Media Tip Sheet Â?? Colorado State University Experts on Upcoming Elections and Political Topics
As the election season continues and Colorado prepares for the 2008 Democratic National Convention, Colorado State University has experts available to discuss a variety of topics related to politics, elections and issues that are going to be discussed in the Legislature. Following is a list of faculty members intended for reporter use only and not for publication.
Colorado politics
John Straayer, professor of political science, has more than 40 years experience researching and teaching Colorado politics, and for more than 25 years, he has supervised Colorado State’s internship program at the Colorado state Capitol. Straayer can speak on state candidate races, ballot initiatives and referenda and Colorado political history. To speak with Straayer, contact Kimberly Sorensen at (970) 491-0757 or Kimberly.Sorensen@colostate.edu.
Party and voter behavior
Kyle L. Saunders is associate professor of political science. Saunders’ studies and interests include American politics, with particular emphases on public opinion, political behavior, U.S. and Colorado elections, public policy – particularly election administration and energy policy – political parties and political methodology. Saunders’ research has included topics relating to election administration, ideological polarization of the electorate, campaign finance and political parties, electoral politics, and citizen participation and efficacy. To speak with Saunders, contact Kimberly Sorensen at (970) 491-0757 or Kimberly.Sorensen@colostate.edu.
Local politics and administration
Scott T. Moore is an associate professor of political science. He has observed Colorado’s politics for more than 20 years. He specializes in state and local politics, public administration, and he has recently focused his research on Colorado tax politics and the state’s citizen-initiated financial policies. To speak with Moore, contact Kimberly Sorensen at (970) 491-0757 or Kimberly.Sorensen@colostate.edu.
Campaign finance and renewable energy
Robert J. Duffy is a professor of political science. Duffy’s research and interests include American politics, with particular emphasis on elections, interest groups and energy policy. Duffy’s research has included topics relating to campaign finance, including the role of independent spending in federal elections. He is also interested in renewable energy and environmental politics and policy issues. To speak with Duffy, contact Kimberly Sorensen at (970) 491-0757 or Kimberly.Sorensen@colostate.edu.
Politics in the rural West
Bill Chaloupka, professor of political science, has also taught and studied in Montana, New Mexico and Arizona, and has been observing the politics of Colorado and the rural West for more than 30 years. Chaloupka can speak about electoral politics and political histories. He also studies environmental politics in the West and in the United States. To speak with Chaloupka, contact Kimberly Sorensen at (970) 491-0757 or Kimberly.Sorensen@colostate.edu.
Women leaders and U.S. political culture
Karrin Anderson is an associate professor of speech communication. Anderson’s research focuses on contemporary U.S. political culture, with special emphasis on national presidential campaign communication and gender and political leadership. Her work on Hillary Clinton and other women leaders has been published in scholarly journals, and she is co-author of the book "Governing Codes: Gender, Metaphor, and Political Leadership." To speak with Anderson, contact Kimberly Sorensen at (970) 491-0757 or Kimberly.Sorensen@colostate.edu.
Regional competitiveness and the Colorado economy
Martin Shields is regional economist and associate professor of economics. His primary research focuses on regional competitiveness in global markets and the effects of economic growth on income distribution. Shields also provides quarterly forecasts and commentary for the northern Colorado and Colorado economies. To reach Shields, contact Emily Wilmsen at (970) 491-2336 or Emily.Wilmsen@colostate.edu.
Regional economic growth and development
Stephan Weiler is a professor of economics and research associate dean in the College of Liberal Arts, and founding co-director of the university’s Center for Research on the Colorado Economy. His current work focuses on regional economic growth and development, particularly in struggling rural areas, combining theoretical, empirical, and policy analyses in topics such as geographic informational asymmetries, public/private partnerships, industrial restructuring, housing, immigration, entrepreneurship and the environment. To speak with Weiler, contact Kimberly Sorensen at (970) 491-0757 or Kimberly.Sorensen@colostate.edu.
U.S. and Colorado labor relations
Ray Hogler, a management professor in the College of Business and a Fulbright Distinguished Chair of Labor Law, has studied American labor relations and unions for 32 years. He spent spring 2007 teaching in the economics department at the University of Tuscia in Italy, where he researched Italy’s pension reforms and their implications for U.S. retirement programs. He is the author of a textbook titled "Employment Relations in the United States," and he has written several articles on Colorado’s right to work law and public sector labor relations. To reach Hogler, contact Emily Wilmsen at (970) 491-2336 or Emily.Wilmsen@colostate.edu.
Labor issues and unions
Dimitris Stevis, a professor of political science, is available to discuss issues around labor and unions. He specializes in environmental and labor regulation under conditions of regional and international integration. Stevis recently co-authored a new book that focuses on labor unions as a driving force in promoting global democracy. To speak with Stevis, contact Kimberly Sorensen at (970) 491-0757 or Kimberly.Sorensen@colostate.edu.
Impacts of government decisions about immigration on society and families
Maria Puig, a professor of social work, is an expert on the effects of immigration on societies and families. Puig can discuss how government interactions affect children, their parents, society and minority cultures with a special emphasis on child welfare. To speak with Puig, contact Dell Rae Moellenberg at (970) 491-6009 or DellRae.Moellenberg@colostate.edu.
Immigration
Steven Shulman, a professor of economics at CSU since 1984 and current department chair, teaches and writes about economic inequality; poverty and discrimination; immigration; education; and family structure. To speak with Shulman, contact Kimberly Sorensen at (970) 491-0757 or Kimberly.Sorensen@colostate.edu.
Anita Alves Pena is an assistant professor of economics. Pena’s studies and interests include the effects of public policies on illegal and legal immigrants, with particular emphasis on effects of welfare and education programs, minimum wages, and border patrol on those working in the agricultural sector. Pena’s research has included topics relating to location choice, labor market outcomes and amnesty programs. To speak with Pena, contact Kimberly Sorensen at (970) 491-0757 or Kimberly.Sorensen@colostate.edu.
Stephen Mumme, political science professor, has studied and is interested in Mexican immigration to the United States; U.S. and Mexico bi-national water issues; and North American environmental cooperation efforts. To speak with Mumme, contact Kimberly Sorensen at (970) 491-0757 or Kimberly.Sorensen@colostate.edu.
National forest policy issues
Chuck Davis, a professor of political science, teaches courses in environmental politics, public policy, and public lands policy. His research focuses on national forest policy issues, particularly the uses of regulatory strategies to promote Presidential policy goals, and also on the nexus between energy and environmental protection issues. Recent work on the latter topic includes papers on the politics of mountaintop removal mining for coal in Appalachia. To speak with Davis, contact Kimberly Sorensen at (970) 491-0757 or Kimberly.Sorensen@colostate.edu.
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