Back-to-school experts available to the media
As students of all ages head back to school and arrive on college campuses around the country, the University of Wisconsin–Madison has a number of experts who can discuss topics and issues connected to the start of the school year, including: bullying, back-to-school shopping, school finance and navigating the transition to college.
Additional contact information for most of the experts listed may be available by sending an email to experts@uc.wisc.edu.
Back-to-school preparation
Amy Bellmore, assistant professor of educational psychology, is an expert on adolescent peer relationships and can discuss the social aspects of going back to school. Bellmore can be reached at abellmore@wisc.edu or 608-263-3883.
Back-to-school shopping
Deborah Mitchell, executive director of the Center for Brand and Product Management at the Wisconsin School of Business, can discuss back-to-school shopping trends and what will be driving consumer decisions in this tight economic time as kids head back to the classroom this fall. Mitchell can be reached at dmitchell@bus.wisc.edu or 608-770-0502.
Cynthia Jasper, expert in retailing and consumer behavior, can discuss the cost of school supplies and consumer decisions in back-to-school shopping. Jasper can be reached at crjasper@wisc.edu and 608-262-2384.
Bullying
Amy Bellmore, assistant professor of educational psychology, can discuss how transition points — elementary to middle school and middle school to high school — affect peer relationships. Bellmore can be reached at abellmore@wisc.edu or 608-263-3883.
Education reform
Michael W. Apple, professor of curriculum and instruction and educational policy studies, can discuss the effects and politics of education reform and home schooling. Apple is available Aug. 17-19 and can be reached at apple@education.wisc.edu or 608-263-4592.
Multicultural and special education
Aydin Bal, assistant professor of rehabilitation psychology and special education, can discuss: immigrant and refugee students with academic and behavioral difficulties, culturally responsive identification and interventions for learning disabilities and behavioral disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as international and multicultural issues in special education. His research projects include a multiple-phase study of culturally and linguistically diverse students’ disproportionate representation in special education programs, in collaboration with Madison Metropolitan School District. He can be reached at abal@wisc.edu or 608-698-4139.
School funding
Andrew Reschovsky, professor of public affairs and applied economics, is an expert on school finance in Wisconsin. He can discuss school funding issues and how school districts are being affected by budget changes as the academic year begins. Reschovsky is available at reschovsky@lafollette.wisc.edu or 608-263-0447.
John Witte, professor of political science and public affairs, is an expert on education policy and school finance. As the school year gets under way, he can also discuss the Milwaukee Voucher Program and charter schools throughout the state. Witte can be reached at witte@lafollette.wisc.edu or 608-262-5715.
School lunches
Susan Nitzke, professor emeritus of nutritional sciences, can discuss the nutritional aspects of school lunch programs and what parents may want to consider in deciding whether to pack lunch or buy lunch in light of new eating guidelines from the federal government. Nitzke can be reached at nitzke@nutrisci.wisc.edu.
Stress management
UW-Madison’s University Health Services has many resources available on topics of on stress management. Sarah Van Orman, executive director of University Health Services, Bob McGrath, coordinator of mind/body wellness programs, and Danielle Oakley, director of counseling services, can discuss how healthy and positive living can help students flourish in college. Van Orman can be reached at svanorman@uhs.wisc.edu or 608-262-1885; McGrath is available until Aug. 24 at rmcgrath@uhs.wisc.edu or 608-262-5218; Oakley is available at droakley@uhs.wisc.edu or 262-8350.
Technology/games
David Williamson Shaffer, professor of learning science and educational psychology and a game scientist with the Wisconsin Center for Education Research can discuss testing, technology and what games and other media kids use outside of the classroom. Shaffer can be reached at dws@education.wisc.edu or 608-320-4539.
Transition to college
John Bechtol, assistant dean of students, advises student veterans and can discuss issues involving student veterans, assistance to deployed students and military family members. He is available Aug. 15, 25 and 30 and can be reached at jbechtol@odos.wisc.edu or 608-263-5700. Contact experts@uc.wisc.edu for additional contact information.
Wren Singer, director of UW–Madison’s Center for the First-Year Experience, can discuss transition from high school to college, transition for students transferring from other institutions and the experiences of parents whose child is going away to college. Singer can be reached at wsinger@studentlife.wisc.edu.
Cathy Trueba, director of the McBurney Disability Resource Center, can discuss accommodations that are made for students with disabilities. She can also talk about changing family roles as students — and their parents — navigate the transition to college. Trueba is available at cmtrueba@studentlife.wisc.edu or 608-263-5174.
–Stacy Forster and Jenny Price