NC State Experts Address Economy, Iraq And Other Key Election Issues
The general election is right around the corner and many experts say North Carolina may be the key to victory for the presidential contenders. At the very least, the state is hotly contested for the first time in years. Close gubernatorial and Senate races are also drawing attention as voters prepare to go to the polls.
As the election draws closer, North Carolina State University’s experts are prepared to shed light on a host of concerns related to some of the pivotal issues in the campaign, particularly those that are likely to resonate with North Carolina voters.
NC State research and programs offer compelling examples (and visuals) to accompany your coverage of some of the issues.
Below is a sampling of our experts and programs:
POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS
Dr. Craig A. Smith, professor of communication, is an expert in political campaign communication and the author of Political Communication (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 1990) and the upcoming book, Presidential Campaign Communication. Smith can explain how campaigns have used various formats to communicate their messages to the public. Smith can also answer questions on what people get out of debates, shortcomings of the debate process and how political commercials, debates and interviews provide different communication opportunities to the candidates.
Dr. Andrew Taylor, professor and chair of political science, is an authority on the White House, Congress and public policy who can provide key insights into how the economy will impact both the presidential and congressional races.
Dr. Steven Greene, associate professor of political science, is an expert on campaigns, public opinion and the media. He also does research on how gender differences and parenthood affect voting behaviors.
ECONOMY
Dr. Michael L. Walden, William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics, is an expert on consumer economics, economic outlook, public policy and the economics of North Carolina. He directs the semiannual North Carolina Economic Outlook, and his new book on the North Carolina economy came out from UNC Press in September.
Dr. John Lapp, Alumni Distinguished Professor of Economics, is an authority on the Federal Reserve System and can address questions related to monetary policy and the implications of the recent sub-prime mortgage crisis.
Dr. Robert Clark, professor of economics, is a nationally recognized expert on Social Security and Medicare. Clark’s research focuses on labor economics, the economics of aging, and pension and retirement policies.
Dr. Richard Warr, associate professor of finance, can talk about how the markets are reacting to the current economic crisis.
Dr. Mitzi Montoya, Zelnak Professor of Marketing Innovation, can talk about why it is important to continue to invest in marketing even during difficult economic situations.
Dr. Robert Handfield, Bank of America Distinguished Professor of Supply Chain Management, is available to speak about the impact the economy is having on the global supply chain.
Dr. Arnold Oltmans, associate professor of agricultural and resource economics, can discuss the impact of credit and the financial crisis on the agriculture sector.
IRAQ
Dr. William Boettcher, associate professor of political science, conducts research on U.S. foreign policy – with a specific interest in public opinion and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Boettcher’s work also addresses military strategy, counterinsurgency efforts and potential exit strategies for the conflict as well as how political and military leaders “frame” the war.
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Dr. Richard C. Kearney, director of the School of Public and International Affairs, is an authority on political science and public policy issues with a focus on environmental policy – including “green collar” jobs in the alternative energy sector and climate change.
Dr. Stephen Kelley, head of the Department of Wood and Paper Science, is a national expert on biofuels and alternative energy sources.
Dr. Christopher Frey, professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering, is an expert in energy and the environment, including pollution control, emissions sources and systems analysis. His research includes measurement and modeling of real-world energy use and emissions of a wide variety of vehicles, as well as life cycle modeling of petroleum and biofuels.
Dr. Ayman Hawari, associate professor of nuclear engineering and director of the Nuclear Reactor Program, is an expert in nuclear-reactor design and the modeling of the behavior of advanced nuclear fuel in extreme radiation and temperature environments.
Dr. Alex Huang, the Progress Energy Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering and director of the Semiconductor Power Electronics Center and the Advanced Transportation Energy Center, is an expert in power systems and power management. Huang is a lead researcher in the multidisciplinary, multi-university Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management (FREEDM) Systems group, which is working to develop an efficient power grid that will be able to handle the multiple sources of power that are currently being explored in the United States and around the world.
Steve Kalland, director of the North Carolina Solar Center, is an authority on energy policy, particularly on renewable energy and energy efficiency. His current activities include directing the Solar Center’s Policy Division as well as leading efforts to develop new research and programmatic opportunities for the center.
EDUCATION
Dr. Glenn Kleiman, executive director of NC State’s Friday Institute for Educational Innovation, can address education policy and funding questions – including No Child Left Behind – as well as future education challenges that will be faced by the next White House administration.
Dr. Jeffery Braden, interim dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, is an educational psychologist who studies the impact of the testing requirements associated with the No Child Left Behind legislation.
Dr. Jere Confrey, Joseph D. Moore Distinguished University Professor of Mathematics Education, is a national authority on science and math education who can address a host of education problems that the next presidential administration will have to address – including the need to develop new approaches to address low high school graduation rates; improve college readiness at the secondary-school level; develop more fair and valid math testing; and replace math and science teachers who are retiring or leaving the education field – especially in high-poverty settings.
RELIGION
Dr. Jason Bivins, associate head of the Department of Philosophy and Religion, is an authority on the nexus of religion and politics in the United States since 1900. He is the author of the new book Religion of Fear from Oxford University Press, and can address questions related to the role that religion has played in the Obama and McCain campaigns.
IMMIGRATION
Dr. Stephen Lilley, associate head of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, can address how changing patterns of immigration impact local areas and regions. An associate professor of sociology, his research focuses on government planning, and state and local demography issues.
SECURITY
Dr. Annie Anton, associate professor of computer science, is an expert on privacy including identity theft, homeland security, security breaches and legal compliance. Anton is the founder and director of ThePrivacyPlace.org, a multi-university academic research center. She serves on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee.
CHINA
Dr. J. Oliver Williams, professor of political science, is an expert on Chinese-U.S. relations, Chinese politics, human rights and how economic change is driving democratic development in China. He can also speak to the questions candidates will face on China as the general election moves forward. Williams was a Fulbright Research Scholar in China in 2006 and also led a United Nations consultative team that year to improve dialogue between U.N. human rights officials and the Chinese government.
CAMPUS SAFETY
David Rainer, associate vice chancellor for environmental health and safety, oversees campus safety and security issues. Rainer can address questions that presidential candidates will likely have to face on a number of campus safety issues.
