Featured Post from University of Delaware

March Madness: Experts comment on picking underdogs, prop bets and economic benefits

Mar 18, 2025

1 min

Why do people pick underdogs when filling out their brackets for the NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments? How do people consume March Madness? How does the tournament benefit host cities and teams economically? University of Delaware experts have the answers.

The following UD faculty members can provide their expertise for journalists working on stories about the tournaments.

• Jackie Silverman, assistant professor of marketing: Why people might have chosen underdogs still hanging around in their brackets,

• John Allgood, instructor of sport management: How people consume March Madness (streaming vs. cable TV) and how major collegiate sports events can help brand individual schools. Contact UD media relations to reach him.

• Tim DeSchriver, associate professor of sport management: Sports gambling (including prop bets) and advertising targets.

• Matthew Robinson, professor of sport management: Economic benefits of the host city.

• Matt McGranaghan, assistant professor of marketing: Consumer attention span during commercial breaks.

To reach these experts directly and set up interviews, visit the expert profiles below and click on the contact button.

Connect with:

Tim DeSchriver

Associate Professor of Sport Management; Area Head - Sport Management

Prof. DeSchriver’s research is in sport finance, economics and marketing; specifically professional sport and collegiate athletics.

Sport ManagementSports FinanceProfessional SportCollegiate Athletics

Matthew Robinson

Professor, Sport Management

Prof. Robinson is an expert on international sport development.

CoachingSports as a Diplomatic ToolInternational Sports GovernanceU.S. Sports ModelOlympics

Matthew McGranaghan

Assistant Professor, Marketing

Prof. McGranaghan studies the economics of consumer attention and the indirect effects of marketing interventions.

Business AdministrationNeuroscienceApplied EconomicsManagementMarketing

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Aug 25, 2026

1 min

Epidemiologist Available to Discuss Measles, Vaccination and Infectious Disease Outbreaks

As measles cases continue to rise in the United States, University of Delaware epidemiologist Jennifer Horney is available to discuss measles outbreaks, vaccination, vaccine hesitancy and the challenges of preventing the spread of highly contagious infectious diseases. The deaths of two unvaccinated Pennsylvania residents from measles — the first measles deaths in the state in 35 years — underscore the continuing public health risks posed by the disease. Horney, a former member of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Board of Scientific Counselors, is an experienced epidemiologist who studies infectious disease outbreaks and public health preparedness. Horney can discuss: • Measles outbreaks and transmission: Why measles is among the most contagious infectious diseases and how outbreaks spread. • Vaccination: The effectiveness of the MMR vaccine and the importance of maintaining high vaccination rates. • Vaccine hesitancy and misinformation: What influences vaccination decisions and how public health messaging affects perceptions of vaccine and infectious disease risks. • Measles prevention and treatment: Why outbreaks can reemerge when vaccination coverage falls, and the role and limitations of vitamin A and other treatments. • Outbreak response and preparedness: How public health officials investigate and respond to measles and other infectious disease outbreaks, and what can be learned from previous outbreaks. To reach Horney directly and arrange an interview, visit her profile and click on the “contact” button. Interested reporters can also email MediaRelations@udel.edu.

Aug 10, 2026

1 min

Experts on earthquake response, community recovery and building safety

The shaking from a major earthquake may be over in minutes, but its consequences will last for years. University of Delaware experts can address emergency response, distributing aid, assessing damaged buildings, helping vulnerable communities and planning for long-term recovery. Their expertise is particularly relevant as communities across Latin America respond to major earthquakes, including the deadly magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Colombia. Tricia Wachtendorf, co-director of UD’s Disaster Research Center, offers expertise on how governments, nonprofits, emergency responders and community groups coordinate following a major disaster. Her research examines the role of spontaneous or “emergent” groups, humanitarian aid and donations, and how communities and organizations respond in the aftermath of disasters. Jennifer Trivedi, associate professor of anthropology and Disaster Research Center faculty member, specializes in disaster vulnerability and why some communities are more severely affected than others. She also addresses the long-term recovery needs and planning that emerge after the immediate crisis. Michael Chajes, professor of civil and environmental engineering, provides expertise on the structural damage caused by earthquakes, why some buildings collapse while others withstand the shaking and how engineers assess damaged structures and improve earthquake resilience. To arrange an interview with one of these experts, visit their profiles and click on the contact button. Interested reporters can also email MediaRelations@udel.edu.

Aug 5, 2026

1 min

Mapping the ancient world with underwater robotics

As audiences flock to theaters for Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, University of Delaware professor Art Trembanis is leading a real-life expedition to uncover one of ancient Greece's most important maritime landscapes. Trembanis, a professor in UD's School of Marine Science and Policy and an expert in seafloor mapping, marine robotics and underwater sensing technologies, recently led a team of students and researchers to the ancient harbor of Kenchreai, where they deployed autonomous underwater vehicles, advanced sonar systems and other cutting-edge mapping technologies to document a harbor that has remained hidden beneath the Mediterranean Sea for centuries. The expedition collected geospatial data that will allow researchers to reconstruct the ancient port in remarkable detail and ultimately create a "digital twin" of the site. The virtual model will enable archaeologists, engineers, students and the public to explore the harbor as if the water had been removed, preserving an invaluable piece of cultural heritage while advancing the use of marine technology in archaeology. Trembanis can discuss: Marine robotics and autonomous underwater vehicles Seafloor mapping and underwater imaging technologies The use of digital twins and 3D modeling to study underwater environments Advances in marine geospatial technology and ocean exploration Underwater archaeology and documenting submerged cultural heritage How engineering and marine science are transforming the study of oceans and ancient landscapes The role of emerging technologies in scientific discovery and education To arrange an interview with Trembanis, click on his profile or email mediarelations@udel.edu.