Crowded Debate Stage

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1 min

Voters have more than a year before they go to the polls to pick their next president, but the 2020 election process is already underway with ongoing Democratic primary debates that will thin a field of 20 candidates to one nominee. Experts who can analyze debate performance and discuss how candidates can stand out in a crowd include:

Mark Lukasiewicz, dean of the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication and a former NBC news executive who has produced live coverage of ten presidential debates. He can discuss the evolution of televised debates, the impact of moderators, and the growing dependence on entertainment elements to draw viewers.

Tomeka Robinson, rhetoric professor and director of Hofstra’s award-winning speech and debate team. She can offer commentary on the candidates’ debate styles and overall performance.

Rosanna Perotti, political science professor, can discuss candidates’ policy stands and the overall race for the White House.

Connect with:

Mark Lukasiewicz

Dean, The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication

Dean Lukasiewicz is a veteran producer, journalist, and media executive. Before joining Hofstra, he was SVP of specials at NBC News.

news platformsnews industryBroadcast NewsDigital MediaMedia Ethics

Tomeka Robinson

Senior Associate Dean, Professor of Writing Studies and Rhetoric

Dr. Robinson is an expert on effective public debate as well as health communication. She directs Hofstra's award-winning forensics team.

Public/Social AdvocacyRhetoricHealth CommunicationsArgumentation and DebateIntercultural Communication

Rosanna Perotti

Professor of Political Science

Professor Perotti's expertise is in American politics, including Congress, elections and political parties.

American PoliticsCongressMedia and PoliticsAmerican Political PartiesAmerican Elections

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Jun 23, 2026

2 min

World Cup 2026: Hofstra experts on the science, health, and business behind the tournament.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup comes to the New York metro area, and Hofstra University is ready. From the training room to the boardroom, Hofstra faculty bring research-backed expertise to the stories journalists are chasing this tournament season. Featured Topic The Cultural Game Why soccer means what it means and what this World Cup moment represents The World Cup has always been about more than the game. Brenda Elsey, Professor of History, studies soccer as a cultural and political force across the Americas -- from grassroots identity to gender and power. She can speak to what this tournament represents as a historical moment, on and off the field. Expert Brenda Elsey - History Featured Topic Health and Performance on the World Stage Expert insight on what it takes to compete and recover at a World Cup. Competing at this level means managing the body and the mind across weeks of high-stakes matches with almost no recovery time. Hofstra's health and kinesiology faculty are your sources for the stories behind the performance. Experts Jayne Ellinger - Athletic Training Katie Sell - Exercise Physiology Anna Len - Physical Therapy Genevieve Weber - Mental Health Featured Topic Beyond the Pitch What the World Cup does to cities, economies, and public health systems From local business impact and tourism economics to disease surveillance and emergency preparedness - Hofstra faculty are ready to talk. Experts Andy M. Forman - Marketing & Tourism Lauren Hindman - Management Martine Hackett - Population Health Meshack Achore - Population Health

Jun 24, 2026

1 min

Levy on Home Ownership, Suburban Voters, and the Midterms

A recent media appearance by Lawrence Levy, associate vice president and executive dean of Hofstra University’s National Center for Suburban Studies, include: June 17: Newsday: “Will they ever own a home? Long Island renters fear the ‘American Dream’ is out of reach.” Across Long Island, many renters are finding themselves shut out of a housing market defined by record prices, limited inventory and rising borrowing costs. Still, Newsday reports, people continue to aspire to homeownership, viewing it as a source of financial security and stability. “The lure of suburban homeownership remains as powerful as ever,” said Levy. “How else do you explain the willingness of more and more people to go deeper and deeper in debt to realize their suburban dream?”

Jun 18, 2026

1 min

Raising Awareness of Rip Current Safety

Jase Bernhardt, associate professor of geology, environment, and sustainability, recently joined FOX Weather to talk about his research that offers a virtual reality simulation of being caught in a rip current and teaches ways swimmers can navigate to safety.