As investigations into the most recent terrorist attacks move forward, several West Virginia University faculty members are available to discuss issues related to terrorism, political landscape, humanitarian concerns, homeland security, and media coverage.

Foreign Policy and Global Economic Effects:
Scott Crichlow, chair of the WVU Department of Political Science, specializes in U.S. foreign policy and Middle Eastern politics. He can be reached at 304.293.3198 or by email at scott.crichlow@mail.wvu.edu

Eric Olson is an assistant professor in the College of Business and Economics whose work explores the economic cost of terrorism. He co-authored a book called “Measuring the Economic Costs of Terrorism.” He can be reached at 304.293.7879 or by email at eric.olson@mail.wvu.edu

David Hauser is an assistant professor of political science whose research and teaching concern international conflict and range from the origins of Great Power conflicts and interventions to the dynamics of 21st Century conflict. He is the lead instructor of the Department’s introductory Global Political Issues course, and he is involved in a variety of the Department’s courses in national security analysis. Along with the honors seminar on the Origins of War, he has taught Transformation of War and is currently developing courses on the Introduction to National Security Analysis and on Intelligence Failures. He may be reached at 304.293.9541.

Joe Hagan, Barnette Professor in Political Science within the WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, teaches courses in foreign policy and international relations and serves as the director of the International Studies Program. His research examines the domestic political sources of foreign policy as they relate to war, peace and change in international politics. He may be reached at 304.293.2595 or by email at jhagan@mail.wvu.edu

Constitutional Law and Other Legal Issues:
James Friedberg from the WVU College of Law offers expertise in international law, including the law of war, human rights law and United Nations law. He can be reached at 304.293.7400 or by email at james.friedberg@mail.wvu.edu

Arthur Rizer, a law professor, is an Iraq war veteran who helped to train the Iraqi Army. He also served as a national security litigator at the Department of Justice and civil litigator with the Office of Immigration Litigation. He can be reached by email at arthur.rizer@mail.wvu.edu

Michael Blumenthal, visiting professor of law and director of the Immigration Clinic at the College of Law. He can be reached at 304.293.6835 or by email at michael.blumenthal@mail.wvu.edu

Homeland Security and Workplace Safety:
Rusty Russell is the research program coordinator at the WVU Research Office and has expertise in homeland security issues, critical infrastructure, as well as the training and preparedness of first and emergency responders. He can be reached at 304.293.5037 or by email at rusty.russell@mail.wvu.edu

Robert Duval is chair for the Department of Healthy Policy, management, and Leadership at the WVU School of Public Health. His areas of expertise include domestic extremism, policy research methods, and national security policy. He can be reached at 304.293.1826 or by email at rduval2@hsc.wvu.edu

Bob Roberts, chief and director of the University Police Department, is available to speak on issues of preparedness, campus safety and emergency communication. He can be reached at 304.293.3136 or bob.roberts@mail.wvu.edu

Elyce Biddle is an associate professor in the Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources. Her specialty is industrial management and systems. She can address the economics of workplace safety and health, which may include the burden to society and employers. She can also speak to the integration of workplace safety and health into corporate sustainability policies. Before coming to WVU, Biddle was a senior research economist at NIOSH. She can be reached by email at elyce.biddle@mail.wvu.edu

Humanitarian Concerns, Sociology and Support:
Lawrence Nichols is a professor of sociology and anthropology who teaches on the sociology behind terrorism, including causes and socio-cultural contexts as well as future trends. He can be reached by calling 304.293.5801 or email at larry.nichols@mail.wvu.edu

Joshua Woods is an associate professor of sociology. His research has focused primarily on the social and psychological responses to terrorism and other perceived threats. He studies the social construction of terrorism, the political rhetoric and media coverage associated with the threat, the public’s elevated worries about the danger and the effect of these concerns on social attitudes, beliefs and behaviors. He can be reached at 304.293.8843 or by email at joshua.woods@mail.wvu.edu

Karen Culcasi, associate professor of geography, has been working with Syrian refugees in Jordan for two years. She has documented the daily and long-term challenges of displacement. She can be reached at 304.293.0383 or by email at Karen.culcasi@mail.wvu.edu

Cynthia Gorman is an assistant professor of geography and women’s and gender studies whose research examines refugee and asylum law. She may be reached by email at cynthia.gorman@mail.wvu.edu

Grace Atebe is the assistant director of student support and development in WVU’s Office of International Students and Scholars. She can speak about issues related to student organization, support, activities and programming. She can be reached at 304.293.5937 or by email at grace.atebe@mail.wvu.edu

David Stewart is the associate vice president for International Student Life and Global Services. He also oversees the Office of International Programs (Study Abroad) and can speak to issues related to the Office of Immigration. He may be reached at 304.293.5811 or by email at david.stewart@mail.wvu.edu

Tom Sloane is the director for International Student Life and Global Services. He may be reached at 304.293.5611 or by email at tom.sloane@mail.wvu.edu

David Fryson, vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion. Fryson, an attorney and ordained minister, has spent his entire life working on issues of diversity. He can be reached at 304.293.3431 or by email at david.fryson@mail.wvu.edu

Chris Martin, MD, MSc, is the director of the Global Engagement Office, Health Sciences. He’s widely travelled in Middle East and can comment on various countries and cultures there. Dr. Martin coordinates WVU’s presence in Oman and programs with Kuwait and other nations. He also coordinates WVU student travel to international health programs and projects. In addition, Dr. Martin can speak about higher education and health professions education in the region. He can be reached at 304.293.2693 or by email at cmartin@hsc.wvu.edu

Media Trends and Coverage:
Nancy Andrews is an Ogden Visiting Professor for Media Innovation at the WVU Reed College of Media. She is a veteran digital media editor and visual journalist, who was most recently the Chief of Innovation at the Detroit Free Press. There, she handled leading innovation in news, products and new models for journalism and revenue. Andrews also served as the publication’s managing editor for digital and is an expert at audience analysis. She is available by email at nancy.andrews@mail.wvu.edu

Julia Daisy Fraustino a visiting assistant professor at the WVU Reed College of Media who uses quantitative and qualitative methods to research strategic communication surrounding risks, disasters and crises; ethics; and digital and social media. She is also a research affiliate at the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START). She can be reached at 304.293.7005 or by email at jdfraustino@mail.wvu.edu

Other Areas of Interest:
Rhonda Reymond at the WVU College of Creative Arts can speak to the destruction of cultural resources as an act of terror or intimidation. She’s published an extensive lesson plan on Art History Teaching Resources on “Art and Cultural Heritage Looting and Destruction. She can be reached at 304.293.3182 or by email at rhonda.reymond@mail.wvu.edu

Ari Bryen is an assistant professor of history in WVU’s Eberly College of Arts and Sciences and can speak to issues related to legal and social history. He may be reached at 304.293.9407 or by email at ari.bryen@mail.wvu.edu

West Virginia University experts can provide commentary, insights and opinions on various news topics. Search for an expert by name, title, area of expertise, or college/school/department in the Experts Database at WVU Today.

-WVU-

ak/12/9/15

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