh University
Ochs' research focuses on public policy in the areas of policing, welfare reform, social entrepreneurship, mental health and commission systems in employee compensation. She is the author of "Privatizing the Polity," an examination of the governance of welfare programs across the U.S., and "Gratuity: A Contextual Understanding of Tipping Norms from the Perspective of Tipped Employees." She is currently conducting research on the extent to which untreated mental illness may be contributing to violent encounters between the police and public. She is available to discuss policing, race and the use of lethal force, mental illness and policing, welfare reform, commission systems (tipping).
Quotes: Regarding welfare reform: "My primary purpose in researching and writing the book was to examine the impact that welfare reform has had on lifting people out of poverty. The data makes clear that the privatization of welfare implementation has made it harder than ever for people to lift themselves out of poverty. People are working more and their money isn't going very far."
Bio: https://polisci.cas2.lehigh.edu/content/ochs-holona
Contact: Lauren Stralo, [email protected]
Women in Politics
Catherine Allgor
Distinguished External Fellow, Center for Ideas and Society
University of California, Riverside
Allgor is a historian who specializes in issues of women and politics, with an emphasis on the role of the First Lady. She is available to discuss the presumptive nominees' spouses as possible First Ladies – or First Gentleman – as well as the long history of American women in politics, and what it might mean to have a female president. She is the author of "Parlor Politics: In Which the Ladies of Washington Help Build a City and a Government," "A Perfect Union: Dolley Madison and the Creation of the American Nation," and "The Queen of America: Mary Cutts's Life of Dolley Madison," which explores the memoir Mary Cutts wrote of her famous aunt. Allgor was appointed by President Obama to serve on the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation.
Bio: http://ideasandsociety.ucr.edu/about/people/visiting-scholars/
Contact: Bettye Miller, [email protected]
Women's Issues
Amy Farrell, Ph.D.
Professor of American Studies and Women's Gender and Sexuality Studies
Dickinson College
Farrell can discuss Donald Trump's comments on women and women's bodies; representation of the body, including fat-shaming; representations of gender and feminism in popular culture; and the history of second-wave feminism. She is author of "Fat Shame: Stigma and the Fat Body in American Culture" and "Yours in Sisterhood: Ms. Magazine and the Promise of Popular Feminism." Her expertise has appeared in The Atlantic (regarding Alicia Machado and Donald Trump), The Huffington Post and The New Yorker, among others. She was a two-time guest on The Colbert Report.
Note: Dickinson offers an HD TV studio for live or taped interviews and professional audio tape-sync services for radio stations. Producers, please call or email for more details.
Contact: Craig Layne, [email protected]
Women's Issues
Debora Spar
President
Barnard College
Spar is available to discuss women's issues, education and leadership.
Bio: https://barnard.edu/about/leadership/president-spar-bio
Contact: Brianne O'Donnell, [email protected]
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