Media Experts | St. Edwards University in Austin, TX

St. Edward’s University faculty experts are available to provide commentary and analysis for news stories in print, broadcast and online media. Members of the media who would like to interview a faculty expert may reach out to our Communications team or contact the faculty members directly.

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Faculty Spotlight

Marianne Ward-Peradoza is provost of St. Edward's University and an expert in global studies and economic development. In her own words, "I am particularly drawn to cases in which countries with similar resources or opportunities eventually take different paths. I am interested in understanding why some countries may appear to outperform expectations, and other countries may appear to under-perform. I am also fascinated by countries that have had persistent and long-term success. An understanding of the key factors contributing to this success can provide insights that may advance economic development and standards of living across the globe."

Faculty Experts Guide

Find subject-matter experts in everything from business to mental health, and video games to social justice. St. Edward's experts are listed below in the following categories: School of Arts and Humanities; School of Behavioral and Social Sciences; School of Natural Sciences; Office of Graduate and Professional Studies; and The Bill Munday School of Business.

School of Arts and Humanities

The School of Arts and Humanities houses expertise in communications, foreign languages, arts, pop culture, and gaming, among other subjects.

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Emily Bernate

Assistant Professor of Spanish

EXPERTISE
Linguistics, Gender and Spanish in the U.S.

CONTACT
ebernate@stedwards.edu
512-233-1493

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Robert Denton Bryant

Assistant Professor

EXPERTISE
Video Game Business and Culture, Game Development, and Transmedia Storytelling

CONTACT
rbryant@stedwards.edu
512-448-8562

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Jena Heath

Associate Professor of Journalism and Digital Media and Associate Dean in the School of Arts and Humanities

EXPERTISE
Journalism, Digital Media and Oral History Projects

CONTACT
jennah@stedwards.edu
512-637-1989

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Stephen King

Professor of Communications

EXPERTISE
Intersection of Rhetorical Theory, Public Memory, Authenticity, Tourism and Popular Music

CONTACT
Sking1@stedewards.edu
512-428-1090

School of Behavioral and Social Sciences

The School of Behavioral and Social Sciences houses expertise in Environmental Science, Criminal Justice, Death Penalty, LGBTQ Issues, Mental Health, Political Science, Human Trafficking, and Social Work, among other areas.

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Carsten Andresen

Assistant Professor of Criminal Justic

EXPERTISE
Policing, County Jail/Criminal System, Recidivism, Gay/Trans Panic Defense

CONTACT
warrenA@stedwards.edu
512-428-1328

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Amy Concilio

Assistant Professor of Environmental Scienc

EXPERTISE
Climate Change Impacts, Natural Systems Adaptation, Invasive Species, and Ecological Restoration

CONTACT
aconcili@stedwards.edu
512-637-1958

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Laurie Cook Heffron

Assistant Professor of Social Work

EXPERTISE
Forced Migration, Intimate Partner Violence/Domestic Violence, Human Trafficking, and Women and Migration

CONTACT
lheffron@stedwards.edu
512-233-1413

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Lisa Holleran

Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice

EXPERTISE
Criminal Justice, Death Penalty Cases and Female Incarceration

CONTACT
lhollera@stedwards.edu
512-428-1266

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Adam McCormick

Associate Professor of Social Work

EXPERTISE
LGBTQ Youth in the Child Welfare System, the Foster Care System, Masculinity and Youth Mental Health, Relationships Rights of Siblings, and the Intersections of Child Welfare and Immigration

CONTACT
adamm@stedwards.edu
512-485-4619

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Michelle Richter

Associate Professor of Criminology

EXPERTISE
Crime Causes & Contexts, Victimology, and Policing

CONTACT
michelyr@stedwards.edu
512-448-8624

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Brian Smith

Professor of Political Science

EXPERTISE
Public Opinion, Elections, Texas Politics, Polling and Third Political Parties

CONTACT
brianws@stedwards.edu
512-428-1294

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Melissa Alvarado

Assistant Professor of Counseling

EXPERTISE
Counseling Education and Suicide Prevention

CONTACT
Malvara5@stedwards.edu
512-637-1976

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Bill McHenry

Associate Professor of Counseling Education

EXPERTISE
Standardized Testing, Group Testing and the STAAR Test

CONTACT
wmchenry@stedwards.edu
512-448-8733

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Kris Sloan

Associate Professor of Education

EXPERTISE
Education Culture, Curriculum, Assessment, Testing and Educational Accountability Policy, and Social Justice Education

CONTACT
kriss@stedwards.edu
512-637-5672

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Cristina Thornell

Associate Professor of Counseling

EXPERTISE
Counseling, Bilingual Counseling, Counseling Education

CONTACT
cthornell@stedwards.edu
512-428-1354

School of Natural Sciences

The School of Natural Sciences houses experts in Biological Sciences, Cellular-Molecular Neuroscience, Environmental Conservation, Ecology, and Entomology, among other areas.

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Barbara Dugelby

Director of the Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve and Faculty Associate

EXPERTISE
Science-based Conservation Planning, Protected Area Design and Management, Climate Adaptation, Restoration Ecology, and Community-based Conservation

CONTACT
bdugelby@stedwards.edu
512-327-7622

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Andrea Holgado

Professor of Biological Sciences

EXPERTISE
Biological Sciences and Cellular-Molecular Neuroscience

CONTACT
aholgado@stedwards.edu
512-448-1415

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Matthew Steffenson

Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences

EXPERTISE
General Biology, Entomology, Arachnology, Evolution, Honeybee and Wolf Spider Immunology

CONTACT
Msteffen@stedwards.edu
512-416-5889

The Bill Munday School of Business

The Bill Munday School of Business houses expertise in Accounting, Consumer Behavior, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Global Finance, Management, and Marketing, among other areas.