Climate Scientist

As COP21 comes to an end and an agreement has been met, we FEATURE Dr. Jessica Blunden, a climate scientist with ERT Inc, working in the Center for Weather and Climate at NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information in Asheville, North Carolina. Blunden holds Masters and Doctorate degrees in Atmospheric Science from North Carolina State University and has co-authored more than a dozen peer reviewed publications. Jessica serves as a lead editor for the State of the Climate report, an annual peer reviewed report published by the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society that examines climate and climate change across the globe, with more than 400 authors from about 50 countries across the globe, and has served as the lead scientific consultant for the Statement on the Status of the Global Climate in 2013 report published by the United Nation’s World Meteorological Organization. Media includes: CBS National Radio, Associated Press, New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post.

Associate Professor

To discuss tomorrow's Republican presidential debates and how the candidates are being received in Iowa, we FEATURE Gayle Alberda. Alberda, Professor of politics at Drake University in Iowa, received her PhD in political science from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, and her M.P.A. and B.S. degree from Central Michigan University. Her prior work experience in the political field includes lobbying in Washington D.C. as well at the state and local levels, working on numerous campaigns including state house, city council, governor, president, and U.S. Senate races in multiple states. Professor Alberda’s research focuses on election laws, political participation and civic engagement, and election administration. Media includes: NPR (All Things Considered), Daily Iowan.

Trial Lawyer, former prosecutor and Assistant Attorney General for MD Member, Supreme Court Bar

As former police officer and serial rapist, Daniel Holtzclaw, has been sentenced to over 250 years in prison for sexually assualting 13 women of color, we FEATURE Debbie Hines, a Washington, DC based practicing trial attorney, former Maryland prosecutor and member of the Supreme Court bar who is an expert in criminal law, high profile criminal cases, gun laws, death penalty cases and voting laws. Hines often addresses legal issues at the intersection of race and crime. As a former felony prosecutor, she tried homicides, attempted murders, rapes, burglaries, robberies, narcotics and economic crimes before juries with a high conviction rate. Presently, she maintains a boutique law practice focused on civil and criminal litigation. As a trial lawyer in private practice, Debbie advocates for the rights of her clients in court rooms across the country. Media includes: MSNBC, Al-Jazeera America, BET, C-SPAN, NPR, CCTV-America, TV One, Fox 5 (WTTG), Huffington Post.

Executive Director

Following nineteen separate hate crimes against Muslims in America in the past week alone, we FEATURE Daisy Khan, the Executive Director of ASMA Society. Founded in 1997, ASMA Society is a non-profit religious and educational organization dedicated to building bridges between the American public and American Muslims through activities in culture, arts, academia and current affairs. In the fall of 2001 Ms. Khan organized an art exhibit in response to the 9/11 attacks, titled Reflections at the Time of Transformation: Muslim Artists Reach Out to New Yorkers. The event featured specially created works of art by a diverse group of Muslim visual artists, poets, musicians and filmmakers and served as a testament against the division and destruction of September 11. Media includes: Newsday, Time, Daily News, Newsweek.