LSU Political Experts Available to Speak on Local, State and National Politics

July 02, 2020


From local elections to the debates and campaigns for the U.S. presidency, LSU has researchers available to talk about each issue being discussed or in general about these elections. LSU researchers available to speak are listed below by topic areas.

To schedule interviews, contact LSU Media Relations.

Constitutional Law/Supreme Court Appointments

  • Michael Coenen
    Areas of Expertise: Constitutional law; federal courts; criminal procedure; administrative law.
    LSU Law Center – assistant professor of law
    225-578-8701
    michael.coenen@law.lsu.edu
  • Ray Diamond
    Areas of Expertise: Constitutional law; race relations; legal history
    LSU Law Center – Jules F. and Frances L. Landry Distinguished Professor of Law and James Carville Alumni Chair
    225-578-8846
    ray.diamond@law.lsu.edu
  • James Stoner
    Areas of Expertise: Political theory; English common law; American constitutionalism
    Political Science – professor
    225-578-2538
    poston@lsu.edu

Crime

  • Ed Shihadeh
    Areas of Expertise: Crime and criminology; demography
    Department of Sociology – professor and chair
    225-578-1635
    edsoc@lsu.edu
  •  

Economy

  • Leonard M. Apcar
    Areas of Expertise: U.S. economic policy, Federal Reserve interest rate decisions
    Switzer Chair and Professional in Residence in the Manship School
    225-587-2216
    lenapcar@lsu.edu 
  • Daniel Brent
    Areas of Expertise: Environmental economics; water resource economics; applied econometrics; experimental economics; transportation; public finance; policy evaluation; energy economics
    Department of Economics – assistant professor
    dbrent@lsu.edu 
  • Brian Marks
    Area of Expertise: Immigration and the economy; research focuses on political geography, agrarian political economy, political ecology, fisheries and aquaculture; electoral redistricting, the Voting Rights Act, citizenship, foreign policy and geopolitics
    Department of Geography & Anthropology – assistant professor of geography
    225-578-6077
    bmarks@lsu.edu
  • Joseph Mason 
    Areas of Expertise: Financial intermediation and economic growth, with special emphasis on financial innovation and the role it plays in financial expansions as well as financial crises. 
    Department of Finance – professor

    225-578-6255

    masonj@lsu.edu
  • James Richardson
    Areas of Expertise: Regional economics; energy economics; state and local taxation; forecasting; public policy
    Public Administration Institute – professor; Department of Economics – professor
    225-578-6745
    parich@lsu.edu

Education

  • Roland Mitchell
    Areas of Expertise: History of U.S. higher education; the experiences of underrepresented populations in post-secondary education; school-to-prison-pipeline issues; and university to community outreach/relational issues
    College of Human Sciences & Education – interim dean and professor
    225-578-2156
    rwmitch@lsu.edu
  • Dereck J. Rovaris Sr.
    Areas of Expertise: Responsible for the oversight of LSU diversity and outreach efforts including administrative oversight of Office of Diversity reporting units, provides vision and executive leadership for inclusive excellence at LSU, and represents the university in promoting the diversity leadership agenda locally, regionally and nationally
    Office of Diversity, vice provost for diversity & chief ficersity officer
    225-578-5736
    drovaris@lsu.edu 

Energy/Oil and Gas

  • David Dismukes
    Area of Expertise: Analysis of economic, statistical and public policy issues in energy and regulated industries
    LSU Center for Energy Studies – executive director
    225-578-4343
    dismukes@lsu.edu
  • John Russin
    Areas of Expertise: Renewable energy; sustainable bioproducts and biofuels; Agriculture – LSU LSU AgCenter – vice president
    225-578-4880
    JRussin@agcenter.lsu.edu

Environment

  • Chris D’Elia
    Areas of expertise: Nutrient dynamics in aquatic systems; estuarine ecology; coral reef ecology; algal/invertebrate symbiosis; science history and policy; math and science education; marine pollution; global climate change; analytical chemistry
    College of the Coast & Environment - dean and professor
    225-578-7188
    cdelia@lsu.edu
  • Margaret Reams
    Areas of expertise: Environmental policy and management; resilience; sustainability
    Department of Environmental Sciences - professor
    225-578-4299
    mreams@lsu.edu
  • Robert Twilley
    Areas of Expertise: Coastal and environmental issues including land loss and storm surge; seafood industry support
    Louisiana Sea Grant College Program executive director and LSU Department of Oceanography & Coastal Sciences professor
    225-578-6710
    rtwilley@lsu.edu

General Election

  • Leonard M. Apcar
    Areas of Expertise: Political journalism, media criticism, campaign communication, social media strategy.
    Switzer Chair and Professional in Residence in the Manship School of Mass Communication
    225-587-2216
    lenapcar@lsu.edu 
  • Nichole Bauer
    Areas of Expertise: the barriers that female candidates face in running for and winning elected office; the role gender stereotypes play in voter evaluations of female candidates, the campaign strategies female candidates develop to overcome such biases and how the news media cover female candidates
    Political Science & Manship School of Mass Communication – assistant professor
    nbauer4@lsu.edu 
  • Robert “Robbie” Hogan
    Areas of Expertise: American electoral politics; campaigns; political parties & interest groups and state politics
    Political Science – professor
    225-578-3217
    rhogan1@lsu.edu
  • James Honeycutt
    Areas of Expertise: The effects of political partisanship on voting intentions; psychology and political ideology
    Communication Studies – professor
    225-578-0032
    sphone@lsu.edu
  • Lyman Hunt
    Area of Expertise: Political ideology
    Communication Studies – senior instructor
    225-578-5989
    lhunt@lsu.edu
  • Nancy Isenberg
    Areas of Expertise: Gender and politics, cultural and legal history in the U.S.; Author of "White Trash. The 400-Year Untold History of Class in America"
    Named to Politico's Top 50 Guide to the thinkers, doers and visionaries transforming American Politics
    History, T. Harry Williams Professor
    225-578-4492
    nisenberg@lsu.edu 
  • Nathan Kalmoe
    Areas of Expertise: Voting & elections, public opinion, political news & advertising, partisanship/ideology & polarization, political violence
    225-578-8013
    nkalmoe@lsu.edu

Immigration

  • Lauren R. Aronson
    Area of Expertise: U.S. immigration law and unaccompanied immigrant children - director of Immigration Law Clinic and assistant professor of professional practice
    225-578-2071
    lauren.aronson@law.lsu.edu

  • Brian Marks

    Area of Expertise: Immigration and the economy; research focuses on political geography, agrarian political economy, political ecology, fisheries and aquaculture; electoral redistricting; the Voting Rights Act; citizenship; foreign policy; and geopolitics
    Department of Geography & Anthropology – assistant professor of geography
    225-578-6077
    bmarks@lsu.edu

International Policy

  • Brian Marks
    Area of Expertise: Immigration and the economy; research focuses on political geography, agrarian political economy, political ecology, fisheries and aquaculture; electoral redistricting; the Voting Rights Act; citizenship; foreign policy; and geopolitics
    Department of Geography & Anthropology – assistant professor of geography
    225-578-6077
    bmarks@lsu.edu

Mass Media/Political Communication

  • Leonard M. Apcar
    Areas of Expertise: Political journalism, media criticism, campaign communication, social media strategy.
    Switzer Chair and Professional in Residence in the Manship School of Mass Communication
    225-587-2216
    lenapcar@lsu.edu 
  • Nichole Bauer
    Areas of Expertise: the barriers that female candidates face in running for and winning elected office; the role gender stereotypes play in voter evaluations of female candidates, the campaign strategies female candidates develop to overcome such biases and how the news media cover female candidates
    Political Science & Manship School of Mass Communication – assistant professor
    nbauer4@lsu.edu 
  • Joshua Darr
    Areas of Expertise: Campaign strategy, earned media, presidential primaries, field offices, voter contact
    Manship School of Mass Communication – assistant professor
    225-578-0395
    jdarr@lsu.edu
  • Mike Henderson
    Areas of Expertise: Public Opinion and election
    Public Policy Research Lab research director
    mbhende1@lsu.edu
  • Nathan Kalmoe
    Areas of Expertise: Voting & elections, public opinion, political news & advertising, partisanship/ideology & polarization, political violence
    225-578-8013
    nkalmoe@lsu.edu 
  • Robert Mann
    Area of Expertise: Political history; political communication
    Manship School of Mass Communication – Manship Chair and professor
    225-578-2053
    bobmann@lsu.edu
  • Ofer Mintz
    Areas of Expertise: Marketing analytics, marketing strategy, political marketing, and digital marketing (social media)
    Department of Marketing – assistant professor
    225-578-8321
    omintz@lsu.edu
  • Kathleen Searles
    Areas of Expertise: News media; campaign advertising; political psychology
    Political Science/Manship School of Mass Communication –associate professor

Race Relations

  • Lori Martin
    Areas of Expertise: Race and ethnicity relations; demography; racial wealth inequality; asset poverty; race and sports
    Department of African & African American Studies and Sociology – professor
    225-578-1785
    lorim@lsu.edu 
  • Bryan McCann
    Areas of Expertise: Race, racism and criminal justice; primary and general election debates; and how campaigns structure arguments
    Communication Studies
    225-578-6813
    504-330-8166
    bryanm@lsu.edu 
  • Roland Mitchell
    Areas of Expertise: History of U.S. higher education; the experiences of underrepresented populations in post-secondary education; school-to-prison-pipeline issues; and university to community outreach/relational issues
    College of Human Sciences & Education – interim dean and professor
    225-578-2156
    rwmitch@lsu.edu 

Women and Gender

  • Nichole Bauer
    Areas of Expertise: the barriers that female candidates face in running for and winning elected office; the role gender stereotypes play in voter evaluations of female candidates, the campaign strategies female candidates develop to overcome such biases and how the news media cover female candidates
    Political Science & Manship School of Mass Communication – assistant professor
    nbauer4@lsu.edu 
  • Summer Steib
    Areas of Expertise: Women and gender
    LSU Women's Center, director
    225-578-7563
    summers@lsu.edu 

In the News

July 26, 2021
Are Americans More Trusting Than They Seem?
The New Yorker

July 19, 2021
‘It’s chilling what is happening’: a rightwing backlash to Biden takes root in Republican states
The Guardian

July 14, 2021
Talk Louisiana: Jerry Ceppos
WRKF

Jan. 27, 2021
Biden’s ban on new federal leases prompts outrage from energy industry
Business Report

Jan. 26, 2021
Why Joe Biden's oil and gas moratorium is expected to have long-term effects on Louisiana's economy
The Advocate

La. Should Equalize Oil, Gas Taxes, Nix Exemptions, Prof Says
Law360

Jan. 24, 2021
The Trump presidency is now history. So how will it rank?
The New York Times

Jan. 17, 2021
Research: TV news outlets overrepresent extreme partisans in Congress (Plus: 4 tips for better coverage)
Journalist's Resource

Letter to the Editor: U.S. Capitol riot revealed distrust of media, importance of journalism
The Reveille

Jan. 14, 2021
Trump's Second Impeachment and the Lessons of History
Governing

Jan. 11, 2021
What you need to know about how many Americans condone political violence — and why
Washington Post

Jan. 8, 2021
Social media calls for boycott of Rouses and Red Zeppelin Pizza following owners photographed at rally at U.S. Capitol
WVLA

Jan. 7, 2021
Are we entering a new era of political violence?
Vox

Local social media expert weighs in on Trump’s Facebook ban
WAFB

Dec. 3, 2020
Mornings w/Brian Haldane: Greg Upton
Talk 107.3

Nov. 10, 2020
Explaining the religious vote for Trump
Phys.org

Oct. 18, 2020
Why Joe Biden's effort to promote new, green jobs would be a hit on oil-dependent south Louisiana
NOLA.com

Oct. 13, 2020
American Governmental Propaganda Starts in WWI but Still Thrives Today
WOUB

Recommendations for Media Covering the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election
Media for Democracy

Oct. 9, 2020
In 2020, the Ground Game is All Trump
Mischiefs of Faction

Oct. 8, 2020
Could Biden Rebuild the Economy by Funding Green Energy?
Wired

Call It What It Is: Propaganda
Politico

Oct. 5, 2020
Geaux Vote LSU embraces voter education week
Tiger TV

Sept. 10, 2020
National political experts to discuss 2020 presidential election
Bossier Press Tribune

Aug. 24, 2020
Joe Biden's ban on offshore drilling could wreck Louisiana's economy
The Advocate

Aug. 21, 2020
Biden gets rave reviews for DNC speech - but will a polling bump follow?
WWL

Aug. 16, 2020
Political scholar explains how partisan division fueled bloody conflict in the 1860s — and how it could happen again
Alter Net

July 10, 2020
Voting 101: LSU professor gives guidance on importance of voting, why, how to vote in upcoming Louisiana primary
The Reveille

June 17, 2020
LSU's Geaux Vote encourages students to vote in presidential primaries, presidential election
The Reveille

March 18, 2020
LSU professor launches website to fight coronavirus fake news
Manship News Service

This website by an LSU professor debunks fake news on coronavirus, presidential election
Raw Story

March 13, 2020
Coronavirus Roils 2020 Race, Forcing A Virtual Campaign Season
Financial Advisor Magazine

March 4, 2020
California delegate wave didn’t quite break as expected
Associated Press

March 3, 2020
What Went Down On Super Tuesday
Five Thirty Eight

March 2, 2020
Louisiana College Students Launch Site to Battle Fake News
Government Technology

LSU professor behind online resource guide for spotting fake news
Louisiana Radio Network

Feb. 29, 2020
The big crunch: For 2020 Dems, March is key in delegate race
Associated Press

Feb. 28, 2020
LSU students keep eyes peeled for 'fake news'
The Advocate

Fake news
Business Report

Feb. 18, 2020
Election angst sparks massive activism from Democrats
MSNBC

Jan. 27. 2020
Inside The Field Offices Of The Iowa Caucuses
FiveThirtyEight

Talk Louisiana: Nancy Isenberg
WRKF

Jan. 1, 2020
Politicians can’t solve partisan divide
Paris News

Dec. 31, 2019
What were the Top 10 political stories in Louisiana in 2019?
Monroe News Star

Dec. 30, 2019
LSU law professor: Despite posturing U.S. Sen. John Kennedy gives thumbs-up to dubious Trump judicial nominees
The Advocate

Dec. 26, 2019
Newspaper demise feeds partisanship
News Register

Dec. 24, 2019
Commentary: Americans are at each other’s throats. Here’s one way out.
Washington Post

Science gives us a recipe for handling holiday conversations
Las Vegas Sun

Dec. 23, 2019
In 2019, Election Spending in Louisiana Likely Topped $100 Million
Bayou Brief

Dec. 19, 2019
Welcome to third-world democracy and impeachment
The Hill

Nov. 26, 2019
U.S. Sen. John Kennedy's often-recycled quips win over national audience
The Advocate

Nov. 17, 2019
Did Louisiana football success boost Edwards? Couldn’t hurt.
Associated Press

Odd-year elections have let Democrats expand footprint in Southern states
Associated Press

Nov. 16, 2019
Edwards keeps Governor’s Mansion blue in a deep red state
Louisiana Radio Network

Democratic Governor Wins Reelection in Deep-Red Louisiana
Mother Jones

Nov. 15, 2019
Louisiana Votes For Governor
NPR

What is it going to take to win the Governor’s mansion?
KTVE

Nov. 14, 2019
At rally, Trump says impeachment probe has been ‘very hard’ on family
PBS News Hour

Trump impeachment hearings begin before a deeply divided audience
Sinclair Broadcast Group

Nov. 13, 2019
Tight Louisiana governor's race is testing Trump's coattails
Associated Press

Nov. 12, 2019
Attack ads move to state issues in Louisiana governor's race
Associated Press

Nov. 11, 2019
This impeachment brought to you by…
Marketplace

Newest poll shows Gov. Edwards 48%, businessman Rispone 46%
WWL

Nov. 9, 2019
How the term ‘trial lawyer’ became a vicious attack this campaign season in Louisiana
The Advocate

Oct. 26, 2019
55 Years Ago, “The Speech” That Launched Ronald Reagan’s Political Career
Bayou Brief

Oct. 22, 2019
Louisiana GOP Rallies Behind Eddie Rispone in Governor's Race
WWNO

Oct. 15, 2019
What's Next in the Race for Louisiana Governor?
WRKF

Oct. 14, 2019
Governor John Bel Edwards confident he'll win runoff, political analysts more cautious
WBRZ

The GOP is two seats away from Super Majority in the state House
WWL

Oct. 13, 2019
Eddie Rispone won a spot in the runoff against Gov. John Bel Edwards; Trump may be the reason why
The Advocate

Oct. 11, 2019
Gov. John Bel Edwards stars at glittery medical school groundbreaking
Shreveport Times

Oct. 9, 2019
GOP early voting up in Louisiana gubernatorial election
The Washington Times

Republicans target Dem incumbents to gain majority in Baton Rouge
Manship News Service

Oct. 8, 2019
Trump gets 51 percent approval in Louisiana
WWL

Oct. 4, 2019
A short primer on preventing political violence
Washington Post

Oct. 3, 2019
Impeachment takes 'oxygen out of the room' for 2020 Democrats
Bloomberg

Oct. 1, 2019
Becoming Ronald Reagan: The Rise of a Conservative Icon
New York Journal of Books

In Today's America, Everybody Who Disagrees With You Is a Traitor
Reason

Sept. 27, 2019
Republicans Target Taxes, Medicaid in Louisiana Governor’s Race
Bloomberg Tax

Sept. 23, 2019
Democratic race tightens at Steak Fry
Tribune News Service

Sept. 22, 2019
LSU reacts to the Sept. 19 Gubernatorial Debate; faculty, students express frustration with questions
The Daily Reveille

Sept. 21, 2019
Louisiana students heading to Iowa this winter for campaigns
Associated Press

2020 Democratic Steak Fry separates top tier and rest of field
Bloomberg

Sept. 20, 2019
Four takeaways from last night’s governor’s debate
Business Report

Governor Edwards defends his record on the economy in first televised debate
Louisiana Radio Network

Highlights from the first Gubernatorial Debate of this election season
Tiger TV

Friday, September 20th: Bob Mann, Bridget Gordon, Holly Howat, Carlos Thomas
WRKF

Washington Post: Elizabeth Warren Is a Modern-Day Frederick Douglass
Washington Free Beacon 

Washington Post mocked for comparing Elizabeth Warren to Frederick Douglass
Fox News

Sept. 19, 2019
Louisiana governor debate: Gov. Edwards touts accomplishments; opponents hit on taxes, economy, more
The Advocate

Edwards' record challenged in Louisiana governor's debate
Associated Press

Governor’s debate not short on small jabs between candidates 
WAFB

La. governor candidates tangle in first debate 
WVLA

Three Louisiana gubernatorial candidates clash in debate at LSU Thursday
WBRZ

Three Louisiana gubernatorial candidates clash on debate stage Thursday night
The Daily Reveille 

First Gubernatorial Debate of the season held on LSU's campus
Tiger TV

Candidates weigh in after heated gubernatorial debate
KLFY

Top gubernatorial candidates share stage in Baton Rouge debate
KLFY

Rivals hit Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards on economy in first debate
Washington Times

Claws Out? Three way candidate debate tonight at LSU
WWL

Candidates ready for first Louisiana Governor’s race debate
Associated Press

Gubernatorial candidates square off at LSU tonight in televised debate
Louisiana Radio Network

Louisiana journalist Robert Mann's book explores Ronald Reagan
Shreveport Times

Sept. 18, 2019
Louisiana Governor Primary Debate Thursday night at Louisiana State University
WVLA

What you need to know: Louisiana's governor's race candidates face off in debate tonight
The Advocate

Louisiana gubernatorial candidates Edwards, Rispone, Abraham prepare for debate
Washington Times

LSU students share their predictions for the Gubernatorial Debate
Tiger TV

LSU Gubernatorial debate preview with moderator Chad Sabadie
Tiger TV

Sept. 10, 2019
No, Trump isn’t Teflon. Scandals lower his approval among Republicans — if they see the news.
The Washington Post

Sept. 6, 2019
Justice Dept. Investigates California Emissions Pact That Embarrassed Trump
The New York Times 

Aug. 15, 2019
Global recession fears could impact US economy, 2020 election
Sinclair Broadcasting Group

Aug. 14, 2019
ICE blames 'political rhetoric' for violence against offices as immigration tensions rise
Sinclair Broadcasting Group

Aug. 8, 2019
Quiz: Let Us Predict Whether You’re a Democrat or a Republican
New York Times

Democrats train students of color in battleground states, hoping to avoid Clinton’s 2016 mistakes
The Philadelphia Inquirer

Advocates Say LGBT Issues Need More Time in Next Democratic Debate
Bloomberg

Aug. 7, 2019
Rage Rules American Politics
Reason

Aug. 6, 2019
While Trump condemns white nationalism, his campaign Facebook ads lean on talk of migrant invasion
USA Today 

Trump is provoking far-right terrorism — but the New York Times still handles him with kid gloves
AlterNet

Aug. 5, 2019
Texas gunman’s manifesto carries echo of Trump’s language
The Irish Times

Echoes of Donald Trump’s language in the rants of the Texas gunman
The New Daily

The El Paso Shooting Is Being Handled as a Domestic Terrorism Case and Could Lead to Hate Crime Charges, the Death Penalty
Teen Vogue

Aug. 4, 2019
El Paso Shooting Suspect’s Manifesto Echoes Trump’s Language
New York Times

July 26, 2019
Democrats should run on the popular progressive ideas, but not the unpopular ones
Vox

July 4, 2019
10 New Books We Recommend This Week
The New York Times

July 3, 2019
Why the president is feuding with Megan Rapinoe, star of the US women’s soccer team
Vox

 

Related Campus News:
Iowa of the Tiger Program Gives LSU Students Front-Row Seat in Presidential Politics

LSU’s Manship School to Host 2019 Gubernatorial Debate in Partnership with Nexstar Media Group Inc.

Gubernatorial Campaign Strategists & Politicos to Discuss 2019 Louisiana Elections at LSU Manship School, Louisiana Public Broadcasting Event

 

Media Note:
Please check back as experts will continue to be added to the list throughout the election year.