Featured Experts

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  Christopher Cantwell

  History, College of Letters & Sciencecantwelc@uwm.edu

  Chris Cantwell is documenting how Milwaukee is experiencing the pandemic through an online archive.

   

  

  Christopher Cantwell

  History, College of Letters & Sciencecantwelc@uwm.edu

  Americans continue to adjust their daily routines nearly six months after the start of coronavirus pandemic. Historian Chris Cantwell has been documenting how southeastern Wisconsin residents have been dealing with the crisis through the COVID-19 MKE digital archive. He can talk about how the project started and provide perspective about how the reactions and experiences of residents have evolved during the pandemic. The project, which has collected 700 items from 250 contributors, includes about two dozen exhibits and 15 oral histories. Cantwell can speak about the importance of documenting this time in history for future generations.

   

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  Kim Cosier

  Art Education, Peck School of the Artskcosier@uwm.edu

  Kim Cosier can discuss how art educators can engage in efforts to promote racial equity and social justice.

  

  Kim Cosier

  Art Education, Peck School of the Artskcosier@uwm.edu

  Kim Cosier views art as an avenue to engage students and public about efforts to promote racial equity and social justice. She can discuss strategies that art educators can use to initiate discussion and inspire students about addressing racial inequality. Cosier is founder of the Milwaukee Visionaries Project, a media literacy and production program for middle and high school students, and principal investigator for ArtsECO, a program that supports teachers to be change-makers through art. Cosier also can offer insight on how arts educators have adjusted to online instruction during the pandemic.

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  Jean Creighton

  Director, Manfred Olson Planetarium, College of Letters & Sciencejcreight@uwm.edu

  Jean Creighton can talk about shooting stars in time for the annual Perseid meteor shower.

  

  Jean Creighton

  Director, Manfred Olson Planetarium, College of Letters & Sciencejcreight@uwm.edu

  Viewing the annual Perseid meteor shower could be an ideal socially-distant activity in the outdoors for families during the pandemic. Jean Creighton can talk about the shooting stars and meteors that light up the night sky every August when the Perseid shower is best viewed from Earth. The planetarium will host an online show on this topic on Aug. 5 and 7. The meteor shower peaks Aug. 11-13. Creighton also can talk about the International Space Station, 20 years after the first permanent crew of astronauts arrived at the facility. How has the station contributed to space exploration and what’s in store for the future?

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  Kathy Dolan

  Political Science, College of Letters & Sciencekdolan@uwm.edu

  Kathy Dolan can speak about the impact that Joe Biden’s pick for a running mate may have on the 2020 campaign.

   

  

  Kathy Dolan

  Political Science, College of Letters & Sciencekdolan@uwm.edu

  Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has said that he plans to pick a woman as his running mate. Kathy Dolan can talk about some of the names rumored to be on the list, and what kind of impact that Biden’s selection could have on the 2020 campaign. Dolan can also talk about how the COVID-19 pandemic and the racial equality movement might affect his decision and the presidential race overall.

  When Does Gender Matter?: Women Candidates and Gender Stereotypes in American Elections
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  Ellyn Lem

  English, College of General Studiesleme@uwm.edu

  Ellyn Lem can discuss the evolution of how older adults are portrayed in film, literature and other cultural works.

  

  Ellyn Lem

  English, College of General Studiesleme@uwm.edu

  The 65-and-older population is growing rapidly in the United States, driven by the aging of the Baby Boom generation. As this demographic group grows, so do opportunities to portray older adults in film, literature and other cultural works. Ellyn Lem can discuss how such portrayals have evolved over time, and examines works by older adults themselves. Lem’s new book, “Gray Matters,” also draws from gerontology research and interviews with older adults to give readers a detailed picture of the struggles and pleasures of aging that go beyond entirely negative or positive portrayals often found in popular culture.

  Gray Matters: Finding Meaning in the Stories of Later Life