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

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 March:

Dr. Katie Greenan, assistant professor of communication, director of the journalism program and advisor to The Reflector, provided tips for how to communicate with aging Hoosiers on WISH-TV, in connection with the $25,000 grant she received to train and certify healthcare professionals who work with older adults and individuals living with disabilities.

Dr. Pam Wimbush, inaugural dean of UIndy Online and the Sease Institute, sat down for a Q&A with Mirror Indy where she discussed her vision for online learning and shared how she knows personally what it’s like for online students—she was once one herself.

Maranda Williams, adjunct professor of criminal justice and statewide organizer for REFORM Alliance, was interviewed by WISH-TV as well as the Daily Journal because she organized a collaborative immersive reentry simulation for UIndy students in which they took on the identity of a former inmate. The event was also covered by Fox 59 and WRTV which also interviewed students.

Dr. Ted Frantz, chair of the history department and Director of the Institute of Civic Leadership, provided historical context on President Donald Trump’s transactional approach to diplomacy to the Associated Press for a story which ran in local newspapers like the Seymour Tribune or the Greenfield Daily Reporter as well as larger publications around the country like the Atlanta Journal-Constitution or the Boston Globe. Frantz was also quoted in the Daily Journal as part of the coverage for the upcoming Fairbanks Symposium which will examine the connection between religion and civic leadership.

Dr. Jennifer VanSickle, chair of the kinesiology, health & sport sciences program, was interviewed along with a student live on WISH-TV as well as WRTV to promote the 15th annual Special Olympics basketball tournament hosted at the University of Indianapolis and organized by sports management students. She also talked about the upcoming event with the Daily Journal for a frontpage story. The basketball tournament was also covered on the day of the event by WTTV and Fox 59.

Melissa Frost, head softball coach, was recognized by the Circleville Herald for becoming just the 30th coach in NCAA Division II history to reach 900 wins.

Dr. Caron MacPherson, associate professor of nursing and nursing success coach, explained how a bipartisan bill at the Statehouse allowing Indiana high school students to participate in a licensed practical nursing (LPN) program could be good to bring students into the nursing profession for a story in The Statehouse File which was also published in the Daily Journal.

Dr. Craig Seidelson, associate professor of operations and supply chain management, penned an op-ed in which he explored the idea if diplomacy through containing the supply chain really works for SupplyChainBrain.

Dr. Gregory Shufeldt, associate professor of political science, provided context and analysis for Gov. Mike Braun’s signing spree of executive orders in the early days of his administration for a story in the Indianapolis Star, which was republished in other statewide outlets including the Lafayette Journal & Courier and the Muncie Star Press. He also co-authored an op-ed in the Missouri Independent about the ongoing problem of the gender pay gap on Equal Pay Day.

Dr. Matt Will, associate professor of finance,  discussed financial topics like ongoing inflation or the trade war for multiple live interview segments with Tony Katz on WIBC.

Dr. Krista Latham, professor of biology and anthropology, as well as the director of the Human Identification Center, was mentioned in the Times of Northwest Indiana in connection with unidentified skeletal remains recently found in Gary. The lab was also mentioned by the Bloomington Herald-Tribune as well as in the Indianapolis Star when human remains were found in Bloomington.

Carissa Newton, assistant professor of marketing and director of the Stephen F. Fry Business Scholars Program, was quoted in the Seymour Tribune because a local student was selected as part of the inaugural class of scholars.

Dr. Laura Merrifield Wilson, associate professor of political science, was one of the featured guests for several episodes for the politically-minded IN Focus show airing on WXIN as well as on other stations around the state. She moderated a town hall for U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz which turned contentious at times, then shared her experience and analysis of the event with WTHR as well as WPTA. She discussed why Republican leaders in Hamilton County and Carmel are embracing an international strategy with the Indianapolis Star. She shared her expertise with WFYI when there were questions about a political operative’s role with an IPS school board election as well as when U.S. Rep. Jim Baird was fined for failing to properly disclose a campaign loan repayment. She also discussed the idea of bipartisanship and U.S. Sen. Todd Young voting record in the Senate with WPTA.

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.