Rutgers University–New Brunswick and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences have a range of faculty experts available before, during and after the first presidential debate on the selected topics: the records of President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden, the Supreme Court, COVID-19, the economy, "race and violence in our cities” and “the integrity of the election.”

For interviews, reach out to the listed contacts. Additional campaign issue experts can be found here.

David Greenberg: Trump's and Biden’s records, Supreme Court, Race and Violence

Expert on American political and cultural history, including the presidency, campaigns and elections, political parties, political ideas, public policy and a contributing editor to Politico. Professor of history and of Journalism & Media Studies.

 

Ross Baker: Supreme Court

Expert in American government, U.S. legislative politics, Congressional issues and the presidency. Distinguished Professor in political science; can speak to key senate races.

 

Ashley Koning: Trump's and Biden’s records, Supreme Court, COVID-19, Economy, Race and Violence

Expert on American public opinion, survey design, polling trends and mass political behavior. Director of Rutgers’ Eagleton Center for Public Polling and Eagleton assistant research professor.

 

John J. Farmer, Jr.: Election Integrity

Expert on American politics, redistricting, law, national security and community protection for vulnerable populations. Director of Rutgers’ Eagleton Institute of Politics, Rutgers’ Miller Center for Community Protection and Resilience, and University Professor of law.

 

Elizabeth Matto: Election Integrity

Expert on voter access, youth political participation, youth voter turnout, young candidates running for office and youth voter mobilization. Director of Rutgers’ Center for Youth Political Participation at the Eagleton Institute of Politics and Eagleton associate research professor.

 

Henry F. Raymond: COVID-19

Epidemiologist; available to comment on coronavirus trends, rates, surveillance and sampling methods. Associate professor at the Rutgers School of Public Health and associate director for Public Health of the Center for COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness.

 

Brittany Friedman: Race and Violence

Expert on prisons, incarceration, and Black protest; can speak to racism in corrections and prisons, Black protest against the criminal justice system, and monetary sanctions.

 

Erica Armstrong Dunbar: Race and Violence

Expert in American slavery, emancipation studies and the intersection of race and gender in American history.

 

James W. Hughes: Economy/Trends

Expert on the economy, demographics, housing markets and real estate development; can speak to economic trends as they relate to the COVID-19 recession, as well as the presidential candidate’s jobs and economic plans.

 

Bill Rodgers: Economy/Income Inequality

Expert on labor economics and the economics of social problems; can speak to the U.S. unemployment rate, racial inequality, the recession's impact on Black Americans and the current job loss and economic recovery of Americans. Chief economist at the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development and former chief economist at the U.S. Department of Labor.

 

Nancy DiTomaso: Economy/Income Inequality

Expert on diversity, culture and inequality in relation to management and global business.

 

Yana Rodgers: Economy/Income Inequality

Expert on pay equity, relationship between women’s economic empowerment and access to reproductive health services. Director of the Rutgers Center for Women and Work.

 

Farrokh Langdana: Economy/Jobs

Expert on monetary and fiscal theory, international trade and global macroeconomic policy.

 

Janice Fine: Economy/Jobs

Expert on federal immigration policy and immigrant labor, low wage work, unions and new forms of worker organization, and government enforcement of minimum wage and other employment laws.

 

Michael Merrill: Economy/Jobs

Expert on U.S. politics, class conflict and the labor movement, including its continuing campaigns for good jobs and higher wages.

 

Rebecca Kolins Givan: Economy/Jobs

Expert on strikes, labor unions and their changing relationships with political candidates.

 

Jay Soled: Economy/Taxes

Expert on taxes, including how government defines taxable income, allowable exemptions and permissible deductions.

 

Farok Contractor: Economy/Trade

Expert in international business and management.