August 30, 2005

U.Va. has a number of expert sources on several topics related to hurricanes.
Experts at the University of Virginia offer their knowledge on the environmental, economic and psychological impact that such a storm wields on not only the battered regions, but the entire nation as well.

All experts are available for interviews. TV reporters please contact Carolyn Dillard in the Television News office at 434-982-3030 or 924-7550 to arrange interviews. 
Satellite Services Available

For information on Satellite services email satellite@virginia.edu or call 434-982-5268.

Richard L. Guerrant, M.D., director, Center for Global Health
Infectious disease specialist
Dr. Guerrant, an infectious disease specialist, has extensive real-world experience treating patients in disaster areas following major storms. He can discuss the diseases that may result from contaminated drinking water and their effects on people, particularly children and the elderly. He also can talk about the challenges or getting medicine and supplies to people in devastated areas. Dr. Guerrant is a highly articulate and passionate speaker and an excellence interview. He can be reached at 434-924-9671

Joseph "Jay" Zieman, chair of the Department of Environmental Sciences.
Coastal ecologist - effects of storms, coastal development
Zieman specializes in coastal zone ecology and is a wealth of information about the effects of major storms on coastal areas. He also is originally from Mobile in coastal Alabama and went to undergrad school at Tulane in New Orleans, so he knows that area well. His expertise range from coastal development in general, how this alters the natural vegetation and barrier islands that would normally protect coastlines, flooding, erosion, to the problems of pollution from raw sewage entering the water supply. He can be reached at 434-924-0570.

Philip "Jerry" Stenger - Virginia State Climatology Office
Climatologist
Stenger, a climatologist, can discuss weather, long-term climate, hurricane tracking and trends, why some storms or more powerful than others, and the possible severity of the rest of the hurricane season. He can be reached at 434-924-0548.

Bethany Teachman, assistant professor of psychology
Anxiety and panic disorders
Teachman can address the way people respond to trauma, stress and fear. She specializes in treating people who suffer from anxiety disorders and panic attacks. Teachman is a very good interview and can be reached at 434-924-0676.

Timothy Beatley - Teresa Heinz Professor of Sustainable Communities
Timothy Beatley is Teresa Heinz Professor of Sustainable Communities, in the Department of Urban and Environmental Planning, School of Architecture at the University of Virginia, where he has taught for the last eighteen years. His primary teaching and research interests are in environmental planning and policy, with special emphasis on coastal and natural hazards planning, environmental values and ethics, and biodiversity conservation. He has published extensively in these areas. He can be reached at 434-982-2196.

Erika Hayes James
Associate Professor of Business Administration at the U.Va. Darden Graduate School of Business Administration.

Erika H. James conducts research in the areas of crisis management and
workforce diversity. Her most recent work is on organizational strategies
for managing discrimination lawsuits. Her research has been published or is
forthcoming in several leading academic journals including Strategic
Management Journal, Organization Science and Journal of Applied Psychology.
She can discuss the issues that companies must grapple with in communicating
with their stakeholders — internally with employees and externally with the
public — during recovery from a disaster.