Presidential Election Experts Available at Holy Cross to Discuss Candidates, Domestic and Foreign Issues

Faculty experts in a wide range of disciplines from the College of the Holy Cross are available to offer distinctive perspectives on some of the hot-button political issues of the 2016 presidential campaign. For more information, or for assistance scheduling an interview, please call Jessica Kennedy at 508-793-2419. Experts listed below may also be contacted for comment directly.

Racial/ethnic politics Melissa Weiner, assistant professor of sociology 508-793-2217 (office), mfweiner@holycross.edu

A sociologist with expertise in race and racial inequalities, Weiner can speak about Islamophobia, anti-Latino racism, mass incarceration and other racial issues.

Political development Daniel Klinghard, professor of political science 508-793-2361 (office), dklingha@holycross.edu

Klinghard specializes in political parties and interest groups; race and ethnic politics; and American political development.

Presidential campaigns; Congressional elections Donald Brand, professor of political science 508-793-3402 (office), dbrand@holycross.edu

Brand specializes in the study of the presidency and American politics. He has also been published over 20 times in Fortune and U.S. News based on op-eds that target the ups and downs of the presidential campaign and where the election may be headed.

Religion and politics; Mormonism, Catholicism Matthew Schmalz, associate professor of religious studies 508-793-2557 (office), mschmalz@holycross.edu

A regular contributor to Crux, the Boston Globe’s website on Catholicism, and a highly sought after media expert, Schmalz can speak about the candidates covering a range of issues that interest and attract Catholic voters. He says, while many conservative Catholic intellectuals are repulsed by Trump, there is some support for him among working class ethnic Catholics who feel disenfranchised by the contemporary political system.

International relations Eric Fleury, visiting assistant professor of political science 508-793-3695 (office), efleury@holycross.edu

An expert in international relations theory, the impact of ideology on diplomacy and military doctrine and Cold War and post-Cold War foreign policy. Fleury can also provide insight on foreign policy analysis.

Foreign policy; Wartime campaigns Jerry Lembcke, associate professor of sociology 508-793-3050 (office), jlembcke@holycross.edu

A Vietnam veteran who has written and commented extensively on the Vietnam War and its impact on U.S. politics today, Lembcke can speak about veterans’ issues, socialism, Clinton’s campaign, neoliberalism, foreign policy, the military and issues in the Middle East and Africa.

Foreign policy; National security Ward Thomas, professor of political science 508-793-3445 (office), wthomas@holycross.edu

An expert in international relations, national security and terrorism, Thomas can provide insight on terrorism and foreign policy issues.

Humanitarianism Denis Kennedy, assistant professor of political science 508-793-3716 (office), dkennedy@holycross.edu

An expert in international organization, global governance and humanitarianism, Kennedy can provide insight on humanitarian assistance.

Sports economics Victor Matheson, professor of economics 508-793-2649 (office), vmatheso@holycross.edu

An expert in sports economics, specifically the economic impact of “mega-sporting events” on host cities, including the Olympics; public finance; the economics of lotteries and gambling; and natural resource economics.