Miami University faculty, staff, and students made headlines in the 2021-22 academic year in thousands of news articles in media outlets worldwide, garnering attention for their scholarship, achievements, community building, and thought leadership. 

In addition to featuring stories about exceptional students and unique events, journalists turned to Miami’s faculty for their perspectives and knowledge on hot topics, trending news, and recent research. Working with the University Communications and Marketing news team, faculty and staff shared their expertise in more than 900 placements in news media outlets. 

“Miami faculty are leaders in their field and highly respected in their disciplines, but first and foremost, they are excellent educators,” said Jessica Rivinius, senior director of news and communications at Miami. “So it is no surprise that reporters want to work with our faculty to help educate and inform their communities. Our faculty do a great job breaking down complex ideas into concepts an average person can understand.” 

Rivinius said she and her team connect with faculty and staff across campus to learn more about their areas of expertise and research. She also hosts quarterly “media training” for faculty members interested in sharing their work more broadly. 

The team also works with divisional communicators and deans to identify faculty who may be able to speak to in-the-news topics. Over the past year, the news team has begun issuing “expert alerts” to local and national media that share insight from faculty and staff on newsworthy topics, such as the supply chain impact on holiday shopping, U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and ever increasing gas prices.   

Faculty and staff who are interested in sharing their expertise or appearing in the list of experts for news media should email newsinfo@miamioh.edu.

To stay up-to-date on the latest Miami Media Highlights, sign up for the weekly newsletter or visit the website here. 

Media highlights from the academic year include:

The 50th anniversary of the Miami Tribe partnership with Miami University

Inside HigherEd, August 9: What we have learned from each other

• Retiring Native American mascots can create new relationships between colleges and Tribal Nations, write Doug Lankford, chief of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, and Miami University President Gregory Crawford.

Indian Country Today, Oct. 19: Myaamia Tribe commemorates forced removal 175 years ago

• This article reports on the relationship between Miami University and the Miami Tribe, and the Day of Remembrance held Oct. 11 to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the forced removal of the Miami Tribe from their homelands. 

• This article reports on Miami University partnering with the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. 

WVXU, April 4: Miami University is Celebrating 50 Years of Partnership with the Myaamia Tribe of Oklahoma

• This article reports on Miami University celebrating 50 years of partnership with the Myaamia Tribe of Oklahoma. Doug Lankford, chief of the Miami Tribe, is quoted. 

 DEI, Race/Racism, LGBTQ+ issues, Ageism

 Science, Nov. 5: How to begin building a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion in your research group

• This article reports on the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in research groups. Beena Sukumaran, dean of the College of Engineering and Computing, is quoted. 

Esquire, March 25: The 125 Best Books About Hollywood

• This article reports on the book, “Colorization,” written by Wil Haygood, Boadway Distinguished Scholar-in-Residence in the department of Media, Journalism and Film, being among the best 125 books about Hollywood. 

ABC News , Oct. 2:  Tests, background checks can thwart police diversity effort

• Rodney Coates, professor of Global and Intercultural Studies, is interviewed in this story about law enforcement entry procedures and the importance of community connection in law enforcement. 

WVXU, Nov. 17: New book explores how schools fail Black boys and how to fix the system

• This article reports on the book, “Toward a BlackBoyCrit Pedagogy,” written by Nathaniel Bryan, assistant professor of Teacher Education.

New York Magazine, Dec. 15: She Supported Her Child Being Trans. So the State Separated Them.

• Research by Kate Kuvalanka, professor of Family Science, was cited in this piece about a court case and LGBTQ rights. Kuvalanka’s work, “An Exploratory Study of Custody Challenges Experienced by Affirming Mothers of Transgender and Gender-Nonconforming Children,” was published in Family Court Review.

Inside Higher Ed, Jan. 7: Curriculum Incentive Plan Prompts Political Backlash

• This article reports on incentives being offered to universities to incorporate equity and social justice into courses. Katherine Cho, assistant professor of Educational Leadership, is quoted. 

Diverse Issues in Higher Education, Jan. 27: Only Ten Disability Cultural Centers Exist in the U.S. Institutions

• This article reports on institutional disability cultural centers in the U.S. Stephanie Dawson, director of Miller Center for Student Disability Services, is quoted. 

 U.S. News and World Report, Feb. 4: What to Know About Ethnic Studies Degrees

• This article reports on Ethnic Studies degrees and the value they can offer to nearly any profession. Rodney Coates, professor of Global and Intercultural Studies, is quoted. 

Think, March 22: Why is ageism still ok? 

• This broadcast discusses intergenerational workplaces, why age accounts for only 8 percent of DEI efforts and strategies for change. Megan Gerhardt, professor of Management, is featured. 

Higher Ed/Leadership/Pandemic 

Inside Higher Ed, Dec. 2: 2019 Thinking Won’t Work in 2022

• This article written by Jaime Hunt, vice president and chief communications and marketing officer, reports on flexibility and adaptability being needed in the “new abnormal.” 

Inside Higher Ed, Dec. 17: Colleges must redefine leadership

• Cristina Alcalde, vice president for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, discusses how women of color are doing much of the work.

Inside Higher Ed, Dec. 20: What students say about the fall 2021 college experience

• This article discusses how returning to in-person studies has pointed students in a positive direction. Jenny Darroch, dean of the Farmer School of Business, is quoted. This story also appeared in Techregister. 

Inside Higher Ed, Jan. 7: Curriculum Incentive Plan Prompts Political Backlash

• This article reports on incentives being offered to universities to incorporate equity and social justice into courses. Katherine Cho, assistant professor of Educational Leadership, is quoted. 

Liberal Education, Jan. 26: What the Pandemic Taught Us

• This article, written by Miami University President Gregory Crawford, reports on liberal education. 

Forbes, March 11: Why Employers Should Seek to Learn About Graduates’ ‘Return on Experience’ After College 

• This article, written by Miami University President Gregory Crawford, reports on the importance of students’ “return on experience.”

Faculty Research /Expertise 

 BBC World Service Radio, Aug. 9: Doping in eSports: The billion-dollar pill

• Glenn Platt, C. Michael Armstrong Professor of Interactive Media Studies and Marketing, discusses how doping is a growing problem in the multi-billion industry of competitive online gaming, but remains an open secret.  

CBSNews, MSN, Yahoo News, Earth.com and Daily Magazine, Aug. 10:  Smoke from wildfires reaches North Pole for first time in recorded history

• Jessica McCarty, associate professor of Geography, is quoted in this story about how climate change is making wildfires in Siberia larger, affecting places farther to the north and consuming fuels that would have been more fire resistant in the past. 

Newsakmi, Sept. 21: How Social Media is Fueling Protests against Campus Sexual Assault

• This article reports on the growing influence of digital activism. Katherine S. Cho, assistant professor of Educational Leadership, is quoted.

New York Times, Oct. 22: After Dropping Free Community College Plan, Democrats Explore Options

• This article reports on expanded tuition assistance. Riley Acton, assistant professor of Economics, is quoted. 

CNN Business, Feb. 5: The U.S. desperately needs skilled workers. But the community colleges that train them are woefully underfunded

• This article reports on the U.S. seeking to train workers for infrastructure jobs through community colleges that are underfunded. Riley Acton, assistant professor of Economics, is quoted.  

Fortune, March 24: The Great Resignation’s Wage Hikes May be Sending Fewer Students to College

• This article reports on The Great Resignation’s wage hikes and fewer students attending college. Riley Acton, assistant professor of Economics, is quoted. Subscription for this article may be required.

Journal News, Oct. 29: Asian spider takes hold in Georgia, sends humans scurrying

• This article reports on Joro spiders, native to East Asia, discovered in Georgia. Ann Rypstra, University Distinguished Professor of Biology, is quoted. Additional reports on this topic appeared in: 

• Smithsonian, Nov. 9: ‘Like a Scene Out of ‘Arachnophobia, “ Invasive Spider Take Over Northern Georgia
• CBS 4 NEWS, Oct. 29: Large spiders native to East Asia spinning webs sending humans scurrying in Georgia 

Washington Post , Oct. 15:  Jazz venues have been hit particularly hard by the pandemic. They are hoping the worst is over.

• Tammy Kernodle, University Distinguished Professor of Music, is quoted in this article about how jazz venues struggled financially during the pandemic.

 The Wall Street Journal, Nov. 5: When Will the Supply-Chain Strains Finally Ease?

• This article reports on the broken supply chain and how it is affecting corporations and consumers. Lisa Ellram, University Distinguished Professor of Management, is quoted.

Washington Post, Nov. 16: Opinion: Inflation drives people nuts. When will Democrats wise up?

• This op-ed reports on inflation in the United States. John Forren, associate professor of Justice and Community Studies and executive director of Miami’s Menard Family Center for Democracy, is quoted. 

Global Tech News Daily, Dec. 24: Learning From Nature: Using Microbial Consortia To Improve Biochemical Synthesis 

• Research findings by J. Andrew Jones, assistant professor of Chemical, Paper and Biomedical Engineering, and Xin Wang, assistant professor of Microbiology, are mentioned in this article about the mass production of chemicals with the advent of synthetic microbial consortia.  

CBS News, Dec. 31: The Pet Project

• This news segment reports on the benefits of owning pets. Allen McConnell, chair and professor of Psychology, is featured. 

Washington Post, Jan. 22: Drop in college enrollment threatens to cause long-term economic, social consequences

• This article reports on the economic impact that declining college enrollment could have on American society. Jason Lane, dean of the College of Education, Health, and Society, is quoted. 

 Smithsonian Magazine, Jan. 20: The True History Behind HBO’s ‘The Gilded Age’

• This essay, written by Kimberly Hamlin, professor of History, describes the true history of the era in which the HBO show, ‘The Gilded Age’ is based on. 

Verywell Health, Jan.25: Teachers Are Experiencing a Mental Health Crisis, Too

• This article reports on research conducted by Miami University concluding that teachers are facing a mental health crisis amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Deb Robison, project administrator for Center of School-Based Mental Health Programs, is quoted. 

USA Today, Feb. 1:  Fact check: Mike Pence did not have the power to overturn 2020 election results, keep Trump in office

• This article reports on claims that Mike Pence had the authority to overturn the 2020 presidential election. John Forren, chair and associate professor of Justice and  Community Studies and executive director of Miami’s Menard Family Center for Democracy, is quoted.  

NPR WYPR (Baltimore), March 17: Jazz Night in America

• Tammy Kernodle, University Distinguished Professor of Music, is interviewed in this broadcast about jazz artist Shemekia Copeland and her place in the culture. An article also appears on Jazz 90.1. 

PBS, March 19: Let Ohio Women Vote

• This video broadcast discusses the women’s suffrage movement and voting rights. Kimberly Hamlin, professor of History and Global and Intercultural Studies, and Tammy Brown, associate professor of Global and Intercultural Studies and History, are featured. This program ran on PBS stations throughout Ohio.

Wired, March 23: ‘Ghostwire: Tokyo’ Brings Japanese Folklore to the Masses

This article reports on the video game, ‘Ghostwire: Tokyo’ and Japanese folklore. Noriko Reider, professor of German, Russian, Asian, and Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures, is quoted. Additional reports on this topic appeared in: 

• Bemb News, March 23: ‘Ghostwire: Tokyo’ Brings Japanese Folklore to the Masses

• TopGlobe, March 23: ‘Ghostwire: Tokyo’ Brings Japanese Folklore to the Masses

Soapbox Media, March 22: What Does an Architect Do? It’s More than Designing Buildings

• This article reports on architecture and what is involved in the process. John Weigand, associate dean of the College of Creative Arts and professor of Architecture and Interior Design, is quoted.  

Fast Company, April 5: Job hopping shouldn’t be your first instinct. Try ‘job crafting’ instead

• This article, written by Scott Dust, Raymond E. Glos associate professor of Management, discusses the need to ‘job craft.’

 TheScientist, April 4: Unearthing the Evolutionary Origins of Insect Wings

• This article reports on the evolution of insect wings. Yoshi Tomoyasu, associate professor of Biology, is quoted. 

Newsbreak, April 15: 4 Signs Your Perfectionism is Becoming Toxic at Work

• This article reports on Miami University research findings on perfectionism in the workplace. Laurens Steed, the John F. Mee endowed assistant professor of Management, is quoted. 

The Bharat Express News, April 22: Scientists Fear War in Ukraine will Worsen Wildfires in Siberia

• This article reports on the effects that the war in Ukraine could have on global warming. Jessica McCarty, associate professor of Geography, is quoted. Additional reports on this topic appeared in many media outlets. 

NPR Connecticut Public Radio, April 20: Brainwashing: From the Korean War to cults to today

• This NPR segment discusses the history and science of brainwashing. Timothy Melley, professor of English, is interviewed.

Education Research, April 19: Making Sense of Models

• This article reports on how professors can improve their teaching methods to help students better understand tricky concepts. Research cited in this article was conducted by Ellen Yezierski, professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry. 

Scientific American, April 19: Drones Could Spot Crime Scenes from Afar

• This article reports on drones being considered as new forensic tools. Mark Krekeler, associate professor of Mathematical and Physical Science, is quoted.  

Yahoo! Life, April 19: Everything You’ve Been Told About Weight May Be Wrong

• Assistant Professor of Psychology Jeffrey Hunger is quoted in this story about diets and the misperception that weight and health are always linked. 

 Iowa Public Radio, April 26: Home health aides are hard to find — and it could get worse

• This article reports on the shortage of  home health aides in the United States. John Bowblis, professor of Economics and research fellow of the Scripps Gerontology Center, is quoted.

The Hill, May 7: Teachers are quitting in droves: Appreciate them before they all disappear

• Written by Jason Lane, dean of the College of Education, Health, and Society, this article discusses the large number of teachers resigning throughout the country and the implications that may have on the future of education. 

ABC WCPO Ch. 9, May 6: Creating opportunity

• This story about a partnership between Miami University and Aiken High School features an interview with Beena Sukumaran, dean of the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC). Miami’s CEC students mentored and taught the high school students how to refurbish computers.