IDJC Director
Margaret Talev is the Kramer Director of the IDJC and a professor of practice of magazine, news and digital journalism at the Newhouse School. She has covered American politics for 30 years and is a past president of the White House Correspondents’ Association. She is senior contributor at Axios and a frequent political analyst on CNN, NPR, Sirius XM and other major outlets.
Research Director
Johanna Dunaway is IDJC’s research director and a professor of political science at the Maxwell School. Her research focuses on news media and politics, political communication and the impact of changing communication technologies on media effects, public opinion and political behavior.
Senior Researchers
Joshua Darr is a senior researcher at IDJC and an associate professor at the Newhouse School, teaching classes in political communication. His research focuses on campaign strategy, political knowledge, partisan polarization and local news. He has written about politics and media for The Boston Globe, FiveThirtyEight, The Washington Post, Vox, The Conversation, Nieman Journalism Lab and Scientific American.
Emily Sydnor is a senior researcher at IDJC and an associate professor of communication in the Newhouse School. Her research focuses on the political implications of incivility in mediated and interpersonal discourse, as well as the ways in which people’s attachments to the U.S. states shape their political behavior. An award-winning teacher, she offers classes on political communication and psychology at Newhouse’s DC campus.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Ali Kagalwala joined IDJC as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in September 2024. His primary research areas are Political Methodology, Political Economy & Media and Political Communication. His research interests include policymaking, polarization, time series analysis, spatial econometrics, cross-section time-series analysis, and models for compositional outcomes. He received his PhD and B.S. in Political Science from Texas A&M University.
Graduate Research Assistant
Abus Murat is a Ph.D. student at Maxwell School and Graduate Research Assistant at IDJC. He is a student of American Politics and Comparative Politics. His interests are political behavior, media, public opinion and political methodology. In addition to Turkish, he speaks Russian. His work is published and forthcoming in Mediterranean Politics and Political Research Quarterly.
Director of Administration
Susan Nash is the director of administration at IDJC. Nash brings over 35 years of executive-level leadership to IDJC where she works with the Institute’s faculty and staff to develop and implement programming, events, curriculum, and research activities that align with the Institute’s mission and strategic goals.
Staff
Emma Carroll Hudson, Communications Specialist
Nitya Chagti, Research assistant and a Ph.D. student in the History Department at the Maxwell School
Partner Programs
Newhouse DC
Beverly Kirk is director of Washington programs and a professor of practice of broadcast and digital journalism at the Newhouse School. She leads student programs for the school across multiple communications majors with a primary focus on journalism.
Maxwell in DC
Andrew S. London is the associate dean for the Maxwell School’s Washington programs and associate dean of research for the Maxwell School.
Affiliated Experts
Title: Associate Professor, Philosophy
School: College of Arts and Sciences
Contact: lander04@syr.edu
Expertise: Language, race, comedy
Title: Director, Institute for the Study of the Judiciary, Politics and the Media; Vice Dean, College of Law
School: College of Law; Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
Contact: 315.443.8678 | kjbybee@syr.edu
Expertise: Public law, judicial process, politics of race, legal theory, political philosophy
Title: Research Professor, Office of Research and Creative Activity; Co-Director, Real Chemistry Emerging Insights Lab
School: S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
Contact: jdavis72@syr.edu
Expertise: Mis/disinformation detection using AI/ML tools; STEM professional development
Title: Chair, Department of Communication and Rhetorical Studies
School: College of Visual and Performing Arts
Contact: 315.443.2308 | redubrof@syr.edu
Expertise: Race, gender, surveillance, authenticity
Title: Director, Autonomous Systems Policy Institute (ASPI)
School: Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
Contact: hrekbia@syr.edu
Expertise: Political economy of computing, future of work, AI and society
Title: Senior Research Associate, Center for Policy Research and Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion and Population Health
School: Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
Contact: 315.443.3115 | afairc01@syr.edu
Expertise: Intersection of social movements, politics, science, work and public health
Title: Hicker Family Professor of Renewing Democratic Community; Director, Campbell Public Affairs Institute; Research Affiliate, Center for Policy Research; Research Affiliate, Center for Policy Design and Governance
School: Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
Contact: 315.443.8828 | cgfaricy@syr.edu
Expertise: American politics, social policy, income inequality, tax policy, public opinion on government spending, budgetary politics, political economy, political parties
Title: Professor and Chair, Political Science Department
School: Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
Contact: 315-443-3718 | sgadaria@dlmanzie
Expertise: American politics, political psychology, political communication, public opinion, experimental methods
Title: Executive Director, Esports Communications and Management
School: David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics
Contact: ejgawrys@syr.edu
Expertise: Esports, video games and sport, sports and socialization, international sport culture, sport and technology
Title: Professor of Practice; Research Director, Collaborative Governance; Senior Research Associate, Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration
School: Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
Contact: 315.443.2756 | cgerard@syr.edu
Expertise: Leadership, organizational development, total quality management, conflict resolution
Title: Pontarelli Professor of Environmental Sustainability and Finance; Director, Dynamic Sustainability Lab
School: Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
Contact: 315.443.5849 | jgolde04@syr.edu
Expertise: Net-Zero Carbon Transition, technology transitions, energy transitions, bio-based transitions, supply chains, ESG and finance
Title: Associate Professor, History; Senior Research Associate, Campbell Public Affairs Institute
School: Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
Contact: 315.443.9503 | jdgonda@syr.edu
Expertise: Sports and democracy, history of the civil rights movement, legal history
Title: Laura J. & L. Douglas Meredith Professor of Teaching Excellence; Crandall Melvin Professor of Law; Director, Syracuse Civics Initiative
School: Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
Contact: 315.443.9547 | lgouldin@syr.edu
Expertise: AI, law, civics
Title: Professor; Director, Tully Center for Free Speech
School: S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
Contact: 315.443.3523 | rsgutter@syr.edu
Expertise: First Amendment, free speech and media law, courts, journalists and legal education
Title: Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation, Syracuse University; founder, Institute for Veterans & Military Families
School: Syracuse University
Contact: ivmfdirector@syr.edu
Expertise: Defense, veterans, entrepreneurial decision-making and strategy
Title: Associate Dean, Chair and Professor, Public Administration and International Affairs
School: Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
Contact: 315.443.4000 | cmheflin@syr.edu
Expertise: Social policy, poverty policy, child and family policy
Title: Associate Professor, Public Administration and International Affairs; Senior Research Associate, Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration; Senior Research Associate, Middle Eastern Studies
School: Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
Contact: 315.443.4339 | ceherrol@syr.edu
Expertise: Civil society, international development, democracy promotion
Title: Assistant Professor, Magazine, News and Digital Journalism
School: S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
Contact: 315.443.7388 | nhusain@syr.edu
Expertise: Investigative journalism, civil liberties, incarceration, news coverage of “War on Terror” and impacts on young Muslims
Title: Professor, Political Science; Michael O. Sawyer Chair of Constitutional Law and Politics; Senior Research Associate, Campbell Public Affairs Institute
School: Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
Contact: 315.443.5862 | tmkeck@syr.edu
Expertise: Supreme Court, democratic erosion, global free-speech jurisprudence
Title: Assistant Professor, Digital Misinformation
School: School of Information Studies
Contact: 315.443.5441 | kkking@syr.edu
Expertise: Machine learning algorithms; combating misinformation on social media; behavioral economics and information decision-making in virtual communities
Title: Research assistant professor with the Civic Research Data Lab (CRDL)
School: S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
Contact: 315.443.4455 | ackocher@syr.edu
Area of Expertise: FOIA, federal government, immigration detention, deportation and courts
Title: Associate Professor, Communications
School: S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
Contact: 315.443.5331 | clcorsbi@syr.edu
Expertise: Social psychology and communication, American Dream, intersectional identity
Title: Senior Associate Dean, Newhouse School; Associate Professor, Public Relations; Co-Director, Real Chemistry Emerging Insights Lab
School: S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
Contact: 315.443.3613 | mluttre@syr.edu
Area of Expertise: AI, data analytics, social media and society, multi-generational workforce
Title: Joseph A. Strasser Endowed Professor in Public Administration; Director and Senior Research Associate, Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration; Senior Research Associate, Campbell Public Affairs Institute; Research Affiliate, Autonomous Systems Policy Institute
School: Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
Contact: 315.443.8994 | tnabatch@syr.edu
Area of Expertise: Citizen participation, collaborative governance, conflict resolution and challenges in public administration
Title: University Professor; Phanstiel Chair in Leadership; distinguished senior advisor, Center for Strategic and International Studies; senior research associate, Campbell Public Affairs Institute; research affiliate, Autonomous Systems Policy Institute
School: Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
Contact: 315.443.8583 | scokeefe@syr.edu
Expertise: Former NASA Administrator, Navy Secretary, deputy OMB director, DOD Comptroller and LSU Chancellor. National security law and policy; public management, finance and budgeting. Technology development, innovation management, executive leadership
Title: Professor of Practice, Policy Studies; Donald P. and Margaret Curry Gregg Professor of Practice in Korean and East Asian Affairs; Senior Research Associate, Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration; Maxwell Advisory Board Member
School: Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
Contact: 315.443.2348 | kbpatel@syr.edu
Expertise: Intelligence and research analytics in the public and private sectors, transnational financial crime and natsec risks, counterterrorism and proliferation
Title: Associate Professor, Public Relations and Public Diplomacy
School: S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
Contact: 315.443.4315 | slpike@syr.edu
Expertise: State Department, public relations and public diplomacy
Title: Newhouse Professor Endowed Chair; Professor, Communications; Director, CODE^SHIFT (Collaboratory for Data Equity, Social Healing, Inclusive Futures, and Transformation)
School: S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
Contact: 315.443.8042 | srramasu@syr.edu
Expertise: Media literacy, anti-racism, civic engagement, difficult dialogues, data justice, critical AI and South Asia
Title: Senior Research Associate, Campbell Public Affairs Institute; Senior Research Associate, Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration
School: Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
Contact: 315.443.5046 | gdreeher@syr.edu
Expertise: American politics, democratic representation, citizenship, legislatures, health care policy, public engagement, gun politics and policy
Title: Vice President for Civic Engagement and Education, Professor of Political Science
School: Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
Contact: 315.443.2494 | ritterg@syr.edu
Expertise: History of women’s constitutional rights; contemporary issues concerning democracy and citizenship in American politics
Title: Adjunct Professor; public historian; CEO, History Communication Institute; global fellow, Wilson Institute
School: Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
Contact: jstein20@syr.edu
Expertise: Technology, media, museums, disinformation, impact of social media on public understanding of news and history, State Department diplomatic exchanges
Title: Professor of Practice, TV, Radio and Film; Director, Newhouse Sports Media Center
School: S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
Contact: 315.443.4065 | okstomsk@syr.edu
Expertise: Sports media, directing, producing, managing and overseeing live event coverage
Title: Professor; Senior Associate Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs
School: School of Information Studies
Contact: 315.443.1823 | jstromer@syr.edu
Expertise: Presidential campaigning and the internet, campaign advertising and social media, predictive modeling for online behavior, political misinformation
Title: Professor, History Department; Interim Chair, Citizenship and Civic Engagement; Daicoff Faculty Scholar
School: Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
Contact: 315.443.5868 | jtakeda@syr.edu
Expertise: Citizenship, civic engagement, globalization, revolution, ethics, justice
Title: Director, Bleier Center for Television & Popular Culture; Trustee Professor of TV, Radio and Film
School: S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
Contact: 315. 443.4077 | rthompso@syr.edu
Expertise: Media and pop culture
Title: Assistant Professor, Political Science Department; Senior Research Associate, Campbell Public Affairs Institute
School: Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
Contact: 315.443.3629 | eathorso@syr.edu
Expertise: American politics, misinformation and misperceptions, experimental methodology, political psychology, media and politics
Title: Knight Chair in Data and Explanatory Journalism; Professor, Magazine, News and Digital Journalism
School: S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
Contact: 315.443.7360 | jupton@syr.edu
Expertise: Investigative and data journalism, sports, military, government, crime and economic data
Title: Director, Bandier Program for Recording and Entertainment Industries; Co-director, Audio Arts
School: S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
Contact: 315.443.3280 | bwerde@syr.edu
Area of Expertise: Business of music, media marketing and entrepreneurship, digital and audiovisual media, founder Full Rate No Cap newsletter
Title: John Ben Snow Endowed Research Chair; Professor, Communications
School: S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
Contact: 315.443.9232 | lwillnat@syr.edu
Expertise: Cross-national studies of public perceptions of news media’s role in democracy, role of political polarization on perceptions of journalism, foreign correspondents
Title: Assistant Professor, Political Science Department; Senior Research Associate, Autonomous Systems Policy Institute; Senior Research Associate, Campbell Public Affairs Institute
School: Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
Contact: bzhang22@syr.edu
Expertise: AI analysis, governance and ethics, American politics, technology and public policy