West Virginia University felt the terror that gripped the nation 15 years ago – and changed our world forever.

Two WVU alumni were among the nearly 3,000 people killed in the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. And in the years since the attacks, a number of WVU faculty have searched for answers about why they happened. They have learned valuable information about the short- and long-term effects of global terrorism, the political implications, and techniques that may help to keep us safer in the future.

WVU faculty who can offer analysis include:

Homeland Security/Preparedness:
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 lnichol2@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 can be reached at 304.293.8843 or by email at joshua.woods@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 304.581.1826 or by email at Robert.Duval@hsc.wvu.edu.

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 304.293.9535 or by email at scott.crichlow@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 304.293.9531 or by email at jhagan@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

Media Trends and Cultural Effects:
Julia Daisy Fraustino is an assistant professor and associate director of the Public Interest Communication Research lab in the Media Innovation Center at the WVU Reed College of Media. She researches strategic communication surrounding risks, disasters and crises; ethics; and digital and social media. Fraustino 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

Rhonda Reymond at the 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 by email at rhonda.reymond@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 alumni died in 9/11 attacks:
Two WVU alumni – Chris S. Gray and Jim K. Samuel Jr. – were among the nearly 3,000 people killed in the attacks.

Gray, a 1994 graduate and former backup quarterback at WVU, was working as a broker at Cantor Fitzgerald in the World Trade Center.

Jim Samuel Jr., a 1993 WVU graduate, worked on the 92nd floor as an assistant commodities broker with Carr Futures. A seal of WVU is currently located in the circular drive at the Erickson Alumni Center in memory of Samuel.

Scholarships have been created in memory of Gray and Samuel. For further information, contact the WVU Foundation.

An evergreen tree was also planted near WVU’s Downtown Library one year after the attacks and stands today as a memorial to the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001.

-WVU-

ak/09/01/16

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