Experts Available: MU scholars available as midterm election approaches

June 5th, 2018

The views and opinions expressed in this “for expert comment” release are based on research and/or opinions of the researcher(s) and/or faculty member(s) and do not reflect the University’s official stance.

COLUMBIA, Mo. – As the 2018 midterm elections approach, both political parties have much at stake in terms of winning votes. Meanwhile voters will need to make decisions on hot topics including the economy, immigration and international trade. The University of Missouri offers the following experts as you work on stories about the upcoming midterms.

• American politics: Peverill Squire’s research focuses on American politics, with an emphasis on legislative institutions and elections. In recent years, his work has focused on questions of how and why legislatures have changed over time. Squire has concentrated on examining Congress and state legislatures, but in the last decade he has expanded his research scope to include American colonial assemblies and representative bodies outside the United States. Squire is a professor in the Department of Political Science in the College of Arts and Science.
• Constitutional Democracy: Justin Dyer’s research is on constitutionalism and political thought. He can speak to contested constitutional issues, including pending cases at the Supreme Court and the politics of federal court appointments. Dyer is a professor of political science and director of the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy.
• Political polarization: S.I. Strong specializes in public and private international law, comparative law and jurisprudence. She can speak to ways to move past political divides through the application of principles used in dispute resolution. Strong is an MU professor of law and a member of the university’s Center for the Study of Dispute Resolution.
• Trade policy and agriculture: Scott Brown, an expert in Missouri agriculture policy as well as the livestock market outlook and dairy policy, can answer questions about the effects of changes in federal dairy and livestock policies. He also can discuss how agriculture policy might be impacted after the U.S. House defeated their version of the 2018 Farm Bill. Brown is an assistant extension professor of agricultural and applied economics in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. He also serves as the director of strategic partnerships.
• Media policy: Sandy Davidson teaches communication law and how political policies relate to media. Davidson was an adjunct professor in the School of Law for many years and currently serves as the attorney for the Columbia Missourian, a community newspaper produced by the Missouri School of Journalism. Davidson is a Curators’ Teaching Professor in the Missouri School of Journalism.

For interviews with these or other Mizzou experts, please contact Sheena Rice at (573) 882-8353 or RiceSm@missouri.edu