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:

Amy Foley, associate professor of music therapy and director of music therapy and student support, explained how the newly created Music Therapy Center is enhancing lives to the Daily Journal. She demonstrated a mini-music therapy session live with the anchors of IndyNow for a fun and engaging segment airing on WXIN and WTTV. She also appeared for a live segment discussing the opening of the center and the importance of music therapy on WISH-TV as well as on WTHR+. She also was awarded a PALSave Textbook Creation Grant by Lilly Endowment as described in the Daily Journal.

Dr. Jennifer VanSickle, chair of the Kinesiology, Health & Sport Sciences Department, discussed the upcoming Special Olympics Indiana basketball tournament planned by sport management students on WRTV. She participated in live interviews about the upcoming tournament on both WISH-TV as well as WTHR. On the day of the tournament, she was also interviewed for a series of live interviews on WTHR and on WRTV.

Dr. Milind Thakar, professor of international programs and the director of the international relations graduate program, explained how the Iran airstrikes may impact gas prices, shipping and daily costs for WRTV. He shared his expertise on the conflict for a live interview on WISH-TV. He shared context on the war with the Daily Journal for a story about a Franklin woman whose mother still lives in Iran.

Coran Sigman, live mascot handler and marketing & communications manager, Grady the Greyhound and Grady II were featured guests for a live interview about ‘Adopt-a-Greyhound’ month on Indy Now, airing on both WXIN and WTTV.

Dr. Krista Latham, professor of biology and anthropology, as well as the director of the Human Identification Center, shared her expertise with the Allen County Coroner’s Office to identify the remains found in Spy Run Creek in Fort Wayne as explained by WANE as well as WPTA. She was also mentioned by WANE and WPTA when she returned to the creek to search for more remains several days later. The department of biology and anthropology was also cited by WIBC and the Daily Journal for helping in the investigation of the body of an unidentified man found in Johnson County.

Dr. Tanuja Singh, and Kevin R. Armstrong, Board of Trustees Vice Chair, were quoted in the Daily Journal as the University of Indianapolis honored ACLU’s Ken Falk with the third annual Kevin R. Armstrong Ethical Leadership Award. Singh and Vince Bertram, assistant professor in the School of Business, shared with the Daily Journal how the University was planning its upcoming AI Summit to be human-centered for businesses and organizations.

Dr. Elizabeth Ziff, associate professor of sociology and the co-director of the Community Research Center, discussed the impact of the normalization of public violence after a shooting at a restaurant in Castleton for WRTV.

Andy Serketich, head golf coach, explained how senior Jackson Watkins has blossomed into one of the team’s top players for the Daily Journal.

Dr. Larry Belcher, professor of finance, shared his expertise with WTHR on why the global oil market is the primary driver for rising gas prices at the pump, not an artificial inflation from the gas stations themselves. 

Dr. John Kuykendall, dean of the School of Education, and Dr. Rachel Feldwisch, associate dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, were quoted for how a new school psychology graduate program will address a workforce need for the Daily Journal.

Georgene Nitzsche, assistant professor and graduate program advisor of Interpersonal Health & Aging Studies, was featured in Kiplinger Retirement Report for an article of how ‘solo agers’ are thriving on their own terms.

Dr. Terence Mayhue, associate adjunct professor of music, was mentioned in the Williamsport Review Republican for an upcoming chamber concert of a musical composition he wrote called “The Tale of Poor Tom” by the Danville Symphony Orchestra. Mayhue is the principal percussionist for the orchestra and co-wrote the musical composition.

Dr. Douglas Woodwell, professor of international relations, was mentioned in the Columbus Republic for an upcoming conversation he hosted on the topic of relations between the United States and China.

Lauri Shillings, creative director, was nominated by the Libertarian Party to run Indiana Secretary of State as reported by WFYI and the Indiana Capital Chronicle. Her spot on the ballot was mentioned by the Indianapolis Star when Greg Ballad announced he is planning to run in the same race as well as in an article discussing the effect of his name on the overall race in which Dr. Gregory Shufeldt shared his expert analysis of the situation.

Dr. Gregory Shufeldt, associate professor of political science, discussed the impact the SAVE Act could have on the ongoing partial government shutdown for WRTV.

Dr. Matt Will, associate professor of finance, discussed various financial topics during several live interviews with Tony Katz on WIBC including the economic impact of the Iran War, the February jobs report, the shift to an AI-driven economy, anemic GDP numbers, and inflation numbers.

Dr. Laura Merrifield Wilson, associate professor of political science, shared her expertise with WTHR after Greg Ballard announced his plans to run for secretary of state. She analyzed the effects of his announcement to create the Lincoln Party in a long-form interview for WFYI which was syndicated by WBAA. She discussed the impact of a new state law which creates social media restrictions for children who are younger than 16 years old for a story on WXIN which was syndicated by WANE as well as WEHT. She served as a featured panelist for the IN Focus program on WXIN as well as Indiana Lawmakers on WFYI. She shared her expertise with WXIN and discussed the likelihood of passage after a Congressional bill was introduced that would prevent the Chicago Bears from moving to Indiana in a story which was syndicated by places like WANE as well as NewsNation. She provided context to the key endorsements in Indiana’s 4th Congressional District for WTHR. She discussed the upcoming primary season in an extended interview on UIndy adjunct professor Abdul-Hakim Shabazz’s IndyPolitics.org website. 

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.