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For Part 1 of this roundup, please see here.
HIGHER EDUCATION (continued):
Amjed Saffarini
Vice President of Graduate Programs
Kaplan Test Prep
Saffarini is an expert on graduate school-level admissions and trends; and the MCAT, DAT, OAT and PCAT. He is responsible for the design and delivery of Kaplan’s test-prep programs for the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, DAT, OAT and PCAT. Originally a Kaplan MCAT instructor, Saffarini took on the role of assistant director for pre-health a few years later. During that time, he was instrumental in transforming Kaplan’s MCAT prep course to reflect the 2007 MCAT changes, which included moving from a paper-and-pencil format to a computer interface. With more changes to the MCAT on the horizon, Saffarini is spearheading efforts to develop a new course to reflect the upcoming changes. Saffarini graduated from Rutgers University with a dual-major B.S. in neuroscience and cognitive science.
News Contact: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or +1- 212-453-7538
Michael Steidel
Director of Admission
Carnegie Mellon University
Steidel unknowingly began a lifelong career in college admissions in 1974 as a Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) student tour guide. He has served as director of admission at CMU since 1986 and can provide expert advice on topics ranging from finding the right fit to making the most of campus visits. Steidel has served in numerous leadership roles for national and international organizations, including stints as chair of the board for The Common Application, co-chair of the National Association for College Admission Counseling's National Task Force on Technology in Admission and Counseling, president of the Pennsylvania Association for College Admission Counseling, and member at large of Educational Testing Service (ETS)'s Test of English as a Foreign Language Policy Council. Steidel regularly serves as a reader for the ETS College Scholarship Service Sponsored Scholarship Program, and works as consultant for college and university admission operations.
News Contact: Abby Simmons, abbysimmons@cmu.edu or +1-412-268-4290
Jeff Thomas
Director of Pre-Law Programs
Kaplan Test Prep
Thomas is an expert on LSAT and law school admissions issues and trends. He manages the company’s LSAT business, including marketing, program development and delivery. A veteran Kaplan LSAT instructor, Thomas helped develop Kaplan’s new suite of 2010 LSAT products, including Logic Games On Demand and the LSAT Experience, the industry’s first fully simulated test-day experience. Thomas also maintains close relationships with admissions deans at the nation’s top law schools. A successful entrepreneur, Thomas received a B.S. in management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a JD, magna **** laude, from Albany Law School.
News Contact: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or +1- 212-453-7538
Lee Weiss
Director of Graduate Programs
Kaplan Test Prep
Weiss is an expert on the GRE and graduate school admissions issues and trends. He manages the company’s GRE business, including marketing, program development and delivery. He began his Kaplan career as an instructor, teaching the GRE, GMAT, SAT, ACT and PSAT. A published author of fiction and criticism, Weiss’ professional experience includes management roles with a K-12 education nonprofit and in business development and finance at American Express. He graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. in international and comparative relations in 2002, and completed his master’s in management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2008.
News Contact: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or +1- 212-453-7538
Anne Witchner
Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Director of the Office of Orientation and First-Year Programs
Carnegie Mellon University
Witchner has facilitated Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)'s weeklong orientation program for more than 20 years, helping freshmen and their families navigate the academic, personal and social transitions to college. She can provide tips for preparing for move-in day, supporting students who are adjusting to college life and making the most of your first year on campus. For more information about CMU's Orientation and First-Year Programs, see here: bit.ly/PFA7wu
News Contact: Abby Simmons, abbysimmons@cmu.edu +1-412-268-4290
HEALTH:
Christine Cheng, Ph.D.
Psychology Training Coordinator, Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Montefiore School Health Program in New York City
Cheng is an instructor of pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. She helps children cope with various difficulties, such as anxiety, depression, trauma, bereavement and loss, impulse control, and adjustment issues, and she enjoys seeing children overcome them and blossom in their natural social milieu. Children, as well as teens, are often anxious about going back to school. Anxiety can be a result of a transition from elementary to middle school, or challenges socially or academically. Cheng can comment on a wide variety of back-to-school psychological issues. The Montefiore School Health Program, the largest of its kind in the U.S., offers a wide range of medical, dental, mental and community-based services to students and their families in elementary, middle and high schools throughout the Bronx. Since its inception more than 25 years ago, this essential program has steadily grown to 18 full-service centers throughout the borough.
News Contact: Helene Guss, hguss@montefiore.org or +1-718-920-4011
Kate M. Cronan, M.D.
Attending Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine
Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Del.
Every year, about 300,000 kids go to the emergency department because of bike injuries. A head injury can lead to a brain injury, so it’s important for parents to encourage the use of a helmet. A bike helmet should fit your child properly. The straps should always be fastened and snug enough so that your child can’t pull or twist the helmet around on their head. If you have any questions about the fit of the helmet, consult someone at the bike shop. Most importantly, make sure the helmet has a Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) or Snell sticker inside. These indicate that the helmet meets standards set by the CPSC or the Snell Memorial Foundation, a nonprofit group that tests helmet safety. And, while your child may want to be one of the “cool” kids and wear a hat under their helmet, this is not recommended. Cronan can discuss other top tips for bike safety, including: 1) Ensure your child’s bike is the right size: When your child is standing on the bike, he should straddle the top bar of the bike so that both feet are flat on the ground. There should be 1-3 inches of space between him and the top bar. 2) Make sure your child can be seen by others using the road. Wearing bright clothes and putting reflectors on your child’s bike also can help him stay safe. It helps other people on the road see him. And if they see your child, they're less likely to run into him. Daytime riding is the safest, so encourage your children to avoid riding their bike at dusk and later.
News Contact: Allison Pope, apope@fhbnet.com
Owen Farcy
Director of Pre-Health Programs
Kaplan Test Prep
Farcy is an expert on MCAT and medical school admissions issues and trends. He is responsible primarily for marketing, operations and program development for the company’s MCAT, DAT, OAT and PCAT groups. An interest in global health and student advocacy has led him to work closely with several pre-health student groups, including the American Medical Students Association, Phi Delta Epsilon and the Flying Samaritans. A longtime top-rated MCAT instructor for Kaplan, Farcy has worked in a variety of roles within Kaplan and has been integral in the delivery of free online content to pre-med students throughout the world. He holds a B.S. in biology from Emory University, and has previously worked in environmental education and sustainable development.
News Contact: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or +1- 212-453-7538
Sarah Feuerbacher
Director
Southern Methodist University's Center for Family Counseling
Dr. Feuerbacher is an expert in parenting and child development. She has been featured in a variety of articles dealing with parent-child relationships and child-development issues. She was most recently featured in The Dallas Morning News regarding children and economic difficulty and helping talented children deal with stress. Recently, she was a featured speaker at a back-to-school community round table regarding the pressure placed on children in today’s society.
Bio: bit.ly/P7YU1G
News Contact: Christina Voss, cvoss@smu.edu or +1-214-768-7641
Dr. Mary Foley
Chairperson
Safe in Common
Foley is a safety expert and former head of the American Nurses Association (ANA). She’s currently the chairperson of a nonprofit organization called Safe in Common, whose mission is to raise awareness surrounding the threat of needlestick injuries and propose how we can eradicate them. Foley is a world-renowned health care safety advocate and is available to discuss needlestick safety and the Needlestick Safety Pledge that thousands of health care personnel have already signed in an effort to combat the hidden danger of needlestick injuries, among other back-to-school issues. As we approach back-to-school season, nurses across the country are expecting an influx of children and young adults in their offices, and a brand-new crop of student nurses will be heading back to their classrooms and rotation programs this fall. At this time, more than ever, the safety of our health care personnel should be top-of-mind. With the flood of patients -- from back-to-school checkups through the cold and flu season this winter -- comes increased danger: There are 5.6 million health care personnel in the U.S. that lack access to safety-engineered medical devices that can fully protect them from occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens such as HIV and hepatitis C, and the higher the frequency of patient activity, the greater the risk of incurring a needlestick injury.
Website: bit.ly/QlBMrK
News Contact: Rachel Peck, rpeck@kcsa.com or +1-212-896-1254
Lauren Graf, MS, RD
Clinical Dietitian
The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore in New York City
Graf is a specialist in general pediatric nutrition, with a subspecialties in renal, heart and healthy cooking for pediatric patients. Whether packed in a brown bag or served on a cafeteria tray, a nutritious school lunch that’s tasty and satisfying is a welcome midday break for kids and gives them energy to get through the rest of the day. Graf has tips for parents and kids as they gear up for another school year, from packing a colorful lunch with fresh fruits and vegetables, to spotting healthy choices on the cafeteria line. Even for the pickiest of eaters, parents can find the right nutritional balance for their kids and help them adopt good eating habits that can last a lifetime.
News Contact: Anne McDarby, amcdarby@montefiore.org or +1-718-920-4011
Shelby Harris, Psy.D., C.BSM
Director, Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program at the Sleep-Wake Disorders Center
Montefiore Medical Center in New York City
Harris is assistant professor of neurology/psychiatry at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. Typically during the summer, children go to bed later and wake up at different times because they do not have to follow a school schedule. Harris can discuss how a child can adjust his/her sleep schedule to once again become acclimated to getting up earlier for school. She can provide advice on how kids can start school well-rested and establish a consistent sleep schedule that can help optimize learning. Her pointers include: 1) Maintain a steady sleep-wake schedule seven days a week. No catching up on the weekends! 2) Have a regular and relaxing bedtime routine to wind down the hour before bedtime. 3) Make sure each step of the bedtime routine slowly moves closer and closer to the bed (e.g., bath, brush teeth, then into bedroom for PJs, book and finally bed). 4) Get back on a good, healthy diet overall. Oftentimes, kids’ diets will change over the summer. Limit sugar, chocolate, soda -- especially from lunch onward. 5) Limit electronics and schoolwork within an hour of bedtime (and don’t allow them during the night, either).
News Contact: Helene Guss, hguss@montefiore.org or +1-718-920-4011
Charlotte Havely
Director, Marketing
DenTek Oral Care, Inc.
Havely can discuss brushing your teeth as it relates to kids going back to school. Brushing your teeth and *not* flossing is like cleaning only 65 percent of your body. Floss picks and flossers are among the must-haves for after-school snacks, lunchboxes and backpacks for kids of all ages, to encourage healthy oral-care habits for life. Havely is an expert on overall oral care and encouraging kids to practice healthy oral hygiene.
Website: www.dentek.com/kids
Twitter: @dentek
News Contact: Tyra E. Haag, tyra@marybethwest.com or +1-865-982-6626
Vicki Helgeson
Professor of Psychology
Carnegie Mellon University
Diabetes is a difficult disease to manage. Changes in routine and activity level affect how much and how often insulin is needed. As diabetic children transition from summer vacation to the school year, it may become difficult to control their sugar levels. Helgeson researches how people adjust to chronic illnesses over time and the role that social environment plays in facilitating adjustment to disease.
News Contact: Shilo Rea, shilo@cmu.edu or +1-412-268-6094
Daphne Hsu, M.D.
Chief of Pediatric Cardiology
The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore in New York City
Hsu is an expert in pediatric cardiology and has been an advocate for increased cardiac testing for young athletes to prevent sudden cardiac death on the playing field. Sudden cardiac death, or SCD, is the leading cause of death in athletes and remains one of the most devastating medical events in sports. Though the condition is rare, occurring in only 2 out of 100,000 children each year, it is the leading cause of death in young athletes. SCD may be due to a genetic predisposition or undiagnosed congenital heart disease, heart arrhythmia or abnormalities in the coronary arteries. Pediatricians recommend that every child have an annual physical prior to participating in strenuous exercise or competitive sports. If any heart irregularities are detected, a pediatric cardiologist should be consulted for an electrocardiogram (EKG) or an echocardiogram, which uses sonar to diagnose congenital heart problems.
News Contact: Mike Quane, mquane@montefiore.org or +1-718-920-4011
Susan Levine
Professor of History
University of Illinois at Chicago
Students returning to school in the fall will encounter altered cafeteria menus as new federal nutrition standards for healthier meals go into effect. Levine, author of "School Lunch Politics: The Surprising History of America's Favorite Welfare Program," can discuss the origins and evolution of school lunches and provide historical context to the latest regulations.
News Contact: Brian Flood, bflood@uic.edu or +1-312-996-7681
Norman Medow, M.D.
Chief of Pediatric Ophthalmology
Montefiore Medical Center in New York City
Medow is a pediatric ophthalmologist with expertise in glaucoma, cataract and corneal disorders in children. The start of a new school season is the best time to have your child’s eyes examined. Medow can discuss the signs that a child may be having vision problems. Some are obvious, such as sitting close to the TV or holding toys close to the eyes. Squinting to see at a distance, or covering or closing one eye to see may also indicate a need for glasses. Medow reminds parents that many eye disorders are inherited, especially a need for glasses. If mom or dad wore glasses at an early age, it would not be unusual for their child to need glasses as well.
News Contact: Anne McDarby, amcdarby@montefiore.org or +1-718-920-4011
Meir Scheinfeld, M.D., Ph.D.
Attending Physician, Division Head of Emergency Radiology in the Department of Radiology
Montefiore Medical Center in New York City
Scheinfeld can discuss the role of radiology in health care and the importance of teaching children about their health from an early age. Kids can play an active role in their own health and safety. To help teach them how to do this, Scheinfeld has created an interactive radiology teaching kit that consists of a variety of images of bones, as well as orthopantograms of teeth and ultrasound images of fetuses, allowing doctors to speak about various disciplines within health care and educate children about radiology as well as broader topics, such as oral hygiene. Scheinfeld uses the kit to teach kids about the human body, provide important safety advice and encourage children not to fear the hospital environment. A video of Scheinfeld teaching kids with the kit can be found here: bit.ly/RprDhA
News Contact: Rachael McCallen, rmccall@montefiore.org or +1-718-920-4011
James Sublett, M.D.
Allergist and Chair
American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Indoor Environment Committee
Immunizations and physicals shouldn’t be the only items on your child’s back-to-school health checklist. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), allergies and asthma account for more than 14 million school-day absences annually. Much like germs and cold viruses, there are many allergens lurking in the classroom. These surprising allergens include chalk dust, the classroom pet, snacks and more.
“Children with allergies and asthma should be able to feel good, be active, and not miss any classes or activities this school year due to their condition. Helping your child understand what triggers their symptoms can keep them focused on their studies and not their allergies.”
News Contact: Christine Westendorf, christinewestendorf@acaai.org or +1-847-427-1200
Wendie Trubow, M.D.
Founder and Quality Director
Visions HealthCare
Visions HealthCare is an integrated health care facility based in Wellesley, Mass. It provides exceptional patient care by combining traditional primary-care services with cutting-edge nutritional and biochemical tools. Trubow can speak to whole-life care for families, including: ADD management, healthy eating (preparing lunches for school), asthma, fall allergies and combating flu season proactively.
News Contact: Whitney Ferguson, wferguson@thecastlegrp.com or +1- 617-337-9517
RETAIL/SHOPPING:
Lylah Alphonse
Senior Editor
Yahoo! Shine
Alphonse covers various lifestyle topics for Shine, including healthy living, parenting, life management, finances and politics. She is a journalist with more than 15 years of major metro newspaper experience, and more than five years of experience editing and writing online. She is also a mom and stepmom to five kids, who range in age from late teens to pre-kindergarten. Prior to coming to Yahoo!, Alphonse was an editor at The Boston Globe, where she covered hard news and soft features. She is based in Boston. Alphonse can discuss the following back-to-school topics: trends, from clothing to gadgets; money-saving tips; tips to transition your family back to school; and how to cut college tuition costs.
Twitter: @writeeditrepeat
News Contact: Becky Auslander, beckya@yahoo-inc.com or +1-212-381-6909
Howard Dvorkin, CPA
Founder
Consolidated Credit Counseling Services, Inc.
Dvorkin, who is an expert in personal finances, wants to help families save money in the back-to-school shopping season. He can specifically discuss strategies parents can implement to adhere to a budget while purchasing all the necessary items for their kids. Setting priorities is one of the strategies that Dvorkin recommends.
“Before going shopping, prioritize your needs. For example, ask yourself, does your child really need three new pairs of shoes? Or could they easily function with one or two new pairs of shoes? After identifying the most important items your children need, make a list and stick to it!”
News Contact: Ines Mato, +1-954-377-9339
Fred Felman
CMO
MarkMonitor
In 2012, parents feel the pressure to go beyond the usual pencils and notebooks with large-ticket items such as tablets and laptops, so deal-hunting is a must-do. According to Forrester, by 2015, 82 million U.S. consumers (about one-third of U.S. online consumers) will be using a tablet, and students are no exception. Fraudsters are paying attention. In a special edition of its Brandjacking Index, MarkMonitor, a brand protection firm, found more than 23,000 listings for counterfeit, cloned or gray-market tablet computers in one day. Felman can share some simple tips for parents to avoid getting scammed when looking to save a buck this summer: 1) Be careful what you search for: counterfeiters use seasonal keywords to their advantage. 2) Pay close attention to the website name in the address bar. Oftentimes fraudsters will purchase a misspelled “brandname.com,” a technique known as “typosquatting,” to divert traffic to counterfeit e-commerce sites or even adult sites. 3) Be wary of highly discounted goods. As the saying goes, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Counterfeiters have become more sophisticated in their pricing techniques, but still reel in unsuspecting consumers with the promise of the deal of a lifetime. 4) What is the reputation? Is the site or seller mentioned on any of the scam-warning sites? Do a search for “[vendor name] + scam” and see what comes up.
News Contact: John Moore, John.moore@zenogroup.com
Howard Kahn
CEO
Kahn Lucas
As a fourth-generation leader of one of the largest girls' dress manufacturers in the U.S., as well as the Madame Alexander brands, Kahn can speak to back-to-school retail trends in shopping and apparel. He is able to comment on regional shopping trends and the importance of experiential shopping.
News Contact: Nataly Blumberg, natalyb@bromley-group.com or +1-212-696-1100, ext. 17
Penny McIntyre
President
Newell Consumer Group, Newell Rubbermaid
McIntyre is expecting to see growth from this year’s back-to-school season vs. previous years. She is betting on parents “buying smarter” with products that are known for quality (and fun for kids). Newell Rubbermaid provides students with products for test time to lunch time. Its brands include Sharpie and Paper Mate.
News Contact: Lindsay Ash, Lindsay.Ash@edelman.com or +1-404-460-9666
Sarah Platte
Consumer and Money-Savings Expert
PromotionalCodes.com, a brand of SurfMyAds.com Inc. in Santa Monica, Calif.
“The best thing families can do to save on back-to-school shopping is to take inventory of what they currently own at home, hold off on certain items that will go on sale later in the school-shopping season and purchase transitional clothing instead of the early release of fall collections. Here’s why: First, shopping at home can uncover many forgotten everyday items and can help to avoid making a double purchase. The best prices for back-to-school basics like pencils, crayons, backpacks and notebooks are during August, but unless you have a valid college ID in the family, hold off on the laptop or tablet. These electronics historically dip in price during late September. And lastly, purchase summer apparel that transitions well into cold weather rather than the fall collection. The department store summer sales are going strong, where you can easily score 40 percent off summer apparel. Look for light sweaters, tanks and dresses to layer; hold off on cold- weather clothing until the middle or end of the season when stores will slash prices to make way for holiday promotions.”
Platte is a consumer savings expert dedicated to helping consumers apply savvy shopping and money-saving strategies to reach their financial goals more quickly. She regularly provides her savings tips and insights with top print and broadcast at the local and national level. From smart budgeting and spending advice, to tips for experiencing life’s luxuries for less, Platte enjoys helping consumers and their families discover new ways to keep more cash in their wallet.
News Contact: Sarah.Platte@SurfMyAds.com or +1-424-214-5483
Charles Schmidt
Director of Public Relations
National Association of College Stores (NACS)
NACS is the national trade association of the collegiate retailing industry. As the official spokesman for the college store industry, Schmidt can speak about national trends impacting this market and college students, such as textbook sales and formats (rental, digital, etc.), college student attitudes toward e-textbooks/e-readers/tablets. He can offer tips to college students and their parents on how to obtain the course materials they need as affordably as possible. Schmidt can also address how the collegiate retailing environment as a whole is changing and how college stores are adapting to better serve the college/university of the future.
Expert Contact: cschmidt@nacs.org
Farnoosh Torabi
Personal Finance Expert and Host of “Financially Fit”
Yahoo! Finance
Torabi is a personal finance expert and host of “Financially Fit” on Yahoo! Finance, where she offers advice on topics including budgeting, saving and smart spending. She specializes in what The New York Times calls “perfectly practical” financial advice and easy-to-follow money saving tips for consumers. She is the author of the book “Psych Yourself Rich: Get The Mindset & Discipline You Need to Build Your Financial Life,” as well as a highly sought-after speaker and frequent financial contributor to the “Today” show and CNN. Her advice has been featured in Real Simple, Glamour, The Wall Street Journal and USA Today. Torabi can discuss the following back-to-school topics: back-to-school money-saving tips, advice to maximize your college expertise, how to attend college for free, common back-to-school money pitfalls and tips to protect your money.
Twitter: @farnoosh
News Contact: Becky Auslander, beckya@yahoo-inc.com or +1-212-381-6909
BULLYING:
Kimberly Allen
Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Department of 4-H Youth Development and Family & Consumer Sciences
North Carolina State University
Dr. Allen is a parenting and youth-development specialist in the areas of relationship development and bullying. She is the lead author of a guide to bullying prevention programs published by the National 4-H Council. The guide highlights best practices for youth professionals, with emphasis on protecting young people who are most vulnerable to bullying, including LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered or questioning), youth with disabilities, members of religious minority groups and targets of cyberbullying.
"We can all contribute to building a kinder and braver world by teaching youth how to be upstanders -- youth who stand up to bullying."
Twitter: @drkimallen
Expert Contact: kimberly_allen@ncsu.edu
Velma L. Cobb, Ed.D.
Director, Equity Assistance Center -- Region II; Associate Professor, Lander Center for Educational Research
Touro College Graduate School of Education
The New York State Dignity for All Students Act, signed into law Sept. 13, 2010, took effect July 1, 2012. The intent of the Dignity Act is to create a safe and supportive school climate where students can learn and focus, without fear of being discriminated against and/or harassed, including being bullied, taunted or intimidated. The Dignity Act states “*No* student shall be subjected to harassment or discrimination by employees or students on school property or at a school function based on their actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender, or sex.” Most districts already have policies in place or codes of conduct to address bullying and harassment. The Dignity Act builds upon these existing policies, providing greater guidance for districts and schools, with the intent of addressing overall school climate in addition to bullying and harassment. Cobb can comment on existing policies and how the Dignity Act is expected to impact schools and districts.
Website: www.touro.edu/eacregion2
Expert Contact: velma.cobb@touro.edu
Cheryl Hurst, LCSW
Senior Social Worker
Montefiore School Health Program in New York City
Hurst provides individual mental health counseling using therapeutic modalities to help children and adolescents cope with family, academic and environmental stressors. Bullying can impact the well-being of children and young people and have serious long-term consequences. It can undermine educational attainment and self-esteem and can destroy a sense of security. The most common forms of bullying reported by children are being verbally bullied, followed by exclusion and physical bullying. Parents and schools also need to be aware that cyberbullying is affecting younger age groups as more children get mobile phones and have computer access. Over the past four years, the Montefiore School Health Program mental health division has developed a curriculum called S.T.A.R. (Strengthening Tween and Adolescent Relationships). This is an eight-week classroom-based program designed to foster healthy relationships between students and reduce teen dating violence. S.T.A.R. was created by Hurst, a senior social worker at PS/MS 95 in the Bronx, one of 18 schools that make up the Montefiore School Health program, to teach 12- to 14-year-olds how to develop healthy friendships and communicate in nonviolent and supportive ways. She identified such a huge need, learning about the problems these kids face: cyberbullying, financial pressures on parents who have lost jobs, poor parental support and more.
News Contact: Helene Guss, hguss@montefiore.org or +1-718-920-4011
Victoria Kempf, RN
Founder and COO
ScreenRetriever
Kempf is an Internet safety expert and speaker. She brings the management skills, passion and drive that she used during her nursing career at Boston-area hospitals to serve as ScreenRetriever’s COO. As an Internet safety expert, she advocates for the health and safety of children as they explore the online world. She strongly believes that every parent should be keeping their kids safe online and teaching appropriate and responsible online behavior. With a recent study citing that more than 70 percent of kids hide what they do on the Internet from their parents, cyberbullying and other crimes are on the rise. Many schools have Internet policies/contracts that children sign, but the responsibility for teaching school-aged children about online safety and responsible behavior resides with the parents. Kempf can speak to trends in this area, offer tips for parents in dealing with kids and the Internet both at home and in school, and more.
Website: www.screenretriever.com
Twitter: @ScreenRetriever
News Contact: Margaret Bonilla, bonillacomm@gmail.com or +1-603-548-0693
Paul Langhorst
Co-founder
GroupCast, parent company of the CyberBully Hotline
"As you know, bullying in school is hardly a new problem, but in today's 'connected' world, it does not look like it once did. Face-to-face harassment incidents, once confined to the schoolyard, have gone high tech, making it even more difficult for today's victims and bystanders to successfully deal with bullying and cyberbullying episodes. With access to computers, cellphones and other technologies, young people today are easily able to target one another using social media outlets like Facebook and YouTube; or other means such as email, instant messaging and text messaging. While no national law against cyberbullying currently exists, many states are putting anti-cyberbullying laws into effect. Of course, a good way for school administrators to help tackle the issue is to stop it before it starts."
Langhorst is passionate about creating a safe and respectful learning environment for students and can provide a host of ideas and essential tips to educators on ways to prevent bully and cyberbully actions from occurring.
News Contact: Charlotte Andrist, Charlotte@Eichercommunications.com or +1-770-578-8007
Colleen Logan, Ph.D., LPC, LMFT, NCC
Program Coordinator for the M.S. in Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling Program
Walden University
Logan specializes in bullying issues stemming from verbal, physical and cyberbullying attacks, and the impact on youth. She served as the president of the American Counseling Association (ACA) from 2008-2009, and has been instrumental in working with school counselors and administrators to institute and implement zero-tolerance policies toward bullying, with an emphasis on creating an affirmative environment for all students.
Bio: www.waldenu.edu/News-and-Events/42108.ht...
News Contact: Tamara Chumley, tamara.chumley@waldenu.edu or +1-443-627-7495
TECHNOLOGY:
Stephen Canipe, Ed.D.
Program Director of Science, Mathematics and Instructional Design and Technology in the Master’s Program
Walden University
Earlier in his career, Canipe held positions at various public and private schools and organizations, specializing in technology implementation. Canipe specializes in educational technology and its integration into the classroom; the importance of teaching 21st century skills to students; and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). His research interests include why 21st century skills are important for American children to be competitive in tomorrow's world, as well as what makes some specialized science and technology schools achieve at a higher level. Canipe has extensive experience teaching courses, workshops and training experiences in STEM, including how to integrate technology into classrooms.
Bio: www.waldenu.edu/News-and-Events/41412.ht...
News Contact: Tamara Chumley, tamara.chumley@waldenu.edu or +1-443-627-7495
Frank Menchaca
Executive Vice President, Library Research
Gale, Part of Cengage Learning
When today’s college students need to conduct research, they go directly to search engines and Wikipedia. However, despite being "digital natives," most college students lack even the most basic information-literacy skills. Menchaca can discuss this space and ways in which students, professors and librarians can work together to prepare students for success in the information age.
News Contact: Kristina Massari, Kristina.Massari@cengage.com or +1-203-965-8694
Chris Vento
Executive Vice President, Technology and Development Services
Cengage Learning
According to countless surveys and white papers, most of today’s students have their own portable electronic devices -- iPods, iPads, tablets, laptop computers, smartphones, etc. -- and are looking to use these various items in the classroom. Vento can speak to these technology trends within higher education this back-to-school season -- the "bring your own device" movement, emerging education technologies for the new school year, where ed-tech is headed in the future, etc.
News Contact: Lindsay Brown, Lindsay.brown@cengage.com or +1-203-965-8634
Russ Wright, Ph.D.
Senior Web Developer
Stetson University College of Law
Wright can discuss social networking as it applies to student life, and the relationship between time spent online with campus-based social networks and matriculation. Three years ago, he developed and tested StetsonConnect, which uses Web 2.0 technologies to provide a Facebook-like platform where students can create their own space on the Web, post messages in a blog format, and share pictures and links to videos. Users can connect across the social network with other students to learn more about student organizations and campus life, or link with admissions counselors for information about the nuts-and-bolts of law school at Stetson. While face-to-face interaction is invaluable, users can use the social networking website to build collegial relationships and find out if life at Stetson Law is a good fit. Wright teaches courses on information technology-computer information systems as an adjunct faculty member at St. Petersburg College and Strayer University.
Expert Contact: rwright1@law.stetson.edu
Samia Zaky
Social Media Manager
Kaplan Test Prep
Zaky is an expert on how social media sites like Facebook are changing the admissions landscape. She manages social media and digital marketing campaigns for Kaplan’s graduate programs division. She has a passion for building social media communities that enhance the educational experience for all Kaplan students. A Kaplan SAT and GRE prep alumnus, Zaky received a B.A. in English and communication from Pace University, and an M.A. in public communication and media studies from Fordham University. She has been with Kaplan Test Prep since 2010.
News Contact: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or +1- 212-453-7538
