Featured Experts

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  Jacques du Plessis

  Information Studies, School of Information Studiesjacques@uwm.edu

  Du Plessis can speak about why genealogy is enjoying a rise in popularity and how to get started.

  

  Jacques du Plessis

  Information Studies, School of Information Studiesjacques@uwm.edu

  Genealogy got a boost as a pandemic activity and many people receive kits as gifts from sites like Ancestry.com during the holidays. Pandemic aside, why has this become more popular? Jacques du Plessis, who is president of the Association for Genealogy Educators and Schools, can talk about how researching family histories can benefit academic research. He also can discuss how people can get started in researching their own family trees.

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  Elana Levine

  English, College of Letters & Scienceehlevine@uwm.edu

  Levine can discuss why holiday movies on networks like Hallmark and Lifetime have become so popular.

  

  Elana Levine

  English, College of Letters & Scienceehlevine@uwm.edu

  For many viewers, this time of year means turning to the Hallmark Channel, Lifetime, Netflix, Peacock or other TV viewing platforms for a feel-good or romantic, holiday-themed movie. Why have they become so popular in recent years? Elana Levine can talk about what makes these movies so appealing. A media, cinema and digital studies faculty member, Levine can also discuss the popularity of animated holiday specials like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and why they continue to resonate with generation after generation of audiences.

   

  Her Stories: Daytime Soap Opera and US Television History
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  Marcellus Merritt

  Psychology, College of Letters & Sciencemerrittm@uwm.edu

  Merritt can talk about a powerful strategy to tame stress during the holidays and all year long.

  

  Marcellus Merritt

  Psychology, College of Letters & Sciencemerrittm@uwm.edu

  The holiday season can often be the most stressful time of the year, and stress can be detrimental to our health. Marcellus Merritt has  studied the positive impact of leisure activities, especially when enjoyed regularly and built into a person’s schedule. Activities can range from an exercise routine to curling up with a book or taking a relaxing bubble bath. Merritt can discuss why leisure activities protect health and how to make “me time” a healthy habit.

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  Purush Papatla

  Marketing, Lubar College of Businesspapatla@uwm.edu

  Papatla can discuss why the holiday shopping season now begins long before Black Friday.

  

  Purush Papatla

  Marketing, Lubar College of Businesspapatla@uwm.edu

  In-person shopping on Thanksgiving Day was largely abandoned by retailers during the pandemic. Many large chains have decided to continue that trend through this upcoming holiday shopping season. Purush Papatla can explain why they’ve decided to stay closed on Thanksgiving. He can also discuss why shopping promotions can now be found way before Black Friday, such as online retail giant Amazon’s second Prime Day sale in October this year. Shoppers may be even more vigilant looking for bargains this season because of inflation. Will they find them online?  

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  Mark Peterson

  Philosophy, College of General Studiesmcep@uwm.edu

  Peterson can talk about the origins of the Christmas holiday before Christianity.

  

  Mark Peterson

  Philosophy, College of General Studiesmcep@uwm.edu

  Christmas was originally a celebration of astronomical significance, a Roman party season that was co-opted by Christianity. Then, it took up one day on the calendar; today, the season begins in November. Peterson can discuss the origins of the holiday, provide background of the symbolic imagery, and describe how it has morphed into something different to its beginnings.

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  Lynne Woehrle

  Sustainable Peacebuilding, College of Nursingwoehrle@uwm.edu

  Woehrle can offer some tools for managing conflict in groups.

  

  Lynne Woehrle

  Sustainable Peacebuilding, College of Nursingwoehrle@uwm.edu

  Lynne Woehrle can talk about tools to help address conflict over social and political divisions in groups like workplaces, schools and families. She can discuss why the win-lose mentality leads to a big loss for all and offer alternatives. Woehrle can also discuss how to reach respectful partnership through strategies such as focusing on people’s dignity, listening through disagreement, and sharing our own messages in ways that are heard.