Newswise — The White House will host 50 heads of state from African nations next week as part of the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, Aug. 4-6. GW has experts available to comment on contemporary issues facing the leaders and their continent. Sean Aday, associate professor of media and public affairs, can comment on the intersection of media and foreign policy. He is an expert on global communication and public diplomacy and the director of GW's Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication. Rémi Jedwab, assistant professor of economics and international affairs, is an expert on development economics. He can comment on agricultural and economic issues in sub-Saharan Africa Eric Kramon, assistant professor of political science and international affairs, is an expert on politics and developing democracies in sub-Saharan Africa. Steven Livingston, professor of media and public affairs and international affairs, currently studies digital technologies for development in Africa. He can comment on how media and technology affect politics there. George Moose, professorial lecturer in the Elliott School of International Affairs, worked in foreign service for 30 years. He is a former assistant secretary of state for African affairs and ambassador to both the Republic of Senegal and the Republic of Benin, among other diplomatic posts. Liesl Riddle, associate professor of international business and international affairs, can comment on the investment, business and trade implications of the summit. She has written extensively about diasporas and development, international entrepreneurship and trade and investment promotion. Ms. Riddle is a frequent guest speaker at the U.S. Foreign Service Institute’s Near East and North Africa area studies program. David Shinn, professorial lecturer in the Elliott School of International Affairs, was the U.S. ambassador to both Burkina Faso and Ethiopia, and held foreign service posts in Lebanon, Kenya, Tanzania, Mauritania, Cameroon and Sudan. Mr. Shinn is an expert on the Horn of Africa and China-Africa engagement, among other regional topics. Tara D. Sonenshine, adjunct professor of media and public affairs, is the former under secretary for public diplomacy and public affairs for the Department of State. She can speak to the media and communications aspects of a large-scale diplomatic summit. Aisling Swaine, associate professor of practice of international affairs, is an expert on issues of gender and armed conflict. She spent several years managing humanitarian and development programs in conflict-affected and fragile states in Africa and elsewhere, and can comment on the challenges ahead for the continent. Paul D. Williams, associate professor of international affairs, can comment on warfare and peacekeeping operations. GW’s Flash Studio, a state-of-the-art broadcast studio, is available for remote, live or taped television and radio interviews. The studio is operated in partnership with VideoLink.