ProfNet Experts Available on Pope Francis' Visit, Stephen Colbert's 'Late Show' Debut, More Also in This Edition: Jobs for Writers, Media Industry Blog Posts

NEW YORK, Sept. 11, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Below are experts from the ProfNet network that are available to discuss timely issues in your coverage area.

You can also submit a query to the hundreds of thousands of experts in our network – it's easy and free! Just fill out the query form to get started: http://prn.to/alertswire.

EXPERT ALERTS

• Will Stephen Colbert Be Successful in Taking Over David Letterman's Show?
• The Need for Innovative Solutions in the Classroom

EXPERT ROUNDUP

• Pope Francis' Visit to the U.S.

MEDIA JOBS

• Freelance Financial Writers – InvestorPlace Media (MD)
• News Editor – Michigan Lawyers Weekly (MI)
• Full-Time Reporter – The Daily Journal (NJ)

OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES

• Queries and LOIs That Sell
• First-Time Speaker: Tips to Build Your Speaking Platform
• Upcoming Events for PR, Marketing and Media Professionals

EXPERT ALERTS:

Will Stephen Colbert Be Successful in Taking Over David Letterman's Show?
Dave Berg
Former Executive Producer
"The Tonight Show"
"Former Comedy Central host Stephen Colbert is taking over David Letterman's show (Sept. 8) at a great time, as late-night television is making a comeback. Advertisers are taking a renewed interest in the floundering genre, once a cash cow for the networks in the halcyon days of Johnny Carson, Jay Leno and Letterman. They like today's younger hosts: Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel and Colbert. Just one problem: Colbert hasn't proven himself yet to a mainstream audience. His cable show merely had a niche following, averaging a little more than a million viewers in 2014, hash-mark territory for late-night ratings leader Jimmy Fallon, who attracts almost 4 million. Still, Colbert enjoys massive support from media pundits, academicians and fans, who essentially worship him. Time's Richard Corliss called Colbert 'The Greatest TV Talk-Show Host.' Penn State professor Sophia McClennan compared Colbert to Ben Franklin and Mark Twain as one of the greatest satirists in our nation's history. And CBS chairwoman Nina Tassler was effusive, calling Colbert 'the smartest guy in the room.' But viewers don't care that CBS executives and pundits think Colbert is late-night's savior. They're looking for a guy who's likable and entertaining. Ratings and hits on social media are the only measures that count."
Berg's book, "Behind the Curtain: An Insider's View of Jay Leno's Tonight Show," showcases his 18 years as co-producer for Jay Leno. He lives in Los Angeles.
Contact: Ryan McCormick, [email protected]

The Need for Innovative Solutions in the Classroom
Alefiya Bhatia
CEO
Crescerance
"Staying in our own silos isn't working. Despite increasing graduation rates, not enough graduates are prepared for college or a career. We need innovative and forward-thinking solutions in education. Bringing together students, teachers and parents through hands-on, in-classroom programs and advanced technology applications, we can strength the education community and elevate our education system. I strongly believe in the power of parent and community involvement for a child's education. Involved communities contribute to higher academic and social outcomes, stronger values, and more successful lives."
Bhatia's degree in psychology and education from Emory University, along with her training as a Montessori teacher and experiences as a Montessori child, power her passion for wide-scale education improvement. In the early years of her career, Bhatia spent time working in both the classroom and as a school administrator in several Atlanta-area schools. She was also part of the founding team of the Atlanta-area chapter of Child Rights and You, a nonprofit organization committed to addressing the root causes of illiteracy, poverty, discrimination and exploitation. As both an educator and a member of a nonprofit organization, Bhatia recognized that it is not always easy for parents to stay constantly engaged in their child's education, nor is it easy for nonprofit volunteers to be as involved with their causes as they would like to be. And so, in 2011, Alefiya founded Crescerance, which is dedicated to improving communication, increasing edtech engagement and growing communities through mobile application solutions and education. Through their programs MAD-learn and Embr, Crescerance is able to harness the mobile technology movement with education to offer applied classroom programs and custom mobile applications. MAD-learn is hands-on, in-classroom program that brings mobile application development into classrooms for students to learn programming at a very young age. Embr creates communication solutions for schools and districts through mobile applications to keep everyone connect and up-to-date.
Website: www.crescerance.com
Contact: Nadia Duwaik, [email protected]

EXPERT ROUNDUP: Pope Francis' Visit to the U.S.

Following are more than 40 experts who are available to talk about various topics related to Pope Francis' visit to the U.S. (Sept. 22-27):

Charles J. Reid Jr.
Catholicism and Canon Law Expert, Law Professor
University of St. Thomas
"Pope Francis' upcoming U.S. visit has already ignited debate over issues like immigration and climate change. He will likely pull no punches with America's leaders and the United Nations. It's becoming clear Pope Francis intends to use this visit pressure American politicians and public to demand substantial, progressive change. This is no token or ceremonial trip. This has historic potential."
Dr. Reid is a sought-after expert on Catholicism, the Vatican and the papacy, and a popular blogger for The Huffington Post. He earned his JD and JCL (canon law) from the Catholic University of America and his PhD from Cornell. He is a professor of law at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis and, prior to this post, was a research associate in law and history at the Emory University School of Law.
Website: http://www.charlesjreidjr.com
Contact: Bonnie Harris, [email protected]  

Leonard Norman Primiano, Ph.D.
Chair and Professor of Religious Studies, Co-director of the Honors ProgramCabrini College
"Pope Francis represents a breath of fresh air for ordinary believers who have perceived the male Catholic leadership as a rather distant hierarchy. Pope Francis reminds the faithful that a core concern of Jesus was about caring for the marginalized in all of our communities large and small, national and international.
"Primiano is a renowned folklorist and religious studies scholar who has published and presented topics including "How to Read Catholic Folk Art," "The Ethnography of a Liar: The Question of Deception in the Performance of Religious Life History," "Artifacts of Belief: Holy Cards in Roman Catholic Culture," and "Kitsch and Religion." He earned a dual doctorate in religious studies and folklore and folklife from the University of Pennsylvania. He earned a master of theological studies from Harvard University and received a master's in folklore and folklife, and a bachelor's in religious studies from the University of Pennsylvania. In 2014, he was elected to the Fellows of the American Folklore Society and selected for The Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Award. He is available to discuss the pope and "That Everyday Religion," Catholic folk art, Catholic material culture including Catholic kitsch, and Catholicism and the media.
Contact: Lori Iannella, [email protected]

Nicholas Rademacher, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Coordinator of the Social Justice Minor
Cabrini College
"Pope Francis challenges every inhabitant of the earth -- our common home -- to remain open to personal transformation and to work daily for the transformation of the social order, to ensure the inherent human dignity of every person on the planet."
Rademacher has presented widely across the United States and has published articles on topics including "To Relate the Eucharist to Real Living: Mother Teresa and Dorothy Day at the Forty-First International Eucharistic Congress, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania" and "Allow me to disappear … in the fetid slums: Catherine de Hueck, Catholic Action, and the Growing End of Catholic Radicalism." He is associate editor for American Catholic Studies and serves on the Board of Managers for the American Catholic Historical Society and on the Board of Directors for the College Theology Society. He earned master's and doctorate degrees in religion and culture from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He is available to discuss Pope Francis and the Common Good, American Catholic studies, relationship between the church and the world, interfaith dialogue, development and diversity of radical Catholic movements in North America, and educating for peace and justice.
Contact: Lori Iannella, [email protected]

William Portier
Mary Ann Spearin Chair of Catholic Theology
University of Dayton
"Pope Francis has created a new interactive genre of papal teaching -- the papal interview. He talks about God and Jesus and the church in language ordinary people understand. The pope is such a ubiquitous part of the daily news cycle you'd think he was a Kardashian."
Portier, president of the College Theology Society, is the author of books on U.S. Catholicism and theology and has contributed nearly 100 articles and reviews in the areas of theology, U.S. Catholic history, and Catholic higher education. His article "Here Come the Evangelical Catholics" was chosen by the College Theology Society for the 2005 Award for Best Journal Article. He frequently comments on aspects of pop culture and religion.
Contact: Cilla Shindell, [email protected]

Jana Bennett
Associate Professor, Religious Studies
University of Dayton
"The pope's visit to the U.S. is likely to set off some explosions for Catholics. In his encyclical 'Laudato Si', Pope Francis made no secret of disliking the kind of consumerist, dollar-driven lifestyle that comprises much of the way we live here in the West. I think the pope's visit will bring American Catholics more starkly face-to-face with the disparity between our lives and the lives of our Catholic brothers and sisters elsewhere in the globe."
Bennett is co-editor of the blog CatholicMoralTheology.com, where she writes on a wide range of issues in contemporary Catholic life, from sexual ethics to consumer culture to the intersection between politics and religion. Bennett maintains academic research in the following areas of Catholic thought: feminism, marriage, singleness, disability, technology use, and generational shifts in practicing the faith. She is currently writing a book called Single Life and the Christian Life under contract with Oxford University Press, and another book on hearing loss and the importance of contemplation.
Contact: Cilla Shindell, [email protected]

Joe Valenzano III
Assistant Professor, Communications
University of Dayton
"Pope Francis' first visit to the United States as pontiff will certainly be a media frenzy. Many in the U.S. will try to politicize his message for their own gain, especially given the fact the presidential election cycle is heating up. Those on the left will try to depict the pope as more socially liberal than all his predecessors, while those on the right will look to his staunch opposition of abortion. This pope, however, is the most media-savvy since Pope John Paul II -- perhaps more so -- and will make every effort to stay out of domestic politics while still advocating on behalf of those on the margins of society. At the end of the day, the Pope will be contending with an enormous field of presidential candidates in the fight over how his message will be interpreted."
Valenzano's research interests include rhetoric and public communication, political communication, religious communication and culture, and communication education. He has written about Pope John Paul II's death as a final homily and Pope Benedict XVI's trip to Turkey. He teaches a course called "Priests, Preachers and Politics: Religious Communication."
Contact: Meagan Pant, [email protected]

Sr. Leanne Jablonski
Scholar-in-Residence for Faith and Environment, Hanley Sustainability Institute
University of Dayton
"Pope Francis' encyclical is built on sound science, interweaving an understanding of ecosystems, climate change, pollution realities and the impact of humans on biodiversity with a call to become ecological converts who heed the cry of the poor. Highlighting solutions -- reducing deforestation, energy efficiency and renewable energy sources -- Pope Francis invites scientists, people of faith, elected officials and all humankind to make personal choices and to find public policy solutions. Like Noah, he says, we can play an important role in saving creation by taking action in a time of need."
Jablonski, a Marianist sister with a Ph.D. in plant physiological ecology and global climate change, directs the 100-acre Marianist Environmental Education Center and focuses on ecological restoration through research and service-learning, bridging the faith and science communities, spirituality, and environmental justice.
Contact: Cilla Shindell, [email protected]

Sandra Yocum
Associate Professor, Religious Studies
University of Dayton
"Those who are trying to understand Pope Francis might put aside the labels: left and right, liberal and conservative and consider Francis's long formation under the tutelage of the Jesuits. Those teachings proclaim that all in this world is gift from God, that every aspect of life, however joyful or sorrowful, is gift, an opportunity to grow in love of God, and that one's whole life ought to be an ever-growing love of God that manifests itself in the daily actions of everyday living. Imagine yourself in prayer before Christ on the cross, and asking 'What have I done for Christ? What am I doing for Christ? What ought I to do for Christ?' These 'Spiritual Exercises' of the Jesuits are what has shaped Francis in his life and his ministry."
Yocum, past-president of the College Theology Society, is a well-known writer and lecturer nationally on U.S. Catholic life and thought. Her research interests include U.S. Catholic history and women in the Church, and the Catholic sex abuse crisis.
Contact: Cilla Shindell, [email protected]

Royal Rhodes
Professor of Religious Studies
Kenyon College
"The visit of Pope Francis comes at a critical juncture for the Roman Catholic Church in the United States, both in terms of the inner dynamics of the Church and its own membership, altered significantly by immigration like that of more than 100 years ago and changing the face of Catholicism in America, and in terms of the debates within the nation over questions of social justice, poverty, sexual issues (beyond what has been called 'pelvic morality'), and issues of war, death, criminal justice. It is a defining moment for Catholicism in America."
Rhodes teaches primarily the history of Christianity. His other interests include third-world religious experience, monasticism (East and West) and religion and the arts. He co-authored the books "Faith of Christians" (Fortress Press, 1984) and "Eclipse of Justice: Ethics, Economics, and the Lost Traditions of American Catholicism" (Orbis, 1992). He is collaborating on another book, "Justice Beyond Heaven," on social justice movements in Ireland, Germany, and the U.S. His current research and writing projects include a book on popular literary and visual images of the papacy ("The Ultimate Pope").
Beyond generally discussing Pope Francis' visit, Rhodes can also discuss papal and pastoral letters regarding social justice and the economy; religious traditions regarding the Earth and environmental stewardship; the call of monastic traditions in the modern arena; popular culture and the image of popes, priests and nuns in literature, drama and film.
Contact: Rose Shilling, [email protected]

Kathleen Sprows Cummings
Associate Professor of American Studies
Director, Cushwa Center for the Study of American Catholicism
University of Notre Dame
"Papal visits to the United States are relatively rare and comparatively recent. For most of our nation's history, even the prospect of a visit from a papal representative, let alone the pope himself, sparked waves of anti-Catholic sentiment and, on occasion, violence. Not too long ago, even the suggestion that a pope would address Congress would have sent shudders down the spines of most American leaders, who feared papal interference in U.S. politics. Still, a visit from this pope -- Francis' first, and quite possibly his only, visit to the U.S. -- is especially significant. We can expect that Pope Francis will challenge Americans to live up to their founding ideals, and become 'a city on a hill' in resolving global crises such as migration and the environment. For understandable reasons, American Catholics have tended in recent decades to interpret the world and their faith through the lenses of U.S. politics and culture. Pope Francis will inspire them to view the world through a more unifying and healing lens, the lens of the gospel."
The author of "American Saints," Cummings specializes in U.S. Catholicism and women and religion.
Contact: Shannon Chapla, [email protected]

Candida R. Moss
Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity
University of Notre Dame
"To Francis, America is not only the land of the free, it is also the home of rampant greed and audacious consumption. The visit will be filled with soft words of mercy, but we can also expect firm reminders that as one of the world's wealthiest and most powerful nations, we have a responsibility to care for the poor and the planet. While Francis is enormously popular in the U.S., the content of his message on the environment and poverty has yet to truly infiltrate the hearts and minds of the American public. During his visit, the pope hopes to transition from tweetable meme to effective agent of change. His scheduled visit to a prison, for example, is not only about mercy and love, it also highlights a failing of American society. Americans should expect Francis to deliver an exhortation to care for society's vulnerable, spiced with a touch of condemnation, and presented with lashings of papal charisma and compassion."
Moss is an expert on the early Church and Biblical studies.
Contact: Shannon Chapla, [email protected]

Timothy Matovina
Professor of Theology
Co-Director, Institute for Latino Studies
University of Notre Dame
"Pope Francis was one of the principal architects of the 2007 episcopal conference at Aparecida, Brazil, which addressed many of the concerns Latino Catholics face in the United States. He is a proponent of teología del pueblo (theology of the people), an Argentine version of liberation theology that focuses on everyday people as recipients and agents of evangelization. This approach seeks to provide pastoral support for the broad range of Catholic movements that have energized Latin American Catholics over the past half century. The hunger for God among participants in these movements is also evident among Latinos in the United States. They now comprise nearly half the participants in lay ecclesial ministry programs. I have taught in these programs in dioceses across the country and personally witnessed the sacrifice and dedication of highly-motivated Latino participants. Their faith is also manifest in apostolic movements, groups that stress a programmatic conversion to Christianity as an intentional way of life. As in Latin America, Pope Francis's urgent appeal that Christians lay down their lives to proclaim the joy of the Gospel will certainly intensify the wave of revitalization movements among Latino Catholics in the United States."
Matovina is the award-winning author of "Latino Catholicism: Transformation in America's Largest Church."
Contact: Shannon Chapla, [email protected]

Joseph Kaboski
University of Notre Dame
"The pope has spoken out about the economy and emphasized the responsibility that wealthy nations have toward the rest of the world, so it will be very interesting to hear what his specific message for the U.S. is. While the pope is not an economist and his job is not to propose concrete economic policies, he is called to be a prophetic voice in the world -- praising the work of God and the collaboration of mankind where he sees it, while calling to make straight the way of the Lord where he sees serious social problems."
Kaboski is professor of economics and an expert on Catholic teaching and economics. He is the president of the Catholic Research Economists Discussion Organization (CREDO), an international professional society of Catholic research economists, and a consultant with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
Contact: Shannon Chapla, [email protected]

David Lodge
Professor of Biological Sciences
Director, Environmental Change Initiative
University of Notre Dame
"With Laudato Si still fresh in mind, the pope may remind us that the extreme wealth of the U.S. is rooted in the abundance of our natural resources, and that the future welfare of children and grandchildren across the planet depends on how sustainably we use and protect those resources."
Lodge is the editor or "Religion and the New Ecology" (2006). He is available to discuss science and religion, and climate change.
Contact: Shannon Chapla, [email protected]

Peter Ellard
Director of the Reinhold Neibuhr Institute of Religion and Culture
Siena College
"His visit is not likely to have any lasting effect on Church attendance or the views of American Catholics on issues like birth control, abortion or same-sex marriage. Perhaps the place where we will see the greatest effect is in Francis' address to the U.S. Congress. It is sure to offer a lesson in the reality of climate change that many more conservative members of congress would rather not hear."
Siena College is a Franciscan institution in Loudonville, N.Y.
Contact: Andrea Frazier, [email protected]

Randall Woodard
Associate Professor of Theology and Religion
Saint Leo University, Saint Leo, Fla.
Woodard believes that, because the Pope's U.S. visit will coincide with the presidential election cycle, it will inspire discussion of important national, global and political issues. Marriage and family will remain at the forefront. Says Woodard: "People love to use popes as footnotes when the pope agrees with their platforms and can also use a pope as a foil when needed for political purposes."
Contact: Andrea Frazier, [email protected]

John J. O'Keefe
Professor of Historical Theology, A.F. Jacobson Chair in Communications
Creighton University Department of Theology
"We have a moral obligation to care for the generations yet to come and not just think about short-term gain. What the pope is really after is challenging overconsumption. It's not enough to reduce the population of the earth. We need to think about living more sustainably on the earth and taking care of the people who are here already."
O'Keefe specializes in the history of early Christianity and environmental theology, sees climate change as a moral issue for the church/challenger of overconsumption.
Contact: Andrea Frazier, [email protected]

Stephen Okey
Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Theology and Religion
St. Leo University
"Many like to suggest there are strong differences between Francis and his predecessors (Benedict XVI and John Paul II) on matters of church teaching," Okey said. "We see this with respect to his statements on topics as diverse as abortion, divorce and remarriage, and the economy. However, close reading of the texts of all three reveals that all three hold to core Catholic teachings on faith, morals, and social teaching. There is, I think, a discernible difference in terms of pastoral approach, however, which some have called a 'stylistic' difference rather than a 'substantive' one.  Insofar as the pastoral approach can encourage Catholics and all people of good will to be more compassionate, more forgiving, and in greater solidarity with one another, I think it is a good thing."
Okey is interested in questions of political and military ethics, with a focus on the history of Christian approaches to war.
Contact: Andrea Frazier, [email protected]

Lucas Johnston, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Religion and Environmental Studies
Wake Forest University
Johnston notes that while the pope's new encyclical on the care of creation has gotten plenty of press, many religious leaders, academics and analysts have been overly optimistic about its potential impacts, especially to the U.S. audience. While popular in his native Latin America, the pope's popularity in the U.S. declined following the release of the encyclical. Although most of the work on the world religions and ecology has focused on "advancing eco-groovy anecdotes," their convictions are often marginalized within their own traditions, Johnston explains. "In general, the most important and interesting shifts in social values related to the environment are occurring at the cultural margins -- outside the bounds of most institutionalized religions. Much of the lay population of the world's largest religious traditions remain resistant to such change, and there are many cases in which religious values are trumped by other, often economic, values."
Johnston, author of "Religion and Sustainability: Social Movements and the Politics of the Environment," can comment on the pope's upcoming visit and renewed interest in his encyclical. Johnston is also co-editor of "Science and Religion: One Planet, Many Possibilities." Johnston can address the current landscape regarding religion and the environment. He is senior book reviewer for the Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature, and Culture and co-chair of the Religion and Ecology Group for the American Academy of Religion.
Contact: Bonnie Davis, [email protected]

Justin Catanoso, M.A.,
Director of the Journalism Program
Wake Forest University
"It's not just conservatives and GOP presidential candidates lining up against him, but the wealthy and poor alike in a country where he is beloved."
Catanoso, a journalist with 30 years of experience, has extensive expertise in the Vatican, the papacy and the impact of climate change in Pope Francis' home region of South America. Sponsored by the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting in Washington, D.C., Catanoso covered the June 18 release of the papal encyclical at the Vatican. He later spent three weeks in Peru in July and August gauging the potential impact of the encyclical in a Catholic country where the pope enjoys soaring popularity (above 80 percent) and where environmental conflicts are widespread. Peru, which last December hosted 196 countries for the 20th UN climate summit, is the world's treasure chest with a mining industry rich in gold, silver, copper and zinc and the Amazon jungle's biodiversity. Both assets are in perpetual conflict, making Peru the ideal setting to assess the influence of the encyclical. Catanoso's reporting has ranged from interviewing poor miners in the Andes who love the pope but want nothing to do with this environmental message that might cost them their jobs, to influential leaders in government and business, giving him unique insight into the challenge a popular pope like Francis will have in pushing his climate change agenda internationally. He is also the author of "My Cousin the Saint, A Search for Faith, Family and Miracles" (2008/HarperCollins), which included extensive research into the papacy and interviews at the Vatican.
Contact: Bonnie Davis, [email protected]

Mark Segal
President, Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld Fund
Publisher, Philadelphia Gay News
Many refer to Segal as the dean of American gay journalism. As a pioneer of the local gay press, he was one of the founders and former president of both The National Gay Press Association and the National Gay Newspaper Guild. He also is the founder and publisher of the award winning Philadelphia Gay News, which recently celebrated its 31th anniversary. Segal has also reported on gay life from far-reaching places as Lebanon, Cuba and East Berlin during the fall of the Berlin Wall. He represented the gay press and lectured in Moscow and St. Petersburg at Russia's first openly gay conference, referred to as Russia's Stonewall. Segal was recently inducted into the National Lesbian & Gay Journalist Association's Hall of Fame; appointed a member of the Comcast/NBCUniversal Joint Diversity Board, where he advises the entertainment giant on LGBT issues; and as president of the dmhFund, the builder of the nation's largest capital building project, the $19.5 million John C. Anderson Senior affordable LGBT-friendly apartments, a HUD and White House Champion of Change project. You can see samples of his pieces on Pope Francis here: http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/mark_segal/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MarkSegalPGN
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PhilaGayNews
Contact: Melanie Sole, cashmanandassociates.com

Alice Greenwald
9/11 Memorial Museum Director
9/11 Memorial and Museum – NYC
Among the many places Pope Francis will visit on his first trip to the United States will be the 9/11 Memorial and Museum on Friday, Sept. 25.  While on site, he will go into the 9/11 Memorial Museum, where there are several small and large artifacts with inspirational connection.  These range from: a fragment of the New Testament a firefighter found in the debris of the South Tower over a year after the attacks; a replica of the Statue of Liberty (they call it Lady Liberty) that is covered in prayer cards, rosary beads and condolence messages that appeared at the firehouse home of FDNY Engine Company 54, Ladder 4 and Battalion 9; prayer candles left at vigils all across New York City; a memorial urn of water from India's sacred rivers presented to Mayor Giuliani by the India's minister of defense and external affairs a few weeks after the attacks; a Star of David cut from World Trade Center steel.
Greenwald can speak to this collection of objects that will be included on the 9/11 Memorial's iOS app. They can also topline where His Holiness will go on the Memorial plaza and once he enters the museum. Phone interviews and photographs of the inspirational objects are available, as is general b-roll of the memorial and museum.
Contact: Lisa Kovitz, [email protected]

Chris Wooten
Executive Vice President
NICE Systems
Wooten is available to discuss the expansion of 9-1-1 call recording during the pope's visit to Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Police Department will be expanding its 9-1-1 call recording and incident management capacities for Pope Francis' upcoming visit to the U.S. by setting up a temporary 9-1-1 center. This is necessary and instrumental to handle the anticipated higher volume of calls during the event, and partners like NICE are donating technology and services to help equip the police department.
Contact: Katie Lamb, [email protected]

Dr. Jeff Lolli
Associate Professor of Hospitality Management
Widener University, Chester, Pa.
Dr. Lolli can specifically speak to the impact a tourism event of this stature can make on the city of Philadelphia, and why that's important, as well as some of the challenges the city will have in preparing logistics for the hospitality businesses within the city, including how they will be receiving shipments, storing supplies, and housing staff. To hear more, here are two videos of Lolli speaking on the topic: Impact on city: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Si0uXN8Dyw Challenges: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6k-_EOtnII
Contact: Jennifer A. (Dublisky) Kitchen, [email protected]

Father Michael Collins
Roman Catholic Priest, Religious Scholar, Church Historian
Father Collins is the author of "Pope Francis: A Photographic Portrait of the People's Pope" (DK; August 2015). He has written extensively about the Vatican and has taught at a number of universities, including the American University of Rome, John Cabot University, and Duquesne University, Rome Campus. He is a former adviser at the Vatican and currently serves at St. Mary's Church in Dublin. He writes regular columns for The Catholic Times and the Irish Times, and has been featured on CBS News' "60 Minutes." He is currently traveling between New York, Boston, D.C., and Philadelphia until Sept 28.
Sample talking points: 1) Pope Francis' Journey to the Papacy: Pope Francis is the first Jesuit and Latin American pope and a true pope of the people. He lived through turbulent times both in the Church following the Second Vatican Council (1962-65) and political upheaval during the Dirty War in Argentina (1976-83). These events had a profound effect and, through careful discernment, he became a warmer and more tolerant person, traits he exudes daily in his position as pope. 2) Church Reform and Life inside the Vatican: How Pope Francis initiated reform in the Curia, which governs the Church. 3) The People's Pope: Pope Francis' popularity and how he fascinates Christians for his perceived openness to numerous types of people from disenfranchised to nobility. Father Collins can discuss the ways Pope Francis has brought personal experience of frailty to his new office. 4) Controversy: Remarks on Pope Francis' penchant for off-the-cuff remarks that have provoked amusement but also caused offense. 5) The Year of the Family: The importance of the family unit to the pope and the church and why there is a whole year and international conference devoted to it.
Contact: Stephanie Ridge, [email protected]

Susan Eckstein
Professor, International Relations and Sociology, Pardee School of Global Studies
Boston University
Eckstein is an expert on developing nations and specializes in Latin America. She has served as president of the Latin American Studies Association and of the New England Council on Latin America. Currently, she is working on immigration and its impact across borders. She recently published a book on Cuban-Americans.
Expert Contact: [email protected]

Stephen Prothero
Religion Professor, College of Arts & Sciences
Boston University
Prothero has written six books on religion, including The New York Times bestseller, "Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know -- and Doesn't." He has commented on religion for "The Colbert Report," The New York Times, CNN and NPR, among others.
Expert Contact: [email protected]

Anthony Petro
Religion Professor, College of Arts & Sciences
Boston University
Petro's research and teaching interests include the history and politics of modern Christianity, especially the history of Protestantism and Catholicism in the United States. He recently published "After the Wrath of God: AIDS, Sexuality, and American Religion."
Expert Contact: [email protected]

Dr. Farouk El-Baz
Research Professor of Remote Sensing
Boston University
El-Baz is an expert on crowd estimation and the director of Boston University's Center for Remote Sensing.
Expert Contact: [email protected]

Monsignor Kevin Sullivan
Executive Director
Catholic Charities of New York
Catholic Charities is a federation of more than 90 human service agencies that provide help and create hope for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers in need -- non-Catholic and Catholic alike -- throughout the 10 counties of the Archdiocese of New York. Appointed executive director in 2001 after serving as chief operating officer for five years and in other leadership positions for more than 17 years, Monsignor Sullivan continues to represent the Catholic Charities agencies in public policy discussions about issues such as immigration, welfare reform, job development and foster care. Monsignor Sullivan served as a member of the New York City Council Speaker's Commission on Homelessness, the Public Policy Committee of the New York State Catholic Conference, and has provided expert testimony about human service issues before Congressional committees. Recently, he served as a member of the NYC Mayor's Commission for Economic Opportunity, as well as Gov. Eliot Spitzer's Human Services Policy Transition Advisory Committee. After the 9/11 attacks, Monsignor Sullivan, as chair of the 9/11 United Services Group, led the coordinated assistance to victims by New York charities. He is vice-chair of the NY Human Services Council and now chairs its Disaster Preparedness Division.
During the 1970s and 1980s, when Monsignor Sullivan served as a parish priest at St. Elizabeth's Church in Washington Heights, he co-founded the Washington Heights-Inwood Coalition and the Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation, two neighborhood development organizations that continue to thrive. He was a board member of many healthcare organizations including St. Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center, Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center, the Carmel Richmond Housing Corporation and the St. Vincent de Paul Residence. During the 1990s, he served as co-chair of the Partnership for the Homeless.
Monsignor Sullivan received a Master's Degree in public administration at the School of International and Public Affairs of Columbia University and a doctorate in Public Administration at New York University. He graduated cum laude from Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception. He has taught in graduate programs at the Mendoza College of Business and the University of Notre Dame where he was a consultant to the dean regarding the College's Master's program in non-profit management. He has taught at New York University and the Robert J. Milano Graduate School of Management and Urban Policy of the New School University. Monsignor Sullivan continues to maintain an academic and pragmatic interest in evaluation and performance measurement of non-profit organizations.
Monsignor Sullivan was born in the Bronx and raised in Yonkers. He studied for the priesthood at St. Joseph's Seminary, was ordained in 1976 by Terence Cardinal Cooke and named Monsignor by John Cardinal O'Connor in 1999.
Contact: Amanda Perez, [email protected]

Father Carl Janicki
Director of Campus Ministry
Cabrini College
Father Carl Janicki earned a bachelor's degree, two master's degrees, and a certificate from Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. He earned a master of science in training and organizational development at Saint Joseph's University, and did post-graduate studies at Gwynedd-Mercy College, Chestnut Hill College, and Temple University. He is available to discuss Pope Francis and the community, the youth impact, ministry potential, and opportunities for education.
Contact: Lori Iannella, [email protected]

Dennis Doyle
Professor, Religious Studies
University of Dayton
Doyle is a Catholic theologian and author of The Church Emerging from Vatican II.
Contact: Cilla Shindell, [email protected]

Vincent J. Miller
Gudorf Chair in Catholic Theology and Culture
University of Dayton
Miller is an expert on religion and politics, religion and consumer culture, the U.S. Catholic Church's involvement in politics and public policy, social justice and public policy and the moral consequences of budgetary policies. He is author of "Consuming Religion: Christian Faith and Practice in a Consumer Culture" and is currently working on a book on the effect of globalization on religious belief. Miller has been widely sought for his comments on the global financial crisis, Catholic social teaching and the federal budget's impact on the poor.
Contact: Cilla Shindell, [email protected]

Mark Ensalaco
Director of Human Rights Research
University of Dayton
Ensalaco is also an associate political science professor who specializes in political violence and terrorism. He is a member of Peace and Social Justice Advisory Committee of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities and the Catholic Relief Services' Scholars in Global Solidarity. He is a former member of the Ohio attorney general's trafficking in persons study commission and a co-founder of the local anti-trafficking group Abolition Ohio. He is fluent in Spanish.
Contact: Shawn Robinson, [email protected]

Cecilia Moore
Associate Professor, Religious Studies
University of Dayton
Moore's area of specialization is U.S. Catholic history and she is currently working on the history of black conversion to Roman Catholicism in the 20th century. In addition to publishing in numerous scholarly and popular journals, Dr. Moore co-edited "Songs of Our Hearts and Meditations of Our Souls: Prayers for Black Catholics," published by St. Anthony Messenger Press in 2006.
Contact: Cilla Shindell, [email protected]

Mark Chopko
Partner, Nonprofit/Religious Organizations Practice Group Chair
Stradley Ronon
Chopko is available to discuss the legal issues surrounding the Pope's visit, including First Amendment/church-state issues, safety concerns, event insurance, business issues such as vendor and licensing agreements, and many more topics relating to the visit. He is a well-known religious organizations lawyer, having served for more than 20 years as general counsel for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). He has first-hand experience regarding Papal visits, having worked closely on Pope John Paul II's visit to the United States. He notes that there are numerous legal issues surrounding this visit, ranging from decisions about which vendors can sell hot dogs inside certain areas to what types of insurance the organizers should have in case the Pope needs to cancel (which Pope John Paul II almost had to do).
A major emphasis of Chopko's practice is constitutional law and deflecting attempts by government to regulate the activities of religious institutions. In addition to his appellate and Supreme Court work for clients of the firm, Chopko has participated in more than 30 Supreme Court cases as counsel for the Catholic Bishops, as well as other religious groups, in friend-of-the-court briefs. He is also nationally known for his work on the liability of nonprofit entities and protection of religious institutions. During his tenure with the USCCB, he led a seven-lawyer staff that handled comprehensive litigation, corporate, tax, intellectual property, employment and government contracts services. He was also the public contact for the USCCB on all legal matters, including church-state, Supreme Court cases, bankruptcy, complex litigation and bioethics.
Contact: Jennifer Becker: [email protected]

Thomas Tweed
Professor of American Studies and History
University of Notre Dame
Tweed is the author of "America's Church: The National Shrine and Catholic Presence in the Nation's Capital" -- where the pope will be celebrating mass in Washington, D.C. His expertise includes the papal interaction at the church, from papal gifts sent to visits made. Tweed is also president of the American Academy of Religion.
Contact: Shannon Chapla, [email protected]

Tim Crain
Director, National Catholic Center for Holocaust Education
Seton Hill University
Crain recently met with Pope Francis as part of a conference on Catholic-Jewish relations in Rome.
Contact: Andrea Frazier, [email protected]

Sister Lois Sculco
Vice President of Institutional Identity and Mission
Seton Hill University
Sister Sculco is a member of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, the university's founding order.
Contact: Andrea Frazier, [email protected]

Timothy Gabrielli
Assistant Professor of Theology
Seton Hill University
Gabrielli is an expert on U.S. Catholic history and culture.
Contact: Andrea Frazier, [email protected]

Dan Martino
Associate Professor of Theology
Seton Hill University
Martino directs Seton Hill's pastoral ministry certificate program, which provides lay people with the education needed to serve as pastoral ministers in the Diocese of Greensburg.
Contact: Andrea Frazier, [email protected]

Richard Miller
Associate Professor of Systematic Theology
Creighton University
Miller is the editor of "God, Creation and Climate Change: A Catholic Response to the Environmental Crisis."
Contact: Andrea Frazier, [email protected]

Eileen Burke-Sullivan
Associate Professor of Theology
Creighton University
Burke-Sullivan teaches courses in Ignatian spirituality, liturgy, sacraments, ministry and systematic theology.
PR Contact: Andrea Frazier, [email protected]

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