Director of Migrants, Migration, and Development and Refugee Protection Programs, and Member of the Board of Trustees
Migration Policy Institute
For interviews on refugee crisis in Europe.
As the harrowing pictures of drowned Syrian toddler Aylan Al-Kurdi bring intense focus to the refugee crisis in Europe, we SPOTLIGHT Kathleen Newland is co-founder of the Migration Policy Institute and directs MPI's programs on migrants, migration, and development and comprehensive protection for refugees and internally displaced people. Her work focuses on the relationship between migration and development, governance of international migration, and refugee protection. Media includes: New York Times, BBC World TV, The Economist, NPR, Reuters
Robert I. Williams Term Professor of History; Director, Middle East Center
University of Pennsylvania
For interviews on Iran deal.
With President Obama securing enough senate votes to ensure the Iran deal will go into effect, we FEATURE Firoozeh Kashani-Sabet the Robert I. Williams Term Professor of History and director of the Middle East Center at the University of Pennsylvania. Firoozeh is a scholar of modern Iran, the Ottoman Empire, and the Persian Gulf, having published extensively on these topics. She has studied Arab/Persian relations, as well as Sunni/Shia conflicts. She is also an expert on boundary disputes and politics in the Middle East, as well as an established scholar on the history of US—Iranian relaitons. Media includes: NBC Philadelphia, Voice of America, NPR, Newsday
SAT results this year are the lowest they have been for 10 years, to discuss this we FEATURE Sally Nellson Barrett, executive producer for the campaign Nebraska Loves Public Schools. Since 2011, she has interviewed more than 400 people and directed more than 30 films to raise awareness about the high quality public education available in Nebraska. Most recently she has turned her attention to creating documentaries focused on the ways public schools are working to help children from low income families find success. Media includes: NPR- Omaha, CBS
For interviews on federal money for campus sexual assault.
To discuss the Justice Department's announcement of $8.5m to stop sexualized violence on college campuses we FEATURE Tracey E. Vitchers, a feminist activist, writer and commentator. She currently serves as Director of Development & Operations for Sexual Health Innovations, a national sexual health and technology non-profit organization; Chair of the Board for Students Active For Ending Rape (SAFER), a national campus sexual violence prevention organization; and, website coordinator for Know Your IX, which is a national movement to empower students to end campus sexual violence. Media includes: Huffington Post, Newsweek, MSNBC, Cosmopolitan
As Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis is jailed for refusing to sign same sex marriage licenses saying to do so would violate her faith, we FEATURE Valarie Kaur, an award-winning filmmaker, civil rights advocate, and interfaith leader who centers her work around the power of storytelling. She is the founder of Groundswell at Auburn Seminary, a non-profit initiative with 100,000 members that equips people of faith in social change. She has led national campaigns responding to hate crimes, racial profiling, immigration detention, marriage equality, and solitary confinement. Extensive media including: MSNBC Political Contributor, frequent contributor to CNN, NPR, PBS, Washington Post, Huntington Post
Areas of Expertise: Activism and advocacy, Arts and Culture, Entrepreneurship, Health, Public health, Reproductive health, Women, Women's issues, Women's leadership
Areas of Expertise: Human rights, Immigration, Intersectionality, Labor and Employment, Politics, Race and ethnicity, Women and Politics, Work-life balance