Topic: Affirmative Action
Expert: Susan Clayton
Phone: 330-263-2565
E-Mail: sclayton@wooster.edu
As the Affirmative Action debate continues to simmer, Susan Clayton,
professor of psychology and co-author of Justice, Gender, and
Affirmative Action, provides a fresh perspective on why people
oppose it, why it is still a good idea, and how it can be effectively
implemented.
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Topic: All About Africa
Expert: Boubacar N’Diaye
Phone: 330-263-2409
E-Mail: bndiaye@wooster.edu
An expert on security, peace-building, and stability issues in
Africa, Boubacar N'Diaye, associate professor of Africana studies
and political science, consults regularly with U.S. and international
agencies including the United Nations. He is the co-author of Not
Yet Democracy: West Africa's Slow Farewell to Authoritarianism
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Topic: Amish Culture
Expert: Paul Gaus
Phone: 330-263-2123
E-Mail: gaus@wooster.edu
From horse-drawn buggies to straw hats, Amish life remains a source
of fascination for people around the world. Paul Gaus, professor
of chemistry, has studied the Amish of Ohio for more than 20 years
and has written a series of novels that provide an interesting look
at this culture.
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Topic: Archaeology/Stone Tools
Expert: Nick Kardulias
Phone: 330-263-2474
E-Mail: pkardulias@wooster.edu
Many of our ancestors’ artifacts are buried right beneath
our feet. Nick Kardulias, associate professor of anthropology and
archaeology, has worked at sites in Greece, Cyprus, and the U.S.
and can explain how digs are conducted and how to interpret the
relics retrieved. He also has a special interest in the retrieval
and analysis of stone tools.
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Topic: Beat Generation Literature
Expert: Nancy Grace
Phone: 330-263-2472
E-Mail: ngrace@wooster.edu
Beat Generation authors like Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg still
have an influence on American culture, but so do the women writers
who were part of that movement. Nancy Grace, professor of English
and editor of several books on women writers of the Beat Generation,
can address all aspects of that movement.
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Topic: Charles Dickens
Expert: Iain Crawford
Phone: 330-263-2004
E-Mail: icrawford@wooster.edu
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is a classic Yuletide
story, one that continues to influence our notion of the holiday
more than 160 years after it was written. Iain Crawford, vice president
for academic affairs and professor of English, is an expert on Dickens,
and he provides some interesting insights into the author and his
classic Christmas story.
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Topic: Charter Schools
Expert: Barbara Burnell
Phone: 330-263-2417
E-Mail: bburnell@wooster.edu
Charter Schools have had a significant impact on our nation’s
educational system, but whether they have produced positive changes
or created more complex problems is open for debate. Barbara Burnell,
professor of economics, can discuss their impact on education in
the United States.
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Topic: Children and Family
Expert: Heather Fitz Gibbon
Phone: 330-263-2371
E-Mail: hfitzgibbon@wooster.edu
Women and the welfare system, motherhood, childcare, urban sociology,
and social psychology, as well as gender roles and women in the
workplace can be addressed by Heather Fitz Gibbon, associate professor
of sociology.
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Topic: Climate Change
Expert: Greg Wiles
Phone: 330-263-2298
E-Mail: gwiles@wooster.edu
Environmental scientists contend that the earth’s temperatures
are rising, but is this unusual or simply a normal pattern of climatic
change? Greg Wiles, associate professor of geology, studies the
history of global temperature and moisture change through glacier
studies and tree-ring research, and he can provide some valuable
insight.
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Topic: Conservatism
Expert: Jeff Roche
Phone: 330-263-2450
E-Mail: jroche@wooster.edu
The conservative movement in America is influential and controversial.
Jeff Roche, assistant professor of history and co-editor of The
Conservative Sixties, can address the origin of conservatism
and the rise of conservative politics as well as Western politics
in the United States.
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Topic: Depression and Test Anxiety
Expert: Mike Malmon-Berg
Phone: 330-263-2343
E-Mail: mmberg@wooster.edu
Depression is a common but often misunderstood affliction that
affects people of all ages. Mike Malmon-Berg, a psychologist and
counselor, routinely works with students who suffer from depression,
and he can address its origin, symptoms, and treatments. He can
also address the equally common dilemma of test anxiety and how
to deal with it.
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Topic: Developmental Psychology
Expert: Michael Casey
Phone: 330-263-2460
E-Mail: mcasey@wooster.edu
Developmental processes in humans and animals have been a topic
of interest for psychologists for many years. Michael Casey, assistant
professor of psychology, specializes in the study of prenatal sensory
and motor influences on postnatal development. He has investigated
the effects of auditory and visual experience on the development
of nervous system lateralization in avian species, and the importance
of hatching as a transitional developmental state.
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Topic: Earth and Life History/Pseudoscience
Expert: Mark Wilson
Phone: 330-263-2247
E-Mail: mwilson@wooster.edu
What was the earth like in the time of dinosaurs and before? What
can fossils tell us about life and its evolution? Mark Wilson, professor
of geology, is an expert on these topics, and he can provide insight
about the history of the Earth and the life upon it. He is also
an expert on pseudoscience and conspiracy theories.
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Topic: Eastern Religions
Expert: Ishwar Harris
Phone: 330-263-2470
E-Mail: iharris@wooster.edu
Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam — three of the world’s
largest religious groups — have been studied and experienced
by Ishwar Harris, professor of religious studies. He can provide
information on the history and tradition of each religion as well
as the differences and similarities among the three.
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Topic: Economic Development in Africa
Expert: James Warner
Phone: 330-263-2309
E-Mail: jwarner@wooster.edu
Economic development remains an important but elusive goal for
Africa. For the past 15 years, James M. Warner has worked in East
Africa as a lecturer, academic researcher and economic policy consultant.
Recently he served in a multi-year consulting capacity, providing
policy advice on fiscal decentralization in Ethiopia, which involves
facilitating increased local autonomy concerning government expenditure
decisions and local tax generation.
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Topic: Family Relationships and Friendship
Expert: Michelle Johnson
Phone: 330-263-2058
E-Mail: mjohnson@wooster.edu
Communication is the key to maintaining any relationship, particularly
among family members. Michelle Johnson, assistant professor of communication,
has done extensive research into relationships and social support
between friends and family members. Her research involves measuring
actual and perceived social support.
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Topic: Fear of Flying and Other Phobia
Expert: Bill Scott
Phone: 330-263-2464
E-Mail: wscott@wooster.edu
White-knuckle flyers, take heart – there is hope for those
who fear getting on a plane. William Scott, associate professor
of psychology and a clinical psychologist, is a nationally known
expert on this and other anxiety disorders. He also can address
abnormal behavior and a variety of other topics.
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Topic: Financial Market Mergers
Expert: John Sell
Phone: 330-263-2383
E-Mail: jwsell@wooster.edu
The New York Stock Exchange has agreed to merge with the European
Euronext market. The NASDAQ is in talks with the London Stock
Exchange and the Futures/Options exchanges in Chicago have recently
merged. Is this good or bad news for investors and should policy
makers be concerned about the increasing concentration of trading
alternatives? John Sell, the James Wilson Professor of Business
Economics, has studied these issues from both sides of the Atlantic
and can offer valuable insight.
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Topic: Forensic Science
Expert: Paul Edmiston
Phone: 330-263-2113
E-Mail: pedmiston@wooster.edu
The use of forensic science is becoming increasingly common in
crime-scene investigations, but few people outside of law enforcement
know what it means and how it is used. Paul Edmiston, associate
professor of chemistry, is an expert on the subject and in the detection
of explosives. He received a $400,000 grant to develop chemical
sensors that detect high-explosives (i.e. TNT) in the air as a means
to locate hidden threats.
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Topic: Healthcare Economics
Expert: Alison Wellington
Phone: 330-263-2407
E-Mail: awellington@wooster.edu
America’s healthcare system continues to be a subject of
great debate. Alison Wellington, associate professor of economics,
specializes in health economics, and can address some of the most
frequently asked questions about the present system as well as the
future outlook.
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Topic: Holiday Traditions
Expert: Pam Frese
Phone: 330-263-2256
E-Mail: pfrese@wooster.edu
What is the history of mistletoe? Where did the Easter Bunny come
from? Is there a link between Thanksgiving and football? How does
the pumpkin fit into Halloween? Pam Frese, professor of anthropology,
has the answers to these and other questions about our civil-religious
holidays as well as American wedding traditions.
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Topic: Juvenile Fathers Behind Bars
Expert: Anne Nurse
Phone: 330-263-2462
E-Mail: anurse@wooster.edu
Anne Nurse is a nationally recognized expert on incarcerated juvenile
fathers, as well as juvenile corrections and parole. She is the
author of the book Fatherhood Arrested: Parenting from Within
the Juvenile Justice System. Her current research examines juvenile
prison culture and the effect of prison on the relationships of
young males.
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Topic: International Students
Expert: Karen Edwards
Phone: 330-263-2545
E-Mail: kedwards@wooster.edu
International students represent an important segment of the enrollment
of colleges and universities across the country, but much has changed
since 9/11. Karen Edwards, director of international student affairs,
is an excellent source for the current state of affairs for international
students in America today.
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Topic: Jazz and Duke Ellington
Expert: Jeffrey Lindberg
Phone: 330-263-2047
E-Mail: jlindberg@wooster.edu
Not only does Jeffrey Lindberg, professor of music, conduct the
Wooster Jazz Ensemble and the Chicago Jazz Orchestra, he also is
an active transcriber of original jazz recordings and has received
numerous commissions from the Smithsonian for such work, including
that of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. In addition, Lindberg
has been hired by the Billy Strayhorn Estate to edit the composer's
original manuscripts. The edited scores will be published by Hal
Leonard Publishing Company.
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Topic: Life After College
Expert: Lisa Kastor
Phone: 330-263-2496
E-Mail: lkastor@wooster.edu
Who’s hiring? What qualifications are employers seeking?
Which students are attracting the most attention? What are the hottest
majors? What can students expect for a starting salary? Lisa Kastor,
director of career services, can answer these and other related
questions about the outlook for students after college.
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Topic: Medical Ethics
Expert: Thomas Tierney
Phone: 330-263-2153
E-Mail: ttierney@wooster.edu
Stem-cell research, physician-assisted suicide, cloning, and the
right to die are just a few of today’s most perplexing medical-ethical
issues. Thomas Tierney, visiting associate professor of philosophy
and political science, specializes in the moral, legal, and ethical
aspects of these controversial subjects and can provide thoughtful
insight.
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Topic: Memory
Expert: Gary Gillund
Phone: 330-263-2370
E-Mail: ggillund@wooster.edu
Individual memory has been the subject of intense research for
many years. During that time, psychologists have learned a great
deal about one’s ability to recall or retain past experiences.
Gary Gillund, associate professor of psychology, specializes in
memory, and can address facts and fallacies about the subject.
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Topic: Military History
Expert: John Gates
Phone: 330-264-0269
E-Mail: jgates@wooster.edu
An expert on American military history, particularly low-intensity
conflict, revolutionary and guerrilla warfare, and the Vietnam War,
John Gates is an excellent source for information and perspective
on previous and current conflicts.
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Topic: Poverty in America
Expert: Charles Hurst
Phone: 330-263-2351
E-Mail: churst@wooster.edu
The plight of the poor in America continues to be a source of great
concern. Charles Hurst, professor of sociology, is an expert on
poverty and other forms of social inequality. He can identify and
explain the root causes of poverty while offering suggestions as
to what steps can be taken to reduce its pervasiveness.
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Topic: Presidential Rhetoric in Foreign Crisis
Expert: Denise Bostdorff
Phone: 330-263-2030
E-Mail: dbostdorff@wooster.edu
What a president says and how he says it are of equal importance.
Denise Bostdorff, associate professor of communication and author
of The Presidency and the Rhetoric of Foreign Crisis, is
an excellent source for evaluating presidential foreign policy rhetoric,
particularly in times of war and other crises.
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Topic: Pro-Environmental Behavior
Expert: Susan Clayton
Phone: 330-263-2565
E-Mail: sclayton@wooster.edu
Susan Clayton, professor of psychology and co-editor of Identity
and the Natural Environment: The Psychological Significance of
Nature, studies the everyday ways in which people interact
with the natural world, such as gardening and visits to the zoo,
and what motivates people to engage with nature.
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Topic: Ragtime Music
Expert: Brian Dykstra
Phone: 330-263-2033
E-Mail: bdykstra@wooster.edu
Internationally acclaimed for his ragtime compositions and performances,
Brian Dykstra, professor of music, is an expert on the subject.
He has composed 51 rags for piano and other instruments and presented
more than 300 ragtime programs. His rags have been recorded by other
musicians on compact disc and performed throughout the world.
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Topic: Religion in Today’s World
Expert: Charles Kammer
Phone: 330-263-2473
E-Mail: ckammer@wooster.edu
What is the role of religion in society and can the increasing
number of different religions co-exist? Charles Kammer, professor
of religious studies, has been widely published on religious issues
and can provide timely insight into the role of religion in today’s
world as well as what the future landscape may look like.
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Topic: Russia: Yesterday and Today
Expert: Peter Pozefsky
Phone: 330-263-2395
E-Mail: ppozefsky@wooster.edu
For information on contemporary Russian politics and culture Peter
Pozefsky, associate professor of history, is an excellent source.
He has lived in Russia and continues to monitor events in that country.
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Topic: Social Entrepreneurship
Expert: John Sell
Phone: 330-263-2383
E-Mail: jwsell@wooster.edu
The competition for non-profit dollars can be just as fierce as
the pursuit of corporate earnings, but thanks to The College of
Wooster’s innovative social entrepreneurship program, charitable
organizations and social service agencies are finding new ways to
create additional streams of revenue. Learn more from John Sell,
the James Wilson Professor of Business Economics.
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Topic: Space Flight, Chaos, Time Travel, Quantum
Mechanics
Expert: John Lindner
Phone: 330-263-2120
E-Mail: jlindner@wooster.edu
Space flight, chaos, time travel, and quantum mechanics are just
a few of the intriguing subjects that can be addressed by John Lindner,
professor of physics. He has been widely quoted in all of these
areas, and is especially skilled at simplifying complex scientific
theories so as to make them accessible to the general public.
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Topic: Spirituality and Students
Expert: Linda Morgan-Clement
Phone: 330-263-2602
E-Mail: lclement@wooster.edu
Ever wonder about the spiritual and religious dimension of college
students? Curious about multi-faith communities and interfaith dialogue?
Want to know more about college students and their commitment to
community service? Linda Morgan‑Clement, an ordained Presbyterian
minister and director of Wooster’s Interfaith Campus Ministries
can provide insight into each of these areas as well as others.
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Topic: Student Affairs
Expert: Kurt Holmes
Phone: 330-263-2011
E-Mail: kholmes@wooster.edu
Helicopter parents, roommate pairing, student unions as the laboratory
for the humanities …What’s going on in the mind of today’s
college students? How have colleges adjusted to their changing needs?
Are they more fragile than their predecessors? Kurt Holmes, dean
of students, has keen insights into today’s students and could
provide a fresh perspective about their makeup.
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Topic: Student Health Issues
Expert: Nancy Anderson
Phone: 330-263-2038
E-Mail: nanderson@wooster.edu
College students are susceptible to a wide range of illnesses — physical,
mental, and emotional. They are also vulnerable to the dangers of
drugs, alcohol, and other substances. Nancy Anderson, director of
Wooster’s Longbrake Student Wellness Center and contributor
to Students Self-Care Guide, is an excellent source for advice
in helping students to stay healthy.
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Topic: United Nations
Expert: Kent Kille
Phone: 330-263-2456
E-Mail: kkille@wooster.edu
The role of the United Nations in world affairs seems to be more
important and more complicated than ever. Kent Kille, associate
professor of political science, is an expert on the organization,
with particular expertise on the UN Secretary-General, and he can
shed light on its history, its current role, and its future prospects.
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Topic: Urban Development
Expert: Jim Burnell
Phone: 330-263-2308
E-Mail: burnell@wooster.edu
America’s cities have undergone dramatic changes during the
past half-century, but what about the future? Jim Burnell, professor
of economics, specializes in urban studies, and he assesses the
history of America’s cities while addressing critical issues
about their survival.
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