Experts for the Media: List by Topic
Need an interview?
The accomplished faculty at Saint Mary's College frequently provides media with insight and expert commentary on a variety of topics. Click on the expert’s name to find out more about her/him. In some cases, there are examples of news interviews. To arrange an interview contact Gwen O'Brien, director of media relations.
Experts in Accounting
John Cergnul, J.D., C.P.A.Areas of Expertiseaccounting, income tax, tax assistance
Claude Renshaw, M.B.A., C.P.A.Areas of Expertiseaccounting, income tax, tax assistance Experts in Aging
JoAnn Burke, M.S.S., Ph.D.Areas of Expertisedeveloping lifespan communities in urban and rural areas, gerontology education, home- and community-based care, home and community-based long-term care
Terri L. Russ, J.D., Ph.D.Areas of Expertisefemale body dissatisfaction (wrote book on subject), female beauty, how women are portrayed in the media Experts in Anxiety
Catherine Pittman, Ph.D., H.S.S.P.Areas of Expertiseclinical psychology, therapy, brain injury, anxiety (co-authored book on subject), post traumatic stress disorder, sexual assault, stress, anxiety disorders, learning disabilities and attention deficit disorder, neuropsychology, psychotherapy and rehabilitation, depression Experts in Autism
Susan Latham, Ph.D., C.C.C.-S.L.P.Areas of ExpertiseAutism Spectrum Disorder, early language and literacy, child communicative disorders Experts in Biology
Richard Jensen, Ph.D.Areas of ExpertiseEvolution, plant systematics and taxonomy, plants in our daily lives, origin and evolution of crop plants, ecology
Doris Watt, Ph.D.Areas of Expertiseorinthology (study of birds), environmental issues Experts in Business
John Cergnul, J.D., C.P.A.Areas of Expertiseaccounting, income tax, tax assistance
Jerome McElroy, Ph.D.Areas of Expertiseprinciples of economics, macroeconomics, international trade, development, development problems of small islands
Claude Renshaw, M.B.A., C.P.A.Areas of Expertiseaccounting, income tax, tax assistance
Michael Robinson, M.B.A.Areas of Expertisecorporate finance (financing and investment decisions of a company), international finance (financing and investment decisions of a company that does business outside the U.S.), investments, derivatives, bonds, loans, mortgages
Susan Vance, J.D., C.P.A.Areas of Expertisefinancial literacy (teaching budgeting and investing basics to non-business students), business law, women and entrepreneurship
Jill Vihtelic, M.B.A.Areas of Expertisepersonal financial planning, business ethics, strategic management Experts in Career Development
Stacie Jeffirs, M.Ed.Areas of Expertisechoosing a major, career counseling, job searching, networking, resume/cover letter writing, interviewing skills, hiring college graduates, internships (student and employer perspectives), career development across the lifespan, career counseling Experts in Chemistry/Physics
Toni Barstis, Ph.D.Areas of Expertisechemistry, physics
Christopher Dunlap, Ph.D.Areas of ExpertiseChemistry Experts in Child Abuse and Neglect
Frances Kominkiewicz, M.S.W., Ph.D.Areas of Expertisechild welfare, child abuse and neglect, sibling abuse, school social work, family violence, social policy issues, family relationships, parent-child relationships, marital relationships, community-based research, bullying, school violence, conflict resolution, anti-violence education Experts in Communicative Disorders
Susan Latham, Ph.D., C.C.C.-S.L.P.Areas of ExpertiseAutism Spectrum Disorder, early language and literacy, child communicative disorders Experts in Consumer Culture
Susan Alexander, Ph.D.Areas of ExpertiseMass media and gender (particularly masculinity in American media culture), consumer culture, hyper-consumption Experts in Dance
Indi Dieckgrafe, M.F.A.Areas of ExpertiseDance performance, training and history, careers in dance, arts and social activism Experts in Depression
Catherine Pittman, Ph.D., H.S.S.P.Areas of Expertiseclinical psychology, therapy, brain injury, anxiety (co-authored book on subject), post traumatic stress disorder, sexual assault, stress, anxiety disorders, learning disabilities and attention deficit disorder, neuropsychology, psychotherapy and rehabilitation, depression Experts in Diversity
Mana Derakhshani, Ph.D.Areas of Expertisecultures, languages, intercultural studies, the Bahá’í Faith
Elaine Meyer-Lee, Ed.D.Areas of Expertisecollege student development around issues of difference, intercultural competence, intercultural engagement, international and multicultural education and outcomes assessment, women's leadership for social change
Terri L. Russ, J.D., Ph.D.Areas of Expertisefemale body dissatisfaction (wrote book on subject), female beauty, how women are portrayed in the media
Bettina Spencer, Ph.D.Areas of Expertisestereotyping and prejudice, media, gender, race/ethnicity, social class, public’s fascination with reality television, standardized testing, rape myths, rape blame
Julie Storme, Ph.D.Areas of Expertiseidentity of Muslim women living in Western cultures, cultural competence, intercultural competence, power and privilege, interracial dialogue
Leslie Wang, Ph.D.Areas of Expertiserace and ethnicity, Asian Americans, education topics (especially higher education)
Alice Siqin Yang, Ph.D.Areas of Expertisestudy abroad, intercultural learning, preparing students to function effectively in global society Experts in Divorce
Carolyne Call, M.Div., Ph.D.Areas of ExpertiseIssues around faith and social action, civic engagement, volunteering, spirituality and divorce (wrote book on subject), spirituality and forgiveness
Frances Kominkiewicz, M.S.W., Ph.D.Areas of Expertisechild welfare, child abuse and neglect, sibling abuse, school social work, family violence, social policy issues, family relationships, parent-child relationships, marital relationships, community-based research, bullying, school violence, conflict resolution, anti-violence education Experts in Economics
Jerome McElroy, Ph.D.Areas of Expertiseprinciples of economics, macroeconomics, international trade, development, development problems of small islands Experts in Education Issues
Catherine "Kitty" Green, Ph.D.Areas of Expertiseeducation issues, school reform, No child left behind, principalship (secondary), secondary education, teacher preparation, teacher retention
Kelly Harrington, M.S.Areas of ExpertiseArt education
Frances Kominkiewicz, M.S.W., Ph.D.Areas of Expertisechild welfare, child abuse and neglect, sibling abuse, school social work, family violence, social policy issues, family relationships, parent-child relationships, marital relationships, community-based research, bullying, school violence, conflict resolution, anti-violence education
Susan Latham, Ph.D., C.C.C.-S.L.P.Areas of ExpertiseAutism Spectrum Disorder, early language and literacy, child communicative disorders
Elaine Meyer-Lee, Ed.D.Areas of Expertisecollege student development around issues of difference, intercultural competence, intercultural engagement, international and multicultural education and outcomes assessment, women's leadership for social change
Patrick Pierce, Ph.D.Areas of Expertiseelections and voting behavior, women and politics, politics of legalized gambling, lotteries/gambling funding education, morality and social policy
Catherine Pittman, Ph.D., H.S.S.P.Areas of Expertiseclinical psychology, therapy, brain injury, anxiety (co-authored book on subject), post traumatic stress disorder, sexual assault, stress, anxiety disorders, learning disabilities and attention deficit disorder, neuropsychology, psychotherapy and rehabilitation, depression
Bettina Spencer, Ph.D.Areas of Expertisestereotyping and prejudice, media, gender, race/ethnicity, social class, public’s fascination with reality television, standardized testing, rape myths, rape blame
Mary Ann Traxler, Ph.D.Areas of Expertisereading, language arts, children's literature
Leslie Wang, Ph.D.Areas of Expertiserace and ethnicity, Asian Americans, education topics (especially higher education) Experts in English
Rosalind Clark, Ph.D.Areas of ExpertiseIrish literature, Celtic mythology, medieval English literature, history of the English language Experts in Environment
Doris Watt, Ph.D.Areas of Expertiseorinthology (study of birds), environmental issues Experts in Ethics
Sister Kathleen Dolphin, P.B.V.M., Ph.D.Areas of Expertisespirituality, intersection of science and religion, Catholic Church faith and doctrine, ethics
Joseph Incandela, Ph.D.Areas of ExpertiseCatholic social teaching, war and peace questions, Catholic Church matters, bioethics
Jill Vihtelic, M.B.A.Areas of Expertisepersonal financial planning, business ethics, strategic management Experts in Evolution
Sister Kathleen Dolphin, P.B.V.M., Ph.D.Areas of Expertisespirituality, intersection of science and religion, Catholic Church faith and doctrine, ethics
Richard Jensen, Ph.D.Areas of ExpertiseEvolution, plant systematics and taxonomy, plants in our daily lives, origin and evolution of crop plants, ecology Experts in Family Violence
Frances Kominkiewicz, M.S.W., Ph.D.Areas of Expertisechild welfare, child abuse and neglect, sibling abuse, school social work, family violence, social policy issues, family relationships, parent-child relationships, marital relationships, community-based research, bullying, school violence, conflict resolution, anti-violence education Experts in Finance/Investing
Claude Renshaw, M.B.A., C.P.A.Areas of Expertiseaccounting, income tax, tax assistance
Michael Robinson, M.B.A.Areas of Expertisecorporate finance (financing and investment decisions of a company), international finance (financing and investment decisions of a company that does business outside the U.S.), investments, derivatives, bonds, loans, mortgages
Susan Vance, J.D., C.P.A.Areas of Expertisefinancial literacy (teaching budgeting and investing basics to non-business students), business law, women and entrepreneurship
Jill Vihtelic, M.B.A.Areas of Expertisepersonal financial planning, business ethics, strategic management Experts in Foreign Affairs
Marc Belanger, Ph.D.Areas of ExpertiseU.S. foreign policy, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, immigration, Latin America, Middle East
David Stefancic, Ph.D.Areas of Expertise19th-21st century European history specializing in Polish, Russian, revolutionary France and modern Irish histories Experts in Gambling
Patrick Pierce, Ph.D.Areas of Expertiseelections and voting behavior, women and politics, politics of legalized gambling, lotteries/gambling funding education, morality and social policy Experts in Health Issues
Ella Harmeyer, M.S., R.N.Areas of Expertisewomen’s health, health care delivery system, poverty and health
Cindy Iavagnilio, M.S.N., C.R.N.A.Areas of Expertisenursing Fundamentals and Clinical Skills, teaching with simulation, Social Security Disability (laws/policies/procedures), legal nurse consultant (providing expert opinion involving breaches of Nursing Care Standards and/or acts of negligence)
Jayne Kendle, M.S.N., R.N.C.Areas of Expertisechild health, pediatric nursing, respite care, the toll of caring for chronically ill family members, nursing shortage, nursing burnout, nursing education
Patricia Keresztes, Ph.D., R.N., C.C.R.N.Areas of Expertisenursing, critical care nursing, cardiovascular nursing, women and cardiovascular disease, nursing research, nursing leadership/management, leadership
Linda Paskiewicz, Ph.D., C.N.M., R.N.Areas of Expertisenursing shortage, nursing burnout, nursing education, published extensively in the areas of obesity, pregnancy, perinatal loss and mothering
Catherine Pittman, Ph.D., H.S.S.P.Areas of Expertiseclinical psychology, therapy, brain injury, anxiety (co-authored book on subject), post traumatic stress disorder, sexual assault, stress, anxiety disorders, learning disabilities and attention deficit disorder, neuropsychology, psychotherapy and rehabilitation, depression Experts in History
Rosalind Clark, Ph.D.Areas of ExpertiseIrish literature, Celtic mythology, medieval English literature, history of the English language
David Stefancic, Ph.D.Areas of Expertise19th-21st century European history specializing in Polish, Russian, revolutionary France and modern Irish histories
William Svelmoe, M. Div., Ph.D.Areas of ExpertiseAmerican history, religious history, American religion, specifically American Protestant evangelicals and evangelical missions Experts in Lottery
Patrick Pierce, Ph.D.Areas of Expertiseelections and voting behavior, women and politics, politics of legalized gambling, lotteries/gambling funding education, morality and social policy Experts in Marital Relationships
Carolyne Call, M.Div., Ph.D.Areas of ExpertiseIssues around faith and social action, civic engagement, volunteering, spirituality and divorce (wrote book on subject), spirituality and forgiveness
Frances Kominkiewicz, M.S.W., Ph.D.Areas of Expertisechild welfare, child abuse and neglect, sibling abuse, school social work, family violence, social policy issues, family relationships, parent-child relationships, marital relationships, community-based research, bullying, school violence, conflict resolution, anti-violence education Experts in Media
Susan Alexander, Ph.D.Areas of ExpertiseMass media and gender (particularly masculinity in American media culture), consumer culture, hyper-consumption
Michael Kramer, J.D., Ph.D.Areas of Expertisepolitical communication, political campaign communication (debates, ads, speeches, Internet), politician and celebrity responses to scandal accusations, presidential communication, communication studies
Terri L. Russ, J.D., Ph.D.Areas of Expertisefemale body dissatisfaction (wrote book on subject), female beauty, how women are portrayed in the media
Bettina Spencer, Ph.D.Areas of Expertisestereotyping and prejudice, media, gender, race/ethnicity, social class, public’s fascination with reality television, standardized testing, rape myths, rape blame Experts in Mental Health
Catherine Pittman, Ph.D., H.S.S.P.Areas of Expertiseclinical psychology, therapy, brain injury, anxiety (co-authored book on subject), post traumatic stress disorder, sexual assault, stress, anxiety disorders, learning disabilities and attention deficit disorder, neuropsychology, psychotherapy and rehabilitation, depression Experts in Music
Jeffrey Jacob, Ph.D.Areas of Expertiseclassical, piano and contemporary music, designing music program for Catholic bilingual school in Honduras
Nancy Menk, D.M.A.Areas of Expertisechoral music, conducting
Daniel Party, Ph.D.Areas of ExpertiseLatin American music, American popular music, has spoken to Michael Jackson's contributions to American popular music, music history
Laurel Thomas, D.M.A.Areas of Expertiseclassical vocal music and opera, vocal diction, has spoken to who the best singers are on American Idol Experts in Nurses/Nursing
Ella Harmeyer, M.S., R.N.Areas of Expertisewomen’s health, health care delivery system, poverty and health
Cindy Iavagnilio, M.S.N., C.R.N.A.Areas of Expertisenursing Fundamentals and Clinical Skills, teaching with simulation, Social Security Disability (laws/policies/procedures), legal nurse consultant (providing expert opinion involving breaches of Nursing Care Standards and/or acts of negligence)
Jayne Kendle, M.S.N., R.N.C.Areas of Expertisechild health, pediatric nursing, respite care, the toll of caring for chronically ill family members, nursing shortage, nursing burnout, nursing education
Patricia Keresztes, Ph.D., R.N., C.C.R.N.Areas of Expertisenursing, critical care nursing, cardiovascular nursing, women and cardiovascular disease, nursing research, nursing leadership/management, leadership
Linda Paskiewicz, Ph.D., C.N.M., R.N.Areas of Expertisenursing shortage, nursing burnout, nursing education, published extensively in the areas of obesity, pregnancy, perinatal loss and mothering Experts in Politics
Marc Belanger, Ph.D.Areas of ExpertiseU.S. foreign policy, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, immigration, Latin America, Middle East
Michael Kramer, J.D., Ph.D.Areas of Expertisepolitical communication, political campaign communication (debates, ads, speeches, Internet), politician and celebrity responses to scandal accusations, presidential communication, communication studies
Patrick Pierce, Ph.D.Areas of Expertiseelections and voting behavior, women and politics, politics of legalized gambling, lotteries/gambling funding education, morality and social policy
Sean Savage, Ph.D.Areas of ExpertiseAmerican democracy, law, the presidency, constitution, civil liberties, public administration Experts in Pop Culture
Susan Alexander, Ph.D.Areas of ExpertiseMass media and gender (particularly masculinity in American media culture), consumer culture, hyper-consumption
Michael Kramer, J.D., Ph.D.Areas of Expertisepolitical communication, political campaign communication (debates, ads, speeches, Internet), politician and celebrity responses to scandal accusations, presidential communication, communication studies
Daniel Party, Ph.D.Areas of ExpertiseLatin American music, American popular music, has spoken to Michael Jackson's contributions to American popular music, music history
Terri L. Russ, J.D., Ph.D.Areas of Expertisefemale body dissatisfaction (wrote book on subject), female beauty, how women are portrayed in the media
Bettina Spencer, Ph.D.Areas of Expertisestereotyping and prejudice, media, gender, race/ethnicity, social class, public’s fascination with reality television, standardized testing, rape myths, rape blame
Laurel Thomas, D.M.A.Areas of Expertiseclassical vocal music and opera, vocal diction, has spoken to who the best singers are on American Idol Experts in Psychology
Catherine Pittman, Ph.D., H.S.S.P.Areas of Expertiseclinical psychology, therapy, brain injury, anxiety (co-authored book on subject), post traumatic stress disorder, sexual assault, stress, anxiety disorders, learning disabilities and attention deficit disorder, neuropsychology, psychotherapy and rehabilitation, depression
Bettina Spencer, Ph.D.Areas of Expertisestereotyping and prejudice, media, gender, race/ethnicity, social class, public’s fascination with reality television, standardized testing, rape myths, rape blame Experts in Religion/Spirituality
Carolyne Call, M.Div., Ph.D.Areas of ExpertiseIssues around faith and social action, civic engagement, volunteering, spirituality and divorce (wrote book on subject), spirituality and forgiveness
Sister Kathleen Dolphin, P.B.V.M., Ph.D.Areas of Expertisespirituality, intersection of science and religion, Catholic Church faith and doctrine, ethics
Anita Houck, Ph.D., Ed.M.Areas of Expertisehumor/laughter, single life, spirituality vs. religion
Joseph Incandela, Ph.D.Areas of ExpertiseCatholic social teaching, war and peace questions, Catholic Church matters, bioethics
Phyllis Kaminski, Ph.D.Areas of ExpertiseWomen's Studies, spirituality and sexuality
William Svelmoe, M. Div., Ph.D.Areas of ExpertiseAmerican history, religious history, American religion, specifically American Protestant evangelicals and evangelical missions Experts in Social Action
Carolyne Call, M.Div., Ph.D.Areas of ExpertiseIssues around faith and social action, civic engagement, volunteering, spirituality and divorce (wrote book on subject), spirituality and forgiveness
Joseph Incandela, Ph.D.Areas of ExpertiseCatholic social teaching, war and peace questions, Catholic Church matters, bioethics
Elaine Meyer-Lee, Ed.D.Areas of Expertisecollege student development around issues of difference, intercultural competence, intercultural engagement, international and multicultural education and outcomes assessment, women's leadership for social change Experts in Social Work
JoAnn Burke, M.S.S., Ph.D.Areas of Expertisedeveloping lifespan communities in urban and rural areas, gerontology education, home- and community-based care, home and community-based long-term care
Frances Kominkiewicz, M.S.W., Ph.D.Areas of Expertisechild welfare, child abuse and neglect, sibling abuse, school social work, family violence, social policy issues, family relationships, parent-child relationships, marital relationships, community-based research, bullying, school violence, conflict resolution, anti-violence education Experts in Study Abroad
Elaine Meyer-Lee, Ed.D.Areas of Expertisecollege student development around issues of difference, intercultural competence, intercultural engagement, international and multicultural education and outcomes assessment, women's leadership for social change
Alice Siqin Yang, Ph.D.Areas of Expertisestudy abroad, intercultural learning, preparing students to function effectively in global society Experts in Taxes
John Cergnul, J.D., C.P.A.Areas of Expertiseaccounting, income tax, tax assistance
Claude Renshaw, M.B.A., C.P.A.Areas of Expertiseaccounting, income tax, tax assistance 
