Experts Directory

This directory provides information about faculty and staff members who are willing to serve as media resources or speak to community groups on topics of their expertise. Contact the Marketing and Communications Office at (540) 375-2282 with questions or to arrange an interview. 
 
Professor and staff links provide a profile of the expert source with information about their teaching and expertise. 

Art, Music, Literature and Theater 

• Acting Danielle Barre
• Art and architecture of the U.S. Julia Sienkewicz
• Art of the U.S. Capitol Julia Sienkewicz
• Arts education Gordon Marsh
• Children's literature Mary Crockett Hill 
• Classical music Gordon Marsh
• Community-engaged art history Julia Sienkewicz
• Contemporary global literature Martha Kuchar 
• Contemporary literature Martha Kuchar
• Contemporary theatre and politics Nelson Barre
• Creative writing Teresa Milbrodt
• Crip lit (literature by people with disabilities) Teresa Milbrodt
• Directing Danielle Barre
• Disability humor and sexuality Teresa Milbrodt 
• Dramaturgy Nelson Barre
• East European literature and folklore Martha Kuchar
• Engaging students through literature Martha Kuchar
• Folklore Lisa Stoneman
• Irish theatre Nelson Barre
• Jazz and jazz history Marc LaChance
• Landscape art Julia Sienkewicz 
• Literature by women Martha Kuchar
• Poetry Mary Crockett Hill
• Popular music Gordon Marsh
• Rhetoric and composition Martha Kuchar
• Speculative fiction Teresa Milbrodt
• Stigmatizing communications Julie Cannon
• Theatre Danielle Barre
• Theatre history Nelson Barre
• World music Gordon Marsh
• Writing and publishing Mary Crockett Hill

Business and Economics 

• Clinical depression and labor market outcomes Alice Kassens
• Consumer sentiment (National and Virginia) Alice Kassens
• Data visualization Alice Kassens
• Discrimination Alice Kassens
• Effective coalition Chad Morris
• Health and economic development Alice Kassens
• Labor market Alice Kassens
• Meeting management Chad Morris
• Obesity Alice Kassens
• Spatial analysis Alice Kassens
• Unemployment Alice Kassens

Criminal Justice and Safety 

• Campus climate Daisy Ball
• Campus safety Thomas Rambo
• Criminal justice and race Daisy Ball
• Death penalty Todd Peppers
• Human security Andreea Mihalache-O'Keef
• National security Tom Coyle '76 (Bio)
• Prison education Daisy Ball
• Re-entry/returning citizens Daisy Ball
• School shootings Daisy Ball
• Security studies Jonathan Snow
• Sexual assault Shannon Anderson 
• Terrorism Jonathan Snow

Dragons

• Dragons DorothyBelle Poli
• Dragon Research Collaborative and Treasure Center Lisa Stoneman

Education

• Arts education Gordon Marsh
• Asian American studies Daisy Ball
• Christian higher education Bob Benne
• Class design Cynthia Edmunds
• College teaching Darcey Powell
• Critical theories and education Karin Kaerwer
• Critical thinking and problem solving Michael Maina
• Education policy Karin Kaerwer
• Effective teaching methods Michael Maina
• Elementary education Karin Kaerwer
• Engaging students through literature Martha Kuchar
• Equity and education Karin Kaerwer
• Flipped classroom teaching Daniel Robb
• International service learning Shannon Anderson
• Instructional design Gary Whitt
• Mathematical transition from high school to college Hannah Robbins
• Pedagogy/andragogy Darcey Powell
• Physical education Michael Maina
• Scholarship of teaching and learning Darcey Powell
• Scholarship of teaching and learning (especially for art history) Julia Sienkewicz
• Science education Gary Whitt
• Statistics for general public and health care Hannah Robbins
• Teaching in physical education Michael Maina 
• Technology in learning environments Gary Whitt
• Transdisciplinary research DorothyBelle Poli
• Transdisciplinary research and pedagogy Lisa Stoneman
• Undergraduate public health programs Shannon Anderson 
• Virtual learning Gary Whitt

Environment and Sustainability 

• Animal ethics Laura Hartman
• Buses and transportation related to environment Laura Hartman
• Christianity and the environment Laura Hartman
• Climate change Laura Hartman
• Consumption and consumerism Laura Hartman
• Environmental ethics Laura Hartman
• Environmental justice Laura Hartman
• Religion and ecology Laura Hartman
• Transportation Laura Hartman

Health Care and Public Health 

• Food and culture Chad Morris
• COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 Jonathan Joyce
• Effective strategies for community development Chad Morris
• Food and culture (related to obesity, heart disease, diabetes) Chad Morris
• Formative evaluation of health-related policy Julie Cannon
• Gender and racial/ethnic inequalities in health Kristen Rapp
• Health and economic development Alice Kassens
• Health care reform Alice Kassens
• Health inequities Chad Morris
• Health policy Kristen Rapp
• Health-related physical fitness Cynthia Edmunds
• Healthy aging Taylor Rowley
• Immigrant health care access Chad Morris
• Indoor and outdoor environmental air quality (related to health) Chad Morris
• Obesity and health care Alice Kassens
• Opioid and addiction crisis Kristen Rapp
• Organ and tissue donation Chad Morris
• Public health Jonathan Joyce
• Public health (HIV, autism, women's health, COVID-19, etc.) Shannon Anderson
• Public health promotion Chad Morris

Health and Wellness 

• Aerobic exercise and training Cynthia Edmunds
• Aromatherapy DorothyBelle Poli
• Class design Cynthia Edmunds
• Exercise Michael Maina
• Exercise Taylor Rowley
• Exercise as medicine Elizabeth Ackley
• Fitness and nutrition Michael Maina
• Fitness assessment Cynthia Edmunds
• Food and culture Chad Morris
• Group exercise Cynthia Edmunds
• Health and wellness  Michael Maina
• Indoor and outdoor environmental air quality (related to health) Chad Morris
• Infectious diseases Jonathan Joyce
• Obesity Chad Morris
• Oral health campaigns Chad Morris
• Physical activity Taylor Rowley
• Physical activity to increase life span Elizabeth Ackley
• Smoking cessation Chad Morris
• Strength training Michael Maina
• Virology Jonathan Joyce
• Visual impairments Elizabeth Ackley
• Wellness Cynthia Edmunds

History and International Culture  

• Ancient bread and beer Leslie Warden
• Ancient Egyptian society Leslie Warden
• Ancient Greece Jason Hawke
• Ancient travel Jason Hawke
• Camino de Santiago Lynn Talbot
• Catholic history - U.S. Mary Henold (print media only)
• Central Asia Michael Hancock-Parmer 
• D-Day Tom Carter
• Egyptian archaeology Leslie Warden
• Excavations in Egypt and repatriation Leslie Warden
• Experimental archaeology Leslie Warden
• Gender/women's history in the U.S. Mary Henold (print media only)
• German history Rob Willingham
• Global philanthropic traditions Chad Morris
• Greek warfare and politics Jason Hawke
• Historic preservation and documentation Julia Sienkewicz
• History of slavery  Jesse Bucher
• Holocaust Rob Willingham
• Islam - history of Islam Michael Hancock-Parmer
• Latin American history and politics Ivonne Wallace Fuentes
• Latin American revolutionary movements  Ivonne Wallace Fuentes
• LGBTQ+ history/queer history G.S. Rosenthal
• Middle East Rob Willingham
• Memorials and Memory  Jesse Bucher
• Naval history Tom Carter
• Palau  Chad Morris
• Public history/public humanities G.S. Rosenthal
• Spain - civilization and culture Lynn Talbot
• Spain - contemporary Lynn Talbot
• South African history and politics Jesse Bucher
• Russian history Michael Hancock-Parmer
• Ukraine: war, culture, literature Martha Kuchar
• U.S. history Mary Henold (print media only)

International Relations and Politics 

• Afghanistan Michael Hancock-Parmer
• African politics/democratization Joshua Rubongoya
• Asian politics Jonathan Snow
• Democracy and democratization Andreea Mihalache-O'Keef
• European politics and history Rob Willingham
• Foreign aid Andreea Mihalache-O'Keef
• German politics Rob Willingham
• Globalization Jonathan Snow
• Human security Andreea Mihalache-O'Keef
• International law Jonathan Snow
• International relations and foreign affairs Jonathan Snow
• Israel/Palestine Jonathan Snow
• Latin American history and politics Ivonne Wallace Fuentes
• Latin American revolutionary movements Ivonne Wallace Fuentes
• Middle Eastern politics Jonathan Snow
• Political violence Andreea Mihalache-O'Keef
• Politics of developing countries Andreea Mihalache-O'Keef
• Politics of multinational corporations Andreea Mihalache-O'Keef
• Russia Justin Garrison
• Russia Rob Willingham
• Security studies Jonathan Snow
• South African history and politics Jesse Bucher
• Terrorism Jonathan Snow
• Ukraine: war, culture, literature Martha Kuchar
• Ukrainian cultural politics Martha Kuchar 

Language

• Language learning Ian Michalski
• Bilingualism Ian Michalski
• Linguistic diversity Ian Michalski
• Spanish in the U.S. Ian Michalski
• Sociolinguistics Ian Michalski
• Language in society, language attitudes and ideology Ian Michalski

Media/Popular Culture

• Contemporary film Bob Schultz
• Food and culture Chad Morris
• Journalism Tom Carter
• Media and politics Jonathan Snow
• Movies and meaning Bob Benne
• Music and psychology Chris Buchholz
• Paranormal experiences Tom Carter
• Popular music Gordon Marsh

Political - Virginia and the U.S. 

• American foreign policy Justin Garrison 
• American presidency Justin Garrison
• Civic organizing (post-2016) Ivonne Wallace Fuentes
• Contemporary theatre and politics Nelson Barre
• Criminal justice and race Daisy Ball
• Death penalty Todd Peppers
• Democracy Justin Garrison
• Democracy and democratization Andreea Mihalache-O'Keef
• Ethics and public policy Justin Garrison
• Foreign aid Andreea Mihalache-O'Keef
• Gun control Harry Wilson
• Human security Andreea Mihalache-O'Keef
• LGBTQ+ issues G.S. Rosenthal
• Law clerks Todd Peppers
• Local government administration Adam Sexton
• Political communication Jonathan Snow
• Political violence Andreea Mihalache-O'Keef
• Politics and ethics Brent Adkins 
• Politics of multinational corporations Andreea Mihalache-O'Keef
• Presidential elections  Justin Garrison 
• Presidential rhetoric Justin Garrison
• Public administration Adam Sexton
• Public opinion Harry Wilson
• Public policy Bryan Parsons
• Re-entry/returning citizens Daisy Ball
• State and local government  Adam Sexton
• Transgender issues G.S. Rosenthal
• U.S. Constitution Justin Garrison
• U.S. Supreme Court Todd Peppers
• U.S. politics Bryan Parsons
• Voting behavior and elections Harry Wilson
• Virginia politics Bryan Parsons
• Women in politics Ivonne Wallace Fuentes
• Women's March (U.S.) Ivonne Wallace Fuentes

Psychology

• Cross-cultural psychology Chris Buchholz
• Evolutionary psychology Chris Buchholz
• Emerging adulthood Darcey Powell 
• Family Darcey Powell
• Gender G.S. Rosenthal
• Ghosting Darcey Powell
• Music and psychology Chris Buchholz
• Persuasion, conformity, obedience Chris Buchholz
• Personality traits Chris Buchholz
• Prejudice and stereotyping Chris Buchholz
• Self-concept Chris Buchholz
• Self-esteem Chris Buchholz
• Sexuality G.S. Rosenthal
• Social cognition Chris Buchholz
• Social interaction Chris Buchholz
• Transition to parenthood, adding baby to family unit Darcey Powell
• Young adult expectations of parenting Darcey Powell

Religion and Philosophy

• Christian ethics Bob Benne
• Christian higher education Bob Benne
• Christian nationalism David Jones
• Christian sexual ethics Bob Benne
• Critical race theory David Jones
• Eastern religions Marwood Larson-Harris
• Ethics Brent Adkins
• Ethics Kevin Cales
• Interfaith dialogue David Jones
• Movies and meaning Bob Benne
• Native American religions Marwood Larson-Harris
• Philosophical counseling Kevin Cales
• Philosophy Brent Adkins
• Social and cultural interpretation Bob Benne
• Social justice David Jones
• Theology of Luther and Lutheranism Bob Benne
• Theology of Reinhold Niebuhr Bob Benne

Science and Math

• Biodiversity Rachel Collins
• Biophysics Daniel Robb
• Chaos theory and fractals Roland Minton
• Computational physics Daniel Robb
• Developmental biology Chris Lassiter
• Embryology Chris Lassiter
• Evolution DorothyBelle Poli
• Genetics Chris Lassiter
• How ecosystems work Rachel Collins
• Invasive species Rachel Collins
• Materials science and engineering Daniel Hickox-Young
• Mathematics of golf Roland Minton
• Molecular biology Leonard Pysh
• Novel electronic materials (polar metals, ferroelectrics, energy storage devices) Daniel Hickox-Young
• Plant and animal ecology Rachel Collins
• Plant biology DorothyBelle Poli
• Plant biology Leonard Pysh 
• Plant fossils DorothyBelle Poli
• Restoration ecology Rachel Collins
• Roanoke College Environment Center Rachel Collins
• Science of cannabis DorothyBelle Poli
• Sports ranking system Roland Minton
• Solid-state physics Daniel Hickox-Young
• Virology Jonathan Joyce

Social Issues

• American identity Shannon Anderson
• Autism and identity Shannon Anderson
• Autism - social factors Shannon Anderson
• Community development Chad Morris
• Effective coalition Chad Morris
• Fat justice Julie Cannon
• Food and culture Chad Morris
• Gender and sexuality Shannon Anderson
• Global culture Chad Morris
• HIV Shannon Anderson
• Immigration and assimilation Shannon Anderson
• Intimate partner violence Shannon Anderson
• LGBTQ+ issues G.S. Rosenthal
• Meeting management Chad Morris
• Public health promotion Chad Morris
• Public health Jonathan Joyce
• Social determinants of health Shannon Anderson
• Sexual assault Shannon Anderson 
• Transgender issues G.S. Rosenthal

Sports

• Athlete branding Olzhas Taniyev
• Intercollegiate cycling Shelley Olds
• Intercollegiate soccer and lacrosse Scott Allison
• Mathematics of golf Roland Minton
• NCAA Division III athletics Scott Allison
• Olympic cycling Shelley Olds
• Sales and service in the sports industry Olzhas Taniyev
• Sports fan engagement (game attendance, spectators, levels of fandom) K.C. Mayer
• Sports marketing Olzhas Taniyev
• Sports ranking system Roland Minton

Tattoos 

• Tattoos DorothyBelle Poli