UIndy Faculty, Staff Provide Expert Insight to Local & National Media in October
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 October:
Dr. Krista Latham, professor of biology and anthropology, as well as the director of the Human Identification Center, received widespread recognition for her role in identifying a 4,270-year-old human skull which was found in Fayette County, from local media outlets like WRTV, the Indianapolis Star as well as WTHR, to major publications like USA Today to KTLA in Los Angeles or PIX11 in New York City. It even got worldwide attention thanks to The Independent and People Magazine picking up the story too. Additionally, Latham explained the science behind the dating of the skull for an additional story with WRTV. The Human Identification Center was mentioned for its role in doing additional excavations at Fox Hollow Farm by WXIN and Current Publications as well as for their role assisting police for an ongoing murder case in Clinton as reported by WTWO in Terre Haute.
Rev. Arionne Lynch, university chaplain and director of the Lantz Center, was interviewed live on both WXIN as well as WTHR to publicize the upcoming Called & Crafted Conference, designed to help pastors and ministry leaders who are feeling burned out.
Dr. Tanuja Singh, and Coran Sigman, live mascot handler and marketing & communications manager, were interviewed to explain the meaning and significance of what a live mascot does for the UIndy community in connection with the grand introduction of Grady II to campus for the Daily Journal as well as on WRTV, on WISH-TV, on WTHR and WXIN. Singh was also quoted by the Daily Journal as part of the Celebration of Flags festivities.
Brent Noble, head coach of the men’s swimming & diving teams, and Katie Christman, associate director of athletics for compliance, shared their perspectives as the NCAA announced a rules change that will allow college athletes to bet on professional sports for a story on WXIN, which was syndicated by places like WANE in Fort Wayne or WCIA in Champaign, Illinois.
Dr. Isabell Mills, associate professor and director of the sport management program, provided expert analysis to WTHR in the midst of an ongoing battle between the WNBA and the players union over a new collective bargaining agreement.
Dr. Ken Reid, associate dean and director of the R.B. Annis School of Engineering, and Dr. Joan Martinez, assistant professor of engineering, were interviewed or featured in a Mirror Indy story which described how new engineering programs at Indianapolis-area colleges and universities are providing alternatives to Purdue University.
Cyndi Carrasco, vice president and general counsel, was highlighted as the keynote speaker for the Sparkling Success Leadership Luncheon for a story in the Clinton County Daily News. She was recognized by her alma mater, Canutillo High School, as its Outstanding Ex during homecoming week—a distinction that earned her a profile piece on KVIA in her hometown of El Paso.
Dr. Amanda Miller, professor of sociology, and Dr. James Willis, assistant professor of practice of philosophy & religion, penned an OpEd together on the topic of the role of college in an AI economy for the Indiana Capital Chronicle, which was subsequently picked up by other outlets including the Brown County Democrat and the Lebanon Reporter. Miller and Carissa Newton, assistant professor of practice of marketing and director of the Stephen F. Fry Scholars Program, explained how collecting and allocating Halloween candy could help teach children about personal finance for a story on WalletHub.
Ryon Kaopuiki, vice president for enrollment management, provided comments and feedback in connection to a proposal to expand applicant data collection at the federal level which were quoted in Higher Ed Dive.
Dr. Christopher Moore, professor of anthropology, shared his ongoing research of the Wabash & Erie Canal with the Heritage Keepers Club in Carroll County and was scheduled to speak at the annual meeting of the county’s canal association as explained in the Carroll County Comet.
Dr. Matt Will, associate professor of finance, explained why Indiana’s special session will also major tackle tax updates in addition to redistricting for a story in the Indiana Capital Chronicle which was also published by Inside Indiana Business and WLFI in Lafayette. He discussed various financial topics including increasing inflation numbers for multiple live interview segments with Tony Katz on WIBC.
Felix Baum, adjunct professor in the School of Business, was interviewed by the Wall Street Journal for a story about how rising fees are forcing premium credit-card holders to choose sides.
Dr. Laura Merrifield Wilson, associate professor of political science, shared expert analysis with WRTV as the federal government shut down for the first time since 2019. She answered questions about redistricting and described what good redistricting would look for a story in Mirror Indy and WISH-TV as well as WFYI, which was then syndicated by WNIN and the Indiana Public Broadcasting website. She explained the significance of a poll showing Hoosiers are unhappy with their elected officials and redistricting efforts with The Indiana Citizen. She analyzed the meaning as voting rights advocates delivered a petition against redistricting to Gov. Braun for WTHR. She discussed the potential that votes weren’t there for redistricting in a story on WXIN which was widely syndicated in more than 60 places, then further discussed the issue a few days later when Gov. Braun said he was confident of its success. She presented on the redistricting topic to groups of voters for the first of a series of three educational listening sessions which was covered by Indiana Public Broadcasting and WFYI as well as The Indiana Citizen, which also publicized the event in advance along with WTHR. She served as one of the featured guests for multiple episodes of the politically-minded IN Focus show airing on WXIN as well as on other stations around the state. She and Gregoy Shufeldt were both interviewed by the Indianapolis Business Journal for a story explaining the logistics of how the courts could stand in the way of redistricting efforts.
Dr. Gregory Shufeldt, associate professor of political science, explained the significance behind a surge of new Turning Point chapters surging across the state in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination for CNHI News, which appeared in places like the Kokomo Tribune as well as the Indiana Economic Digest. He shared his expertise with the Indianapolis Star for a story about why young progressives say they don’t feel inspired by the Democratic Party as well as how redistricting could dilute Black voting power in Indiana. He discussed the topic and fight over restricting and the upcoming special session in an interview with WFYI.
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.