Experts Available

• share
• favorite_border

Every four years, John Burke, the John G. McCullough Professor of Political Science, is in high demand as the foremost expert on presidential transitions. His book Presidential Transitions: From Politics to Practice about the Carter, Reagan, Bush Sr., and Clinton transitions is considered essential reading, as is his book on the G.W. Bush transition. But this year’s presidential election has been anything but traditional, and Burke, currently the associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, has plenty to say about it.

• share
• favorite_border

University of Vermont blood-clotting expert Mary Cushman, M.D., M.Sc., talks about the reasons why sometimes fatal blood clots occur in elite athletes like the Portland Trail Blazers' Jerome Kersey, tennis great Serena Williams and most recently, the Miami Heat's Chris Bosh.

• share
• favorite_border

Robert Manning, a natural resources professor at the University of Vermont, has conducted research for the National Park Service for 35 years and is the co-editor of a thoughtful book of essays on the national parks. He would provide wide-ranging perspective for stories pegged to the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service.

• share
• favorite_border

In a major break with the current payment system for health care, the University of Vermont Medical Center’s CEO has announced an ambitious goal to have 80 percent of the care provided by the Medical Center to be paid for based on quality of care, instead of the traditional method of being paid for the amount of care provided, by 2018.

• share
• favorite_border

Ellen Andersen, associate professor in gender, sexuality, and women’s studies and political science at the University of Vermont, weighs in on the Supreme Court's decision to rule on gay marriage

• share
• favorite_border

Vermont State legislator Richard Sears sought the advice of a concussion expert at the University of Vermont when crafting one of the nation's most comprehensive concussion laws to protect high school athletes

• share
• favorite_border

When the 114th U.S. Congress starts on Jan. 3 it will mark the first time since 1994 that Republicans hold majorities in both the House and Senate under a Democratic president. A presidential expert and two Congressional scholars predict what will happen this time around.

• share
• favorite_border

As the hashtag #Ferguson trends on Twitter more than a week following Michael Brown’s deadly shooting by a police officer in this suburb of St. Louis, Mo., University of Vermont professor @RashadShabazz was deeply engaged in the conversation. It’s a topic that Shabazz, UVM assistant professor of geography and protégé of renowned activist Angela Davis, understands well -- his current research looks at issues surrounding the policing of black communities, the projection of young black men as criminals and the geographies of race and racism. With persistent images suggestive of a war zone in a small American town, and a frenzy of both social and mainstream media reporting the story, Shabazz offers an academic perspective.

• share
• favorite_border

Not that she likes saying it, but “well played” is Michele Commercio’s assessment of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s suspiciously quick and successful takeover of the Crimean peninsula in late March. “He’s pulled off quite a stunt,” she says. Here she discusses his motivations, likely plans and how the West can respond.

• share
• favorite_border

University of Vermont child psychiatrist David Fassler, M.D., provides suggestions for talking to children about the recent devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy.

• share
• favorite_border

University of Vermont political scientist and expert on Kyrgyzstan is available for interview about the ethnic violence there and new reports that the Kyrgyz army may be involved.

• share
• favorite_border

Middle East expert and political science professor available to discuss Saudi religious police probe of youths participating in MTV reality show.

• share
• favorite_border

A new book, Islam and Education, is the first empirical study of religious schools in Pakistan.

• share
• favorite_border

Voting"”we think"”is a national, constitution-based right. But that's not how it's exercised. According to political scientist Alec Ewald, author of the forthcoming The Way We Vote: The Local Dimension of American Suffrage, the Constitution means what your county elections board says it does. In such a heterogeneous system can elections be fair?

• share
• favorite_border

Just back from a research trip in Europe with a grant from the World Anti-Doping Agency, anthropologist and cycling culture expert says the media and public unfairly focus on doping as an individual failure of morality. But riders are the product of an entrenched institutional culture with politics and economics at its core. Expert available for comment as the Tour de France ousts third cyclist from race.