The following 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ professors are available to comment on issues related this year's political races. Please note the availability of each expert varies. Please contact the public affairs staff to connect with the expert you are seeking to reach.
American Politics
- Dave Damore, associate professor of political science, teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in American politics and research methods. His research focuses on campaign politics. He is available to discuss Nevada political and electoral issues.
- Kenneth Fernandez, assistant professor of political science, can discuss public policy, public opinion and political behavior and direct democracy. He teaches courses in urban politics, ethnic and minority issues and policy studies.
- Ted Jelen, a political science professor specializing in religion and politics, can discuss social issues such as gay rights, abortion, freedom of religion, as well as campaign tactics, strategy, political behavior, public opinion, research methods and history of political thought.
- Robert Lang is director of Brookings Mountain West at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ and professor of sociology. An urban planning and policy expert, Lang focuses on suburban studies, demographic and spatial analysis, economic development, metropolitan governance, transportation, the "built environment" and the Intermountain West. Lang can also discuss issues related to the political landscape leading up to the election and the relationship between politics and regional economic recovery.
Economics
- Stephen Brown is director for the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) and professor of economics. He specializes in the analysis of economic and business conditions, regional economic growth, energy prices and aggregate economic activity, economics of government policy, global warming and energy security
- Stephen Miller, professor and chair of the economics department in the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ College of Business, can discuss local and state economics; monetary, macroeconomic, and international finance theory and policy; international trade, applied microeconomic theory, financial institutions and real estate lending.
Immigration Policies
- John Tuman, chair of the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ political science department and director of the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Latin American Studies Program, is an expert on comparative politics, international relations and political economy, with a focus on Latin America and other developing areas. He directed a study on civic engagement among Latin American immigrants in the Las Vegas area for the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in 2008. He studies current voting behaviors and trends among Latin American and Hispanic American groups and immigration law issues.
- Sylvia Lazos, a 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Boyd School of Law professor, is an expert in constitutional law, immigration policy, race relations, higher education, judges and judges and the Supreme Court. She is the co-director of the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Institute for Social Justice and Diversity.
Political Ethics
- David Fott, associate professor of political science, studies political ethics. He teaches courses on ancient, medieval, and modern political theory as well as the principles of American politics.
Political Debate, Political Rhetoric, Presidential Communication
- Jacob Thompson is director of the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Sanford I. Berman Debate Forum and an assistance professor in residence in communication studies. He is an expert on debate tactics, public speaking and rhetorical criticism. He researches argumentation theory and rhetorical criticism of current foreign policy issues.
- Joseph M. Valenzano III, assistant professor of communication studies, is an expert on political rhetoric, presidential communication and terrorism. He can discuss the justifications offered for the war on terror and its implication on certain domestic concerns and practices. He teaches courses in political communication, rhetorical criticism, persuasion and communication pedagogy.
