COVID-19 PRESSROOM: OSU Experts and Media Resources
Thursday, March 19, 2020
A mission to research and educate
Part of Oklahoma State University's land-grant mission is sharing knowledge and information. For members of the media, faculty experts from across OSU are available to comment and answer questions about COVID-19.
PPP loans, Finance, Banking
Nancy Titus-Piersma, Instructor of Professional Practice
Spears School of Business tituspi@okstate.edu
Psychology of face mask opposition
Thad Leffingwell, Professor and Head of Psychology Department
OSU Diagnostic Laboratory
For media questions about the OSU Diagnostic Laboratory, contact:
Shannon Rigsby | Public Information Officer | shannon.rigsby@okstate.edu | 405-744-9081
School of Global Studies and Partnerships
Lyn Putnam - communication specialist
405-744-5496 lyn.putnam@okstate.edu
Faculty available to discuss COVID-19:
Spears School of Business
Steven Shepherd, Ph.D. — Assistant Professor in the Spears School of Business
Shepherd can speak to the social consequences of self-isolation and the importance
of maintaining social connection without physically meeting up with friends, the potential
value of social media here, the role of social norms and the behavior of others in
shaping individual's behavior, how people respond to resource scarcity and how effective
messaging/communication might help increase adoption of recommended health behaviors.
918-594-8165 or steven.shepherd@okstate.edu
Abbey Davis with the Eastin Center for Career Readiness in the Spear School of Business is a resource to discuss job hunting during the current economic climate.
Steven Ruby — Clinical Assistant Professor in the School of Hospitality and Tourism
Management.
As an attorney and a professor, Ruby is knowledgeable about human resources and general
legal issues impacting the hospitality industry.
Tony Collins — Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in the School of Hospitality
and Tourism Management and Director of the Wayne Hirst Center for Beverage Education
With 20 years of management and operational experience with restaurants and bars,
Collins is knowledgeable about managing hospitality businesses specializing in food
and beverages.
Heidi Hoart — Teaching Instructor in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management
Hoart teaches courses in areas such as food production management, hospitality information
technology and purchasing. She is knowledgeable about restaurants using technology
in the COVID-19 crisis, such as adopting contactless ordering and delivery.
Amy Hagerman, Ph.D. — OSU Extension Ag Policy Specialist
Hagerman can speak on how COVID-19 is impacting the economy and economic recovery.
405-744-9811 or amy.hagerman@okstate.edu
Dan Rickman, Ph.D. — Regents Professor of Economics and a researcher at the Center for Applied Economic Research, has co-written a forecast of the impact of the pandemic and collapsing oil prices on the Oklahoma economy.
405-744-1434 or dan.rickman@okstate.edu
Education and Human Sciences
Sissy Osteen, department head for Human Development and Family Science, has expertise in family financial planning and holds a Certified Financial Planner credential.
405-744-4741 or sissy.osteen@okstate.edu
Cindy Clampet is an assistant family resource management specialist with OSU Extension who can comment on family financial management, dealing with unemployment, etc.
405-744-6581 or cindy.clampet@okstate.edu
Engineering, Architecture and Technology
Sunderesh Heragu, Ph.D. — Regents Professor and Industrial Engineering & Management
Department Head
Heragu can speak to preparedness and response to pandemics.
405-744-6055 or sunderesh.heragu@okstate.edu
Kami Gallus, Ph.D. — Associate Professor in Human Development and Family Science /
marriage and family therapist
Gallus can provide perspective regarding traumatic stress responses that can be triggered
by COVID-19 and the impact on mental health, ability to cope/regulate and on relationships
Lynn Boorady, Ph.D. — Professor / department head for Design, Housing and Merchandising
Boorady can speak about best practices regarding face masks and help dispel misinformation
(people microwaving them, bleaching them, etc.).
Lynn.boorady@okstate.edu
Hitesh D. Vora, Ph.D. — Industrial Assessment Center director / assistant professor, Mechanical
Engineering Technology
Vora can speak on energy efficiency tips for working from home
(405) 744-9578 or hitesh.vora@okstate.edu
Arts and Sciences
Thad Leffingwell Ph.D. — Clinical health psychologist and head of the OSU Department
of Psychology
Leffingwell can speak to effective coping methods for these new situations.
Sarah Griswold Ph.D. — Assistant Professor, Department of History
Griswold can speak on the history of pandemics like the spanish flu.
Oklahoma Center for Respiratory and Infectious Diseases
Lin Liu, Ph.D. — Regents Professor, Director of the Oklahoma Center for Respiratory and Infectious Diseases, Lundberg-Kienlen Endowed Professorship in Biomedical Research
405-744-4526 or lin.liu@okstate.edu
Veterinary Medicine
Jared Taylor, DVM, MPH, Ph.D., DACVIM — Associate Professor of Veterinary Pathobiology
Taylor is available to speak on the public health aspect.
405-744-7537 or jared.d.taylor@okstate.edu
Tom Oomens, Ph.D. — Associate Professor of Veterinary Pathobiology
Oomens can speak about the virus and the disease.
405-744-4397 or oomens@okstate.edu
Clinton Jones, Ph.D. — Regents Professor, Sitlington Professor of Infectious Diseases,
Veterinary Pathobiology
Jones can speak about the virus and the disease.
405-744-1842 or clint.jones10@okstate.edu
Jeff Studer, DVM, DACVO — Director of the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital
Studer can speak about hospital operations/protocols, how veterinary practices and
the veterinary industry is responding, etc.
405-744-8464 or jeff.studer@okstate.edu
Lyndi Gilliam, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM — Associate professor of Equine Internal Medicine,
Veterinary Clinical Sciences
Gilliam can speak to COVID-19 and horses.
405-744-7000, ext. 2 or l.gilliam@okstate.edu
Dr. Rosslyn Biggs, DVM – OSU Extension Beef Cattle Specialist and College of Veterinary Medicine Director
of Continuing Education (Livestock and Pet Health and Well-Being)
Biggs can help people understand health issues related to their animals as well as
changes in care caused by COVID-19.
405-744-8587 (office) or 405-201-9127 (cell phone) or rosslyn.biggs@okstate.edu
Agriculture
Dr. Ravi Jadeja — Food Safety Specialist for the Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center, Oklahoma State University
Dr. William McGlynn — Food Scientist for the Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center
Jake Nelson — Meat Processing Specialist for the Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center
Tom A. Royer, Ph.D. – Professor and Integrated Pest Management Coordinator in the
Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology.
Royer can speak to the interruptions of supply chains and normal practices in pest
control, as well as alternative approaches and concerns about chemical substitutions.
405-744-9406 or tom.royer@okstate.edu
David Lalman, Ph.D. – OSU Extension Beef Cattle Specialist (General Beef Cattle and Cattle Nutrition)
Lalman is able to discuss challenges in one of the state’s largest economic industries
regarding supplies, management and planning.
405-744-6060 or david.lalman@okstate.edu
Kim Anderson, Ph.D., OSU Extension Grain Marketing Specialist and Professor, Department
of Agricultural Economics (Grain Markets)
He can clarify what’s happening to product prices related to corn, wheat, soybeans
and, to a lesser extent, cotton. In short, consumers are seeing a larger effect on
price tags due to manufacturing, transportation and hoarding. Anderson can provide
perspective on the export/import situation as well.
405-624-9938 (office) or kim.anderson@okstate.edu
Derrell Peel, Ph.D., OSU Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist and Professor, Department
of Agricultural Economics (Livestock Markets)
Peel can speak to the meat industry’s current reduction in packing capacity, particularly
beef. How much longer will the country see disruptions in the supply chain and shortages
in product to grocery stores? He recently authored a report on the loss of billions
of dollars in the cattle industry due to the pandemic.
405-744-9816 (office) or 405-747-5882 (cell phone) or derrell.peel@okstate.edu
Chuck Willoughby, marketing relations manager, OSU’s Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural
Products Center
Willoughby can provide economic analysis on employment and payroll at the level of
communities, counties and regions. He can also address jobs lost in food manufacturing,
restaurant and grocery sectors, and the uncertainty the sudden changes have caused.
He recently co-authored a report on the potential impact of COVID-19 on the state’s
food industry with Rodney Holcomb, FAPC agribusiness economist; Andrea Graves, FAPC
business planning and marketing specialist; and Erin Johnson, FAPC business and marketing
client coordinator.
405-744-7300 or chuck.willoughby@okstate.edu
Cathy Allen – OSU 4-H Specialist (Curriculum)
Allen has a keen perspective on how to keep children busy and actively learning during
pandemic disruptions to their education.
405-744-8892 or Cathy.allen@okstate.edu
Cathleen Taylor — OSU 4-H Specialist (Civic Engagement and Leadership)
Taylor is an expert in community service projects and activities that engage young
Oklahomans.
405-744-8888 or Cathleen.taylor@okstate.edu
David Hillock — OSU Extension Specialist and Master Gardener Coordinator, OSU Department
of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture
Hillock is a resource for people interested in growing their own food, developing
local-sourced gardens. Social distancing can still be accomplished in a community
garden.
405-744-5158 or David.hillock@okstate.edu
Jeff Sallee — Associate Professor in the Department of Agricultural Education, and
Communications and Leadership, as well as 4-H STEM Curriculum Liaison for Oklahoma
and Collegiate 4-H Advisor
Sallee provides perspective on active learning as well as community service projects
for children out of their normal classrooms.
405-744-8885 or Jeff.sallee@okstate.edu
HireOSUgrads.com
Pam Ehlers, Ph.D. — Director of OSU Career Services
Ehlers can speak about job hunting advice.
405-744-5253 or pam.ehlers@okstate.edu
OSU-Tulsa
Sarah Johnson, Ph.D. — Clinical Assistant Professor, Director of OSU-Tulsa Counseling
Center
Johnson can speak on wellness while at home.
405-744-9188 or sarah.johnson16@okstate.edu
Danielle Brown — OSU Tulsa Wellness Coordinator
Brown can speak on being productive at home.
918-594-8126 or browndk@okstate.edu
Oklahoma State University news on COVID-19:
News releases:
- OSU survey showcases public thoughts about economic recovery from pandemic
- OSU Community Transit service resumes July 7
- Beware of COVID-19 contact tracing scams
- Computer Science awarded grant to help with COVID-19 response
- OSU wins NSF grant for COVID-19 training project
- OSU lab works with international coalition to understand the novel coronavirus
- Cowboys come together to support OSU COVID-19 testing lab
- Tracking COVID-19 in Oklahoma
- Report identifies potential impacts of COVID-19 on Oklahoma’s food industry
- Grassroots volunteers sew thousands of masks
- Coronavirus new normal no match for OSU Extension’s commitment to serve Oklahomans
- Be wary of fraudulent COVID-19 supplement claims
- CARES Act has provisions for retirement account withdrawal penalties
- Pete’s Pet Posse reinvents itself with virtual therapy
- Surviving Veterinary College during COVID-19
- OSU student teachers and tutors adapt to distance learning
- Pandemic and oil glut could cost Oklahoma 10,000 energy sector jobs
- OSU researchers examine social distancing models, encourage caution
- CARES Act provides some financial relief
- COVID-19 diagnostic lab at OSU accelerating testing in Oklahoma
- Innovative partnership creates COVID-19 diagnostic lab at Oklahoma State University
- OSU engineers racing to prototype, manufacture protective gear for frontline responders
- OSU lab on Stillwater campus to assist state with COVID-19 test analysis
- OSU Professor Utilizes Global Pandemic as Teaching Tool
- Stillwater Chinese community and previous OSU Chinese scholars donated nearly 10,000 facemasks to local hospital and police department
- Science fair students persevere amidst coronavirus challenges
- OSU Psychologist offers tips for coping with coronavirus challenges
- OSU Extension services and programs continue through pandemic
- Immune system tips
- Shopping for food safely
- Q&A: Impacts of COVID-19 on the Food Industry
- Horse owners urged to plan care during pandemic
- Coronavirus concerns high in rural areas
- Family members with coronavirus should be isolated at home
- Simple recommendations for making a disinfecting solution
- OSU suspends all transit services through April 3
This page will be updated regularly. For general media inquiries, contact:
Monica Roberts |Director of Media Relations | Monica.Roberts@okstate.edu |405-744-4800