Faculty members affiliated with The Public Policy Initiative at Penn State Behrend are often asked to discuss important current issues with local, national, and international media organizations. Here are links to some of our faculty's many media appearances.

Environment & Sustainability

Presentations

  • Simpson, A.M. and Samuel A. Nutile. "Integrating environmental monitoring and pharmacokinetic modeling to estimate the trophic transfer of PCBs from fish to humans," Invited Oral Presentation. Great Lakes Consortium for Fish Consumption Advisories: Rachel Carson State Office Building, Harrisburg, PA; October 22, 2024.

Publications

  • Nutile, S. et al. (October 2023). “Avoidance behavior of Hyalella azteca in response to three common-use insecticides.” Chemosphere.
  • Nutile, S. et al. (August 2023). “Evaluating the trophic transfer of PCBs from fish to humans: Insights from a synergism of environmental monitoring and physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling.” Environmental Pollution.

International Relations and Politics

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Policy Publications and Policy Reports

Awards and Honors

  • Shum, M. & Turner J. “Policing and the Origins of Institutional Trust.” Regional Breakthrough Award, Lucy Family Institute for Data and Society, University of Notre Dame

Publications

  • Duran, B. & Kanat, K. (May 2023). “AK Party Years in Türkiye: Domestic and Foreign Policy,” SETA.
  • Inwood, G. & Speel, R. (March 2023). “Disruption and Routine: Choosing a Speaker in the United States Compared to Canada, Journal of Parliamentary and Political Law.”

Presentations and Appearances

  • Shum, M., (September 2023). “Resistance from Afar: Transnational Mobilization of Hong Kong Diaspora during and after the 2019 Anti-ELAB Movement”, APSA, Los Angeles, CA.
  • Shum, M., (2024). “Reimagine, Restructure, and Reconnect: the Hong Kong Diaspora and its Transnational Engagement”, Global Research Association of Politics in Hong Kong (Nov 15).
  • Shum, M., (2024). Panel discussion on “Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower”, Penn State Sustainability (Sep 11).
  • Shum, M., (2024). “Democracy in Tough Places: How Taiwan’s Young Democracy Mature under the China Factor”, Jefferson Educational Society (Aug 22).
  • Shum, M., (2024). “Hong Kong Diaspora: Transnational Mobilization and Community Building Abroad”, Franklin & Marshall College (Mar 6).
  • Shum, M., (2024). “The Impact of Taiwan Election in 2024 and Beyond”, Public Policy Initiative, Penn State Erie (Feb 26).
  • Shum, M., (2024). Taiwan Election Observation Tour, organized by Friends of Hong Kong and Macau Association (Jan 10-16)

Conference Participations

  • Shum, M., (2024). “Voice After Exit: How Transnational Ties and Integration Affect Hong Kong Diaspora’s Policy Preference in Five Host Countries”, 2024 American Political Science Association Annual Conference (Philadelphia, PA).

Media Appearances

Domestic Politics

Media Appearances

  • Speel, R. W. (2024). "Supreme Court Decision on Presidential Immunity," Newspaper, Daily Item, Sunbury, PA. July 2, 2024
  • Speel, R. W. (2024). "Working-Class Voters in Erie," Radio, SRF - German Swiss Public Radio, Switzerland nationwide. November 4, 2024
  • Speel, R. W. (2024). "Issues in U.S. Presidential Election," Newspaper, Corriere del Ticino, Ticino, Switzerland (Italian-language). November 5, 2024

Presentations

  • Speel, R. W. (September 2024 - September 4, 2024). "The Electoral College: An Examination of Its Past, An Analysis of Its Present, and A Discussion of Its Future," Jefferson Educational Society, Harborcreek, PA.
  • Speel, R. W. (March 2024 - March 27, 2024). "Gerrymandering: How It's Done, Why It's Done, Where It's Done," Jefferson Educational Society, Harborcreek, PA.

Mental Health & Healthcare

Awards and Honors

  • Hetzel-Riggin, M. D. Research-to-Policy Collaboration Scholar Award, Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center, College of Health and Human Development. (April 2023).

Publications

Presentations and Appearances

  • Hetzel-Riggin, M. D., (January 9, 2025). "Becoming a Trauma Informed Community," Erie Children's Museum Board Meeting, Erie Children's Museum, Erie, PA,
  • Hetzel-Riggin, M. D., & Berner, M. (November 2024). "Addressing Black Youth Suicide: The Importance of Participatory Research and Coordinated Responses," Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Philadelphia, PA, peer-reviewed/refereed,
  • Hetzel-Riggin, M. D., & Berner, M. (November 2024). "Navigating Transition: Examining Stigma, Resilience, and Support in Youth Aging Out of Foster Care Using a Community Engaged Research Paradigm," Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Philadelphia, PA, peer-reviewed/refereed, Accepted. International.
  • Hetzel-Riggin, M. D. (October 24, 2024). "Incorporating Resiliency Building Practices and Self-Care into K-12 Education," School Counselor's Workshop, Penn State Behrend Admissions Office, Erie, PA, 25 in attendance, Invited. Local.
  • Hetzel-Riggin, M. D. (Panel Member), Dixon, A. (Sarah A. Reed Children's Center), Minick, S. (Family Services of Northwestern Pennsylvania), & Hodge, J. (February 23, 2023 - Present). "Leading from Anywhere: Our Collective Call," Community Resilience Conference, Erie Coalition for a Trauma Informed Community, Erie, PA, 250 in attendance, Invited. Regional.
  • Hetzel-Riggin, M. D. (Chair), & Berner, M. (May 2023). "Development & Efficacy of an “Orange Flag Assessment”: An Addendum to the Lethality Assessment Program," Criminal Justice C3N Workshop, State College, PA, Invited. Colleges.
  • Shaw, J. (March 16, 2023) “Discussion Without Judgement: The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to remove constitutional protections on access to abortion will significantly affect women and their families,” Penn State.

Russian War Against Ukraine

Current Projects

Publications

  • Surzhko-Harned, L. (2023). "I am a Ukrainian American political scientist, and this is what the past year of war has taught me about Ukraine, Russia and defiance." The Conversation.
  • Surzhko-Harned, L., & Nykodým, J. (2023). "Why the 'Kosovo precedent' was a gateway for Russia’s abuse of international law." The Loop.
  • Surzhko-Harned, L., & Nykodým, J. (2023). "Russian Abuses of International Law: The Kosovo Precedent and R2P." World Orders Forum.

Presentations and Appearances

  • Kanat, K. (panel participant). (December 10, 2022). “The Trajectory of the Ukraine War...” TRT World Forum.
  • Surzhko-Harned, L. (panel participant). (May 18, 2023). "Accountability for Sexual Violence Committed during the Russian Invasion of Ukraine," Annual Meeting of Association for the Study of Nationalities, Association for the Study of Nationalities, New York, NY.
  • Surzhko-Harned, L., & Kasianeneko, N. (California State U Fresno). (May 19, 2023). "The Fluidity of National Identity among Russian-Speaking Ukrainians," Annual Meeting of Association for the Study of Nationalities, Association for the Study of Nationalities, New York, NY.
  • Surzhko-Harned, L. (April 18, 2023). “Russian War in Ukraine: What lessons we have learned in a year,” Allegheny College Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business and Economics.