University of Iowa Experts List

This list is intended for media only. The page will be updated as new experts become available. Questions on areas of expertise not represented in this list should be directed to UNS Director Linda Kettner at (319) 384-0030, linda-kettner@uiowa.edu, or Assistant Director Stephen Pradarelli at (319) 384-0007, stephen-pradarelli@uiowa.edu.

General Questions About The University of Iowa

Steve Parrott, director of University Relations, can be reached at (319) 335-0552, or via e-mail at steven-parrott@uiowa.edu.

UI Students Working As Washington Interns

Nine UI students are in Washington D.C. working as interns at various government agencies or lobbyist groups as part the Washington Center internship program and the UI Career Center. Contact Dave Fitzgerald at the Career Center (319) 335-1023 to make arrangements to talk with students about what they went through after the evacuation of govenment buildings in the city. See also Washington Center press advisories on this at http://www.twc.edu/ (clicking on link will open a separate browser window)

National Security/Foreign Affairs/International Relations

National Security and Humanitarian Issues

Christopher Rossi is a lecturer of international law at the UI College of Law. His speciality areas include human rights, international courts and tribunals, religious persecution abroad, and the law of war. He is versed on such topics as U.S. foreign policy and international trade and investment. Rossi is a former director of Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs at the National Security Council, under former President Clinton, has worked on non-proliferation issues at the United Nations' International Atomic Energy Agency and on the psychology of deterrence project with the Arms Control Association, a division of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. He is the author of two books on international law ("Equity and International Law" and "Broken Chain of Being: James Brown Scott and the Origins of Modern International Law") and assorted articles on international law and relations. He can be reached at (319) 335-4151 or by e-mail at c-rossi@uiowa.edu.

Reaction From International Writers

Christopher Merrill, director of the International Writing Program, was in Sarajevo during the siege there and was nearly hit by a sniper's bullet. He wrote the acclaimed book "Only the Nails Remain" about the conflict there. We also have 30 writers now in residence, and he can reflect on their responses, and the responses that have been communicated to them from their countries. He can be reached at (319) 936-1499, or by e-mail at christopher-merrill@uiowa.edu.

Locherbie Crash/Terrorism

Clark Blaise, director emeritus of the International Writing Program, is the co-author of "The Sorrow and the Terror," a book about the Locherbie terrorist crash. He can be reached at (415) 681-0345, or by e-mail at clarquito@aol.com.

International Law/Middle East

University of Iowa Law Professor of Law Adrien Wing specializes in international law, particularly Middle Eastern and Palestinian issues. She has been a consultant to the United Nations and the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations. She also has served as an advisor to the Palestinian Legislative Council relative to Palestine's future constitutional options. She is nationally regarded for her work and writings on legal decision-making in the Palestinian intifada. She can be reached at (319) 335-9129. Alternate UNS contact: Melvin Shaw, (319) 384-0010.

Middle East - General Questions

Reza Aslan, who is Iranian, is a visiting instructor of religion working on an MFA in the UI Writers' Workshop. He is currently teaching "Religion and Politics" and "Intro to Islam." He can be reached at (319) 335-2164 or (319) 335-0416, or via e-mail at reza-aslan@uiowa.edu.

Environmental Politics And Middle Eastern Politics

Jeannie Sowers, who has lived in Egypt, is a visiting professor of political science. She can be reached at (319) 335-2574 (work) or (319) 337-9446 (home).

Potential Threat of Bioterrorism

Mary Gilchrist, director of the UI Hygienic Laboratory. She can be reached at (319) 335-4500.

International Conflict/U.S. Foreign Policy

Brian Lai, assistant professor of political science, is an expert on international conflict and U.S. foreign policy. He can be reached at (319) 335-2353. Alternate UNS contact: Mary Geraghty Kenyon, (319) 384-0011.

International Perceptions of America and Americans

Rich Horwitz, professor of American Studies, can speak to the effects of terrorist attacks on the American psyche, perceptions of America and Americans overseas, and the dangers of jumping to conclusions based on unconfirmed rumors fueled by xenophobia. He can be reached at (319) 335-0321. Alternate UNS contact: Mary Geraghty Kenyon, (319) 384-0011.

Psychological Issues

How Children Respond to Violent Acts/How Adults Can Help Children Understand Such Acts

Dan Clay, , a counseling psychologist specializing in children's issues and an associate professor in the UI College of Education's Division of Psychologica and Quantitative Foundations, can discuss how children respond to war, acts of terrorism and other large-scale violence. Last December Clay traveled to East Timor to help children there cope with the psychological impact of war in their country. He can also discuss how parents and other adults can help children understand such events. He can be reached at (319) 335-5639. Alternate UNS contact: Stephen Pradarelli, (319) 384-0007.

Dr. Chris Okiishi, Child Psychiatry. Okiishi is available from 1 to 3 p.m. today. He can be contacted at (319) 353-6314.

Family Counseling

Dr. David Rosenthal, director of the Family Stress Clinic in the UI Dept of Family Medicine's Counseling and Health Promotion Service. He can be reached by phone at (319) 384-7900.

Psychological Effects of Large-Scale Violence on People

Sam Cochran, director of the University of Iowa Counseling Service, can speak to reporters about the psychological impact of large-scale attacks like those witnessed this morning, an attack that Cochran terms, "a trauma of unimaginable proportion." He can be reached at (319) 335-7294. Alternate UNS contact: Mary Geraghty Kenyon, (319) 384-0011.

John Harvey, professor of psychology, can speak about trauma, grief, and bereavement issues. He can be reached at (319) 354-8309.

Helping Rescue Workers Cope With Tragedy

Kathy Kikendall, assistant dean in the UI College of Education and a licensed psychologist in private practice with Marchman Psychology Associates in Iowa City, has been trained by the Red Cross in national disaster mental health to provide crisis counseling to Red Cross workers. She can be reached at (319) 335-5383. Alternate UNS contact: Stephen Pradarelli, (319) 384-0007.

Engineering Issues

Structural Engineering/Transportation

Wilfrid Nixon, professor of civil and environmental engineering in the College of Engineering, can speak to issues of structural integrity, as well as to transportation systems. He can be reached at (319) (319) 335-5166. Alternate UNS contact: Gary Galluzzo, (319) 384-0009.

Economic Issues

Impact of Attacks on National Financial Community

William Albrecht, professor of economics and former commissioner on the Commodities Futures Trading Commission, can comment on how various commodities and futures exchanges will resume trading in coming days. He is also comment on CFTC operations after the destruction of its New York office on the 37th floor of the World Trade Center. He can reached at (319) 335-3125 or by e-mail at william-albrecht@uiowa.edu.

Jim Ledinsky, director of the Hawkinson Institute of Business Finance, can comment about the impact of the terrorist acts this morning on the financial community. Ledinsky, who worked at Morgan Stanley in New York City for seven years, can also comment about backups to trading systems that might kick in after situations like this. He can be reached at (319) 335-0940. Alternate UNS contact: George McCrory, (319) 384-0012.

Tom Rietz, associate professor of finance, can comment on the impact of disaster on the financial community, and psychological impact on the markets. He can be reached at (319) 335-0856 (work) or (319) 335-1579 (home).

Stephen Williamson, professor of economics and head of the Department of Economics, can comment on possible long-term economic implications of the attack, such as effects of disrupted air travel. He added the attacks could mean increased pressure for military spending. He can be reached at (319) 335-0831

Medical Issues

Emergency Treatment Centers/Trauma/Burn Victims

Dr. Andrew Nugent, director of the UI Emergency Treatment Center, can be reached at (319) 356-6360.

Dr. G. Patrick Kealey, trauma center specialist and director of the Burn Unit, can be reached at (319) 356-3221.