UIndy Faculty, Staff Provide Expert Insight to Local & National Media in July

As part of their commitment to “education for service,” faculty and staff at the University of Indianapolis share their expertise with local and national news outlets in order to keep our community informed and to introduce new perspectives on current issues.

UIndy faculty and staff were featured in the following news stories in July:

Dr. Ted Frantz, chair of the history department and Director of the Institute of Civic Leadership, was interviewed by the Associated Press about former President Barack Obama’s dilemma in handling the controversy surrounding President Biden’s reelection campaign for a story which was syndicated by a wide variety of outlets, from ABC News to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Philadelphia Tribune and Los Angeles Times.

School of Education Dean John Kuykendall was interviewed on WISH-TV as the University announced an expanded partnership with Teach For America in an effort to ease the statewide teacher shortage.

Dr. Matt Will, associate professor of finance, was quoted by the Indianapolis Business Journal for a story analyzing Lilly’s chances of becoming a trillion-dollar company in terms of market value thanks to its soaring stock price. He also provided his expertise for multiple interviews with Tony Katz on WIBC.

Dr. Milind Thakar, professor of international relations, penned an op-ed which appeared in American Kahani analyzing the ongoing presidential campaign shortly after Vice President Kamala Harris became the presumptive Democratic Party nominee.

Ben Houston, assistant director of admissions, shared about the University’s expanded 2+2 Transfer Degree program which now includes both mechanical engineering and environmental science in a live interview on WISH-TV as well as to the Daily Journal. 

Dr. Craig Seidelson, associate professor of operations and supply chain management, discussed recessions and the modern US economy for an article which appeared in MoneyGeek.

Maribel Campoy, assistant professor of Spanish, accompanied recent graduate Mary Burton to discuss Burton’s Honors College research for how language barriers impact patients in health care settings for a live interview which aired on WISH-TV.

Michelle Itczak, assistant professor and director of counseling, was elected to a two-year term as the Chair of the Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education (ACATE). She will lead the review and monitoring of art therapy master’s degrees which are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). The news was shared in the monthly ACATE Canvas newsletter.

Dr. Krista Latham, professor of biology and anthropology, as well as the director of the Human Identification Center, explained how advances in DNA technology are helping identify victims of suspected serial killer Herb Baumeister at Fox Hollow Farm for a story on WISH-TV which was later picked up by other outlets including WIBC.

Kara Heichelbech, adjunct professor in the School of Education, was mentioned by the Daily Journal as one of the 25 people who applied to fill a seat on the Center Grove school board which was vacant due to the death of a former board member.

Dr. Vincent O. van Empeh, assistant professor of practice in the School of Business, discussed the best Chase credit cards for traveling as well as the best credit cards for groceries with MoneyGeek.

Dr. Stephen Nawrocki, Sease Distinguished Professor of Forensic Studies as well as professor of biology, was credited for his help in helping solve the death of a 21-year-old art student in 2011 for a story in the Hamilton Journal-News (Ohio) before the sentencing of the man who pleaded to a degree of involuntary manslaughter.

Dr. Rebecca Barton, associate professor emerita of health sciences and recent recipient of the Dementia Friends Indiana Advocate Award, shared her powerful message of what it’s like to live with dementia with WRTV, an effort she hopes will break down stigma surrounding the condition.

Dr. Laura Merrifield Wilson, associate professor of political science, shared her expertise on top issues for women voters for CNHI Newspapers’ Featured Centerpiece, a story which appeared in outlets statewide like the Jeffersonville News and Tribune, the Washington Times Herald and the Lebanon Reporter. She analyzed the impact of several recent key Supreme Court decisions for Indiana Public Media. She discussed the Indiana Attorney General’s race featuring incumbent Todd Rokita (R) and Destiny Wells (D) as well as the impact of Black Greek organizations mobilizing more people to get to the polls for WRTV. She explained the impact of the General Assembly and the bills which were passed and its impact on some of the lesser-known races on the ballot for voters at the polls for The Statehouse File. She was also interviewed on WTTV  immediately after President Joe Biden announced he was no longer going to run for another term as well as on WRTV about the topic of political apathy. She was also highlighted by the Daily Journal as the moderator for the Indiana gubernatorial debate which will take place in October.

Are you a UIndy faculty or staff member who was recently featured in the media? Let the Office of Communications and Marketing know at newsdesk@uindy.edu to be included in the next monthly update.