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What's next for Equifax?

Earlier this week, Equifax announced a second breach of customer's personal data. That brings the total number of people who have had their personal information either seen shared or stolen to a whopping 145.5 million. To put that into perspective - that's the collective populations of Georgia, California, Texas, New York, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Missouri combined. Goizueta Business School Expert Kevin Crowley says competitors could take advantage of this drop in confidence but don't look for another firm to swoop in and try to purchase Equifax at a low price. Source:

Baylor DACA Expert Featured in National Jurist

Laura Hernandez, J.D., professor at Baylor Law School, is a featured expert in this story about law schools that are assisting DACA recipients. Hernandez founded Baylor Law School’s Immigration Clinic. “Most DACA card holders have no memory or have no connection with their country of birth,” she said. “They have been in the United States since they were children and many of the DACA applicants that we supported, or that we helped fill out their applications, came to this country as young as one or two.” Hernandez is available to speak on a wide range of immigration and law issues. Source:

Threats loom in the wake of historic Kurdish vote

Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has demanded Kurdish authorities negate the results of Monday’s historic referendum. The move is the latest attempt by Iraqi officials to prevent Kurdish independence. Al-Abadi, who earlier this week called the Kurdish vote “unconstitional,” said his government was unwilling to discuss the results of Monday’s referendum with members of the Kurdistan Regional Government. Dr. Craig Albert, associate professor of political science at Augusta University, said a failure to recognize the vote could potentially be catastrophic for the region. “A worst-case scenario could see the beginnings of an Iraqi civil war, or a push by Turkish forces into the country,” Albert said. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has touted economic sanctions to protest the Kurdish vote. Albert said the use of military measures by the Turkish government against Iraqi Kurds was likely. Click “Contact” to schedule an interview with Dr. Craig Albert, or call 1-(706) 504-2724. Source:

Impact of Protests on NFL Brand? Baylor Sports Sales Expert is Watching How 'Generations' Respond

Kirk Wakefield, Ph.D., is the Edwin W. Streetman Professor of Retail Marketing and director of Baylor University’s Sports Sponsorship & Sales program. He is an oft-quoted expert on marketing and branding of professional sports teams and serves as publisher and editor of The Baylor S3 Report (www.baylors3.com), the industry-leading publication featuring best practices in sports sales and marketing. In response to this weekend’s protests during many of the NFL games, Wakefield said he is closely watching the “generations” of fans, particularly the season ticket holders. He explained that the average NFL season ticket holders are male, in their 40s and have a household income of more than $100,000. “I think the question is if the NFL can truly use this as a unifying rather than divisive tool. The dilemma is that the season ticket holder base is older and more prone to see it as divisive and offensive. But the younger set, tomorrow’s fan base, is likely to side with the players. So, brand equity could erode among current season ticket holders and, at the same time, gain interest and support from millennials – who have not been watching or attending as much.” Wakefield’s research in retailing covering more than two decades focuses primarily upon sports psychology, team sports marketing, entertainment marketing, and fan and consumer response to pricing and promotional tools. He has conducted fan research in almost every venue in sports including the NBA, NFL, MLB, MLS, NHL, and NASCAR. Source:

Kurdish independence referendum could lead to chaos in region, expert says

A historic independence referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan could lead to civil unrest or war if successful, cautions Dr. Craig Albert, associate professor of Political Science at Augusta University. The Iraqi Parliament has already ordered troops to gather in the region under the guise of “protecting citizens. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has touted economic sanctions to protest the vote, and will likely use military measures. If Kurdistan overwhelmingly votes for independence—an event Albert says is likely—a worst-case scenario could see the beginnings of an Iraqi civil war or a Turkish push into Iraq to put down Iraqi Kurds. If the vote is not recognized, Albert said, the region will likely see an increase in Kurdish acts of terror or guerilla warfare. Click "Contact" to schedule an interview with Dr. Craig Albert or call 1-(706) 504-2724. Source:

Will Sept. 25 be Kurdish Independence Day?

On Sept. 25, a lot of the world’s important eyes will be watching the results of a referendum few have heard about. The Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) is finally holding a referendum on its independence. It’s a referendum many object to – including those in Baghdad and in the United States. There are concerns that this path to independence will not be a smooth one and could further destabilize this already tumultuous region. Efforts and negotiations are ongoing in hopes that this historic vote can be delayed or even postponed. The stakes in this are high. In this region, relationships between the Kurds and Turkey are not good. Separating from Iraq could also see consequences. The threat of violence is very real and who will be there to support an independent KRI is also in question. There are many pieces at play. This involves a century of history, territory and tribalism all in an area that cannot afford another conflict. So, will the referendum take place even though Iraq's Supreme Court on Monday ordered the suspension of the referendum? If it does, what will be the outcome? Can America not support a group of people using democracy to determine its own fate? Are the costs of preventing this referendum worth it in the long run? How will the referendum affect politics in the Middle East and globally? Missouri State University’s Dr. David Romano, an expert in Middle Eastern politics, particularly the Kurdish region, is available to provide his insights on this complex and developing issue. He has been contributing to international discussion on this topic in his weekly column on Rudaw. Romano spent six months last year in Iraqi Kurdistan, behind the lines near Mosul. He believes the time is right for Kurdish independence. It’s also relevant to American interests due to the oil market and the international political landscape. Click on his icon to arrange an interview. Source:

Baylor Law Professor Shares Insights Following Trump’s DACA Announcement

Baylor Law School Professor Laura Hernandez, J.D., is interviewed as an expert on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in response to President Trump’s announcement that his administration will phase out the program. Hernandez founded the Baylor Law Immigration Clinic, which has helped hundreds of immigrants in Texas, including a number of those covered under DACA. Source: