2016 Presidential Election
From campaign strategy to policy issues to voting rights, faculty experts at UT Austin are poised to give insight for coverage of the presidential election. Topics include:
- Civil Rights
- Economy
- Criminal Justice
- Education
- Environment
- Governance
- Health Care
- Immigration
- International Security/Foreign Policy
- Political Communication
- Presidential Politics
- Voting Rights
If you are seeking expertise on other subjects, please call University Media Relations at 512-471-3151 or consult our general Media Experts Guide.
Civil Rights

William H Beardall
Clinical Professor
, School of Law
+1 512 784 0683, bbeardall@law.utexas.edu
Beardall directs the Law School's ground-breaking Transnational Worker Rights Clinic. He has practiced as a public interest employment lawyer for low-income working men and women since 1978. Beardall also serves as Executive Director of the Equal Justice Center, a non-profit employment justice and civil rights organization with offices in Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas. He speaks Spanish.
Media Contact: Robyn Lindenberg, rlindenberg@law.utexas.edu, 512-232-6798

Victoria M Defrancesco
Senior Lecturer
, Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs
, vmdsoto@austin.utexas.edu
Defrancesco can discuss campaign and elections, political marketing, political psychology, immigration, race, ethnicity and gender. She speaks Spanish.
Media Contact: Tori Yu, victoriajyu@austin.utexas.edu, 512-232-4054

Edwin Dorn
Professor Emeritus
, Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs
, eddorn@utexas.edu
Dorn served as dean of the LBJ School from 1997 to 2004, and his scholarship interests include defense, civil rights, and education policy. Dorn is currently chairman of the board of the Kettering Foundation and has previously served in the Department of Defense.
Media Contact: Tori Yu, victoriajyu@austin.utexas.edu, 512-232-4054

Ariel E Dulitzky
Clinical Professor
, School of Law
+1 512 232 1256, adulitzky@law.utexas.edu
Dulitzky is director of the Human Rights Clinic and director of the Latin American Initiative. He is a leading expert in the inter-American human rights system. Dulitzky has published extensively on human rights, the inter-American human rights system, racial discrimination and the rule of law in Latin America. He speaks Spanish.
Media Contact: Robyn Lindenberg, rlindenberg@law.utexas.edu, 512-232-6798

Peniel E Joseph
Professor
, Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs
+1 512 475 7241, peniel.joseph@austin.utexas.edu
Joseph's research focuses has been on "Black Power Studies", which explore the interdisciplinary fields of Africana studies, women's and ethnic studies, law and society and political science. He is currently teaching "The Civil Rights Movement and Public Policy".
Media Contact: Tori Yu, victoriajyu@austin.utexas.edu, 512-232-4054

Raul L Madrid
Professor
, Department of Government
, College of Liberal Arts
+1 512 232 7246, rmadrid@mail.utexas.edu
Madrid is a Spanish speaker that can address Latin American politics, comparative ethnic politics, comparative social policy and democratization.
Media Contact: Daniel Oppenheimer, oppenheimer@utexas.edu, 512-475-9712
Economy

Mechele Dickerson
Professor
, School of Law
+1 512 232 1311, mdickerson@law.utexas.edu
Dickerson is a nationally recognized bankruptcy law scholar and a global media expert on consumer debt.
Media Contact: Robyn Lindenberg, rlindenberg@law.utexas.edu, 512-232-6798

James K Galbraith
Professor
, Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs
+1 512 471 1244, galbraith@mail.utexas.edu
Galbraith is an expert in economic development and inequality. Galbraith directs the University of Texas Inequality Project and chairs the Board of Economists for Peace and Safety. He is a member of the Lincean Academy and a senior scholar of the Levy Economic Institute.
Media Contact: Tori Yu, victoriajyu@austin.utexas.edu, 512-232-4054

Calvin H Johnson
Professor
, School of Law
+1 512 232 1306, cjohnson@law.utexas.edu
Johnson's research is currently focused around the Shelf Project, a collaboration to raise revenue by protecting the tax base, without rate increases.
Media Contact: Robyn Lindenberg, rlindenberg@law.utexas.edu, 512-232-6798

Angela K Littwin
Professor
, School of Law
+1 512 232 5561, alittwin@law.utexas.edu
Littwin studies bankruptcy, consumer, and commercial law from an empirical perspective. Her current research includes studies of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's consumer complaints process as well as the relationship between consumer credit and domestic violence.
Media Contact: Robyn Lindenberg, rlindenberg@law.utexas.edu, 512-232-6798
Criminal Justice

Michele Y Deitch
Distinguished Senior Lecturer
, Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs
+1 512 232 2562, +1 512 296 7212, michele.deitch@austin.utexas.edu
Deitch is an attorney with more than 23 years of experience working on criminal justice policy issues with state and local government officials, corrections officials, judges and advocates. Most of Deitch's current research focuses onindependent prison oversight and the management of juvenile offenders.
Media Contact: Tori Yu, victoriajyu@austin.utexas.edu, 512-232-4054

Jordan M Steiker
Professor
, School of Law
+1 512 232 1346, jsteiker@law.utexas.edu
Steiker teaches constitutional law, criminal law, and death penalty law, and is co-director of the law school's Capital Punishment Center.
Media Contact: Robyn Lindenberg, rlindenberg@law.utexas.edu, 512-232-6798
Education
Cynthia Osborne
Research Affiliate - Sr Research Fellow
, Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs
+1 512 471 9808, cosborne@prc.utexas.edu
Osborne's teaching and research interests include poverty and inequality, and educator effectiveness and accountability. She can talk about teacher preparation programs in Texas.
Media Contact: Tori Yu, victoriajyu@austin.utexas.edu, 512-232-4054
Environment

Owen L Anderson
Lecturer
, School of Law
+1 512 232 1446, oanderson@law.utexas.edu
Anderson is an expert on domestic and international oil and gas law.
Media Contact: Robyn Lindenberg, rlindenberg@law.utexas.edu, 512-232-6798

Thomas O McGarity
Professor
, School of Law
+1 512 232 1384, tmcgarity@law.utexas.edu
McGarity is a leading scholar in the fields of both administrative law and environmental law.
Media Contact: Robyn Lindenberg, rlindenberg@law.utexas.edu, 512-232-6798

Sheila M Olmstead
Professor
, Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs
+1 512 471 2064, sheila.olmstead@austin.utexas.edu
Olmstead is an environmental economist whose current research projects examine the environmental externalities associated with shale gas development in the U.S. She has worked on the economics of water resource management, focusing on water demand estimation, water conservation policy and access to drinking water services among low-income communities.
Media Contact: Tori Yu, victoriajyu@austin.utexas.edu, 512-232-4054
Governance

Bethany L Albertson
Associate Professor
, Department of Government
, College of Liberal Arts
+1 512 232 7276, balberts@austin.utexas.edu
Albertson is an expert on political psychology and public opinion.
Media Contact: Daniel Oppenheimer, oppenheimer@utexas.edu, 512-475-9712

Henry W Brands
Professor
, Department of History
, College of Liberal Arts
+1 512 471 3261, hwbrands@austin.utexas.edu
Brands can speak about presidential history and the history of elections.
Media Contact: Daniel Oppenheimer, oppenheimer@utexas.edu, 512-475-9712

Bruce Buchanan
Professor Emeritus
, Department of Government
, College of Liberal Arts
, bruceb@austin.utexas.edu
Buchanan is an expert on presidential and American politics, American institutions, public policy and political behavior.
Media Contact: Daniel Oppenheimer, oppenheimer@utexas.edu, 512-475-9712

Victoria M Defrancesco
Senior Lecturer
, Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs
, vmdsoto@austin.utexas.edu
Defrancesco can discuss campaign and elections, political marketing, political psychology, immigration, race, ethnicity and gender. She speaks Spanish.
Media Contact: Tori Yu, victoriajyu@austin.utexas.edu, 512-232-4054

Sherri R Greenberg
Assistant Dean
, Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs
+1 512 471 8324, +1 512 656 6592, srgreenberg@austin.utexas.edu
Greenberg served as a Texas state representative for ten years, completing her final term in January 2001. Greenberg is an expert on Texas state government, public finance and electronic government.
Media Contact: Tori Yu, victoriajyu@austin.utexas.edu, 512-232-4054

James R Henson
Executive Director of Texas Politics Project
, Texas Politics Project
+1 512 471 0090, j.henson@austin.utexas.edu
Henson, director of the Texas Politics Project, is an expert on Texas politics, public opinion, presidential elections, internet and politics, and political campaigns.

Wendy A Hunter
Professor
, Department of Government
, College of Liberal Arts
, wendyhunter@austin.utexas.edu
Hunter studies Comparative Politics, with an emphasis on Latin American affairs. She has done in depth work on the military in Brazil and the Southern Cone, as well as research on social policy issues in Latin America, with special attention to the politics of education and health reform.
Media Contact: Daniel Oppenheimer, oppenheimer@utexas.edu, 512-475-9712
Todd A Olmstead
Associate Professor
, Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs
+1 512 471 8456, tolmstead@austin.utexas.edu
Olmstead is an expert on intelligent transportation systems, highway safety and administrative rulemaking. He is also an expert in the areas of health economics, health services research and health care policy.
Media Contact: Tori Yu, victoriajyu@austin.utexas.edu, 512-232-4054

Brian E Roberts
Professor
, Department of Government
, College of Liberal Arts
+1 512 232 6582, +1 512 232 7243, roberts@utexas.edu
Roberts is an expert on American political institutions, interest groups and positive political economy.
Media Contact: Daniel Oppenheimer, oppenheimer@utexas.edu, 512-475-9712

Victoria E Rodriguez
Other University Affiliate
, Department of Government
, College of Liberal Arts
+1 512 475 8620, victoria@austin.utexas.edu
Rodriquez teaches courses in policy development, women in politics and public policy, and theory and philosophy of public policy. Her scholarly work has focused on governance, democratization, and political change in Mexico.
Media Contact: Daniel Oppenheimer, oppenheimer@utexas.edu, 512-475-9712

Ryan Streeter
Director
, Center for Politics and Governance
, Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs
+1 512 471 3581, ryan.streeter@aei.org
Streeter has served in both the public and private sectors, concentrating specifically on urban policy, campaign politics, and economic development. Streeter has previously served as policy advisor at the federal, state, and local levels.
Media Contact: Tori Yu, victoriajyu@austin.utexas.edu, 512-232-4054

Jeremi Suri
Professor
, Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs
+1 512 475 7242, suri@austin.utexas.edu
Suri can adress a wide range of topics including foreign policy, immigration, military affairs, young voters, campaign finance, changing role of the presidency and the history of the presidency.
Media Contact: Tori Yu, victoriajyu@austin.utexas.edu, 512-232-4054

Sean M Theriault
University Distinguished Teaching Professor
, Department of Government
, College of Liberal Arts
+1 512 232 7279, seant@mail.utexas.edu
Theriault can speak about American political institutions, political party polarization, U.S. Congress, elections and voters.
Media Contact: Daniel Oppenheimer, oppenheimer@utexas.edu, 512-475-9712

Stephen I Vladeck
Professor
, School of Law
+1 512 475 9198, svladeck@law.utexas.edu
Vladeck's teaching and research focus on federal jurisdiction, constitutional law, and national security law. A nationally recognized expert on the role of the federal courts in the war on terrorism, Vladeck is a co-author of Aspen PublishersÂ’ leading national security law and counterterrorism law casebooks and Supreme Court contributor to CNN.
Media Contact: Robyn Lindenberg, rlindenberg@law.utexas.edu, 512-232-6798

Kurt G Weyland
Professor
, Department of Government
, College of Liberal Arts
+1 512 232 7253, kweyland@austin.utexas.edu
Weyland's research interests focus on democratization and authoritarian rule, on social policy and policy diffusion, and on populism in Latin America and Europe.
Media Contact: Daniel Oppenheimer, oppenheimer@utexas.edu, 512-475-9712
Health Care

Jacqueline L Angel
Professor
, Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs
+1 512 471 2956, jangel@austin.utexas.edu
Angel has published extensively about the sociology of aging and how it is affected by the life course and social policy. She also serves as an adviser to professional committees, nongovernmental organizations and other agencies that provide basic services to elderly people. She focuses on evaluating the impact of policies on the health and well-being of Latinos, immigrants and other vulnerable groups.
Media Contact: Tori Yu, victoriajyu@austin.utexas.edu, 512-232-4054

John A Robertson
Professor
, School of Law
+1 512 232 1307, jrobertson@law.utexas.edu
Robertson has written and lectured widely on law and bioethical issues. He is the author of two books in bioethics and numerous articles on reproductive rights, genetics, organ transplantation, and human experimentation.
Media Contact: Robyn Lindenberg, rlindenberg@law.utexas.edu, 512-232-6798

William M Sage
Professor
, School of Law
+1 512 232 7806, bsage@law.utexas.edu
Robertson's areas of teaching are health law, regulatory theory, antitrust, and professional responsibility.
Media Contact: Robyn Lindenberg, rlindenberg@law.utexas.edu, 512-232-6798

David C Warner
Professor Emeritus
, Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs
, david.warner@utexas.edu
Warner's major teaching and research interests are health policy and health finance. He is currently working on projects related to improving health insurance coverage, the integration of the U.S. and Mexican health care systems, diabetes policy, public health funding and U.S.-Mexico border health.
Media Contact: Tori Yu, victoriajyu@austin.utexas.edu, 512-232-4054
Immigration

William H Beardall
Clinical Professor
, School of Law
+1 512 784 0683, bbeardall@law.utexas.edu
Beardall directs the Law School's ground-breaking Transnational Worker Rights Clinic. He has practiced as a public interest employment lawyer for low-income working men and women since 1978. Beardall also serves as Executive Director of the Equal Justice Center, a non-profit employment justice and civil rights organization with offices in Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas. He speaks Spanish.
Media Contact: Robyn Lindenberg, rlindenberg@law.utexas.edu, 512-232-6798

Victoria M Defrancesco
Senior Lecturer
, Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs
, vmdsoto@austin.utexas.edu
Defrancesco can discuss campaign and elections, political marketing, political psychology, immigration, race, ethnicity and gender. She speaks Spanish.
Media Contact: Tori Yu, victoriajyu@austin.utexas.edu, 512-232-4054

Denise L Gilman
Clinical Professor
, School of Law
+1 512 232 7796, dgilman@law.utexas.edu
Gilman is co-director of the School of Law's Immigration Clinic, which has clients from all over the world. Gilman has written and practiced law extensively in the international human rights and immigrants' rights fields. Her areas of expertise include immigration, immigrant rights, civil rights advocacy and human rights advocacy. She speaks Spanish.
Media Contact: Robyn Lindenberg, rlindenberg@law.utexas.edu, 512-232-6798

Angela K Littwin
Professor
, School of Law
+1 512 232 5561, alittwin@law.utexas.edu
Littwin studies bankruptcy, consumer, and commercial law from an empirical perspective. Her current research includes studies of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's consumer complaints process as well as the relationship between consumer credit and domestic violence.
Media Contact: Robyn Lindenberg, rlindenberg@law.utexas.edu, 512-232-6798

Raul L Madrid
Professor
, Department of Government
, College of Liberal Arts
+1 512 232 7246, rmadrid@mail.utexas.edu
Madrid is a Spanish speaker that can address Latin American politics, comparative ethnic politics, comparative social policy and democratization.
Media Contact: Daniel Oppenheimer, oppenheimer@utexas.edu, 512-475-9712

Elissa C Steglich
Clinical Professor
, School of Law
+1 512 232 1387, esteglich@law.utexas.edu
Professor Steglich has extensive experience practicing immigration law and has been a strong advocate for immigrant rights, especially the rights of immigrant children.
Media Contact: Robyn Lindenberg, rlindenberg@law.utexas.edu, 512-232-6798
International Security/Foreign Policy

Robert M Chesney
Dean, School of Law
+1 512 232 1298, rchesney@law.utexas.edu
Chesney is jointly appointed at the LBJ School and the UT School of Law, where he serves as the associate dean for Academic Affairs. Chesney's scholarship includes the legalities surrounding national and international security policies and the impact of technological and strategic change over time.
Media Contact: Joey Williams, joey.williams@austin.utexas.edu, 512-232-3716

Ariel E Dulitzky
Clinical Professor
, School of Law
+1 512 232 1256, adulitzky@law.utexas.edu
Dulitzky is director of the Human Rights Clinic and director of the Latin American Initiative. He is a leading expert in the inter-American human rights system. Dulitzky has published extensively on human rights, the inter-American human rights system, racial discrimination and the rule of law in Latin America. He speaks Spanish.
Media Contact: Robyn Lindenberg, rlindenberg@law.utexas.edu, 512-232-6798

Kenneth F Greene
Associate Professor
, Department of Government
, College of Liberal Arts
+1 512 232 7206, kgreene@austin.utexas.edu
Greene specializes in research on authoritarian regimes and democratization, political parties and elections, Mexican politics, Latin American politics, and research methods.
Media Contact: Daniel Oppenheimer, oppenheimer@utexas.edu, 512-475-9712

Wendy A Hunter
Professor
, Department of Government
, College of Liberal Arts
, wendyhunter@austin.utexas.edu
Hunter studies Comparative Politics, with an emphasis on Latin American affairs. She has done in depth work on the military in Brazil and the Southern Cone, as well as research on social policy issues in Latin America, with special attention to the politics of education and health reform.
Media Contact: Daniel Oppenheimer, oppenheimer@utexas.edu, 512-475-9712

William Inboden
Associate Professor
, Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs
+1 512 471 2411, +1 512 471 2601, inboden@austin.utexas.edu
Inboden's policy and academic interests include national security and US foreign policy. Inboden is also a distinguished scholar at UT's Strauss Center for International Security and Law.
Media Contact: Tori Yu, victoriajyu@austin.utexas.edu, 512-232-4054

Bobby R Inman
Professor
, Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs
+1 512 471 6716, inman@austin.utexas.edu
Admiral Inman served in the US Navy from 1951 to 1982 and has twice served as interim dean for the LBJ School of Public Affairs. Admiral Inman also served as the director of the National Security Agency. His expertise includes security, trade, and technology.
Media Contact: Tori Yu, victoriajyu@austin.utexas.edu, 512-232-4054

Raul L Madrid
Professor
, Department of Government
, College of Liberal Arts
+1 512 232 7246, rmadrid@mail.utexas.edu
Madrid is a Spanish speaker that can address Latin American politics, comparative ethnic politics, comparative social policy and democratization.
Media Contact: Daniel Oppenheimer, oppenheimer@utexas.edu, 512-475-9712

Stephen Slick
Director of the Intelligence Studies Project
, Intelligence Studies Project
+1 512 471 0814, sbslick@austin.utexas.edu
Slick served for 28 years in the CIA's clandestine service, including five assignments abroad, prior to joining the LBJ School in 2015. Between 2005 and 2009, he was a special assistant to the president and the senior director for Intelligence Programs and Reform on the staff of the National Security Council.

Jeremi Suri
Professor
, Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs
+1 512 475 7242, suri@austin.utexas.edu
Suri can adress a wide range of topics including foreign policy, immigration, military affairs, young voters, campaign finance, changing role of the presidency and the history of the presidency.
Media Contact: Tori Yu, victoriajyu@austin.utexas.edu, 512-232-4054

Stephen I Vladeck
Professor
, School of Law
+1 512 475 9198, svladeck@law.utexas.edu
Vladeck's teaching and research focus on federal jurisdiction, constitutional law, and national security law. A nationally recognized expert on the role of the federal courts in the war on terrorism, Vladeck is a co-author of Aspen PublishersÂ’ leading national security law and counterterrorism law casebooks and Supreme Court contributor to CNN.
Media Contact: Robyn Lindenberg, rlindenberg@law.utexas.edu, 512-232-6798
Political Communication

Bethany L Albertson
Associate Professor
, Department of Government
, College of Liberal Arts
+1 512 232 7276, balberts@austin.utexas.edu
Albertson is an expert on political psychology and public opinion.
Media Contact: Daniel Oppenheimer, oppenheimer@utexas.edu, 512-475-9712

Victoria M Defrancesco
Senior Lecturer
, Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs
, vmdsoto@austin.utexas.edu
Defrancesco can discuss campaign and elections, political marketing, political psychology, immigration, race, ethnicity and gender. She speaks Spanish.
Media Contact: Tori Yu, victoriajyu@austin.utexas.edu, 512-232-4054

Julie R Irwin
Professor
, Department of Business, Government and Society
, Red McCombs School of Business
+1 512 471 5419, jirwin@mail.utexas.edu
In a [url=https://news.utexas.edu/2016/02/19/donald-trumps-bullying-and-the-psychology-behind-it]recent op-ed[/url], Irwin evaluates Trump's communication and strategies.
Media Contact: Jeremy Simon, jeremy.simon@mccombs.utexas.edu, 512-232-6031
Presidential Politics

Bethany L Albertson
Associate Professor
, Department of Government
, College of Liberal Arts
+1 512 232 7276, balberts@austin.utexas.edu
Albertson is an expert on political psychology and public opinion.
Media Contact: Daniel Oppenheimer, oppenheimer@utexas.edu, 512-475-9712

Henry W Brands
Professor
, Department of History
, College of Liberal Arts
+1 512 471 3261, hwbrands@austin.utexas.edu
Brands can speak about presidential history and the history of elections.
Media Contact: Daniel Oppenheimer, oppenheimer@utexas.edu, 512-475-9712

Bruce Buchanan
Professor Emeritus
, Department of Government
, College of Liberal Arts
, bruceb@austin.utexas.edu
Buchanan is an expert on presidential and American politics, American institutions, public policy and political behavior.
Media Contact: Daniel Oppenheimer, oppenheimer@utexas.edu, 512-475-9712

James R Henson
Executive Director of Texas Politics Project
, Texas Politics Project
+1 512 471 0090, j.henson@austin.utexas.edu
Henson, director of the Texas Politics Project, is an expert on Texas politics, public opinion, presidential elections, internet and politics, and political campaigns.

James W Pennebaker
Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus
, Department of Psychology
, College of Liberal Arts
, pennebaker@utexas.edu
Pennebaker examines candidate's language use in debates to analyze aspects of personalities, thinking styles and social relationships. More info is at [url=http://www.wordwatchers.wordpress.com]www.wordwatchers.wordpress.com[/url].
Media Contact: Daniel Oppenheimer, oppenheimer@utexas.edu, 512-475-9712

Brian E Roberts
Professor
, Department of Government
, College of Liberal Arts
+1 512 232 6582, +1 512 232 7243, roberts@utexas.edu
Roberts is an expert on American political institutions, interest groups and positive political economy.
Media Contact: Daniel Oppenheimer, oppenheimer@utexas.edu, 512-475-9712

Jeremi Suri
Professor
, Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs
+1 512 475 7242, suri@austin.utexas.edu
Suri can adress a wide range of topics including foreign policy, immigration, military affairs, young voters, campaign finance, changing role of the presidency and the history of the presidency.
Media Contact: Tori Yu, victoriajyu@austin.utexas.edu, 512-232-4054

Sean M Theriault
University Distinguished Teaching Professor
, Department of Government
, College of Liberal Arts
+1 512 232 7279, seant@mail.utexas.edu
Theriault can speak about American political institutions, political party polarization, U.S. Congress, elections and voters.
Media Contact: Daniel Oppenheimer, oppenheimer@utexas.edu, 512-475-9712
Voting Rights

Peniel E Joseph
Professor
, Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs
+1 512 475 7241, peniel.joseph@austin.utexas.edu
Joseph's research focuses has been on "Black Power Studies", which explore the interdisciplinary fields of Africana studies, women's and ethnic studies, law and society and political science. He is currently teaching "The Civil Rights Movement and Public Policy".
Media Contact: Tori Yu, victoriajyu@austin.utexas.edu, 512-232-4054
For more information, contact: University Communications, Office of the President, 512-471-3151.