Crowded Debate Stage

This Post is Currently in DraftDraft

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

Find Experts

May 26, 2026

1 min

Julian Ku Discusses China-Taiwan Tensions in The New York Times

Hofstra Law Professor Julian Ku offers insight into rising geopolitical tensions between China and Taiwan in a recent New York Times feature. The article, “Inside the Secret Mission to Fly Taiwan’s President to Africa,” examined how several countries reportedly denied airspace access for Lai’s aircraft amid pressure from Beijing. A scholar of international law and U.S. foreign relations law, Professor Ku framed the episode as part of a broader strategic effort by China to constrain Taiwan through legal and regulatory means rather than direct confrontation.

May 18, 2026

1 min

LI’s Rising Costs and Housing Market Pose Challenges

Lawrence Levy, associate vice president and executive dean of the National Center for Suburban Studies, talked to Newsday and News 12 Long Island about the region’s economic challenges and housing market. For an article on the high cost of living, Levy explained that Long Island’s many layers of government, including 124 school districts, and residents’ expectations of quality services — from police protection and garbage pickup to senior programs — drive high property taxes. “In other areas of the country, statewide broad-based taxes pay for a lot of services that we rely on the property tax to pay for, such as public education,” he said, adding that about two-thirds of a Long Islander’s tax bill goes to fund public schools.

May 11, 2026

1 min

TV News Talent Looks to Build Their Brand on Nontraditional Platforms

Mark Lukasiewicz, dean of The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication, was interviewed by The Hollywood Reporter for the article “With TV News In Free Fall, Anchors Try Breaking Away,” about the trend of TV news veterans leaving the declining world of linear media to build businesses and their brand on social media, podcasts, and other platforms.