Experts Guide

Paulson is well-versed in Florida politics, having spent several decades teaching and studying the subject. As a Minnesota native, he can also speak to issues facing the state and has studied U.S. elections and political violence.

Benton is an expert on state and local government politics, government finances and fiscal behavior and welfare and housing policy.

Scacco is an expert in political campaigns, misinformation and disinformation, social and digital media and public opinion. His research interests broadly focus on political communication, media content and effects, the political dimensions of public health as well as communication and democracy.

Milani is a leading expert on Iranian politics, U.S.-Middle East relations and regional security, with decades of academic and policy experience.

Mellen is an expert on the presidency and the interaction between the executive branch, legislative branch and the judiciary. He can also discuss congressional politics and primary and midterm elections. Mellen has published extensively on what presidents do during the midterms and how effective their efforts are.

Gary studies cyber threats to elections, cyber threat actors and reasonings and cyber threats to public and private sectors. His focus is on cyber threat actors, who are responsible for cybercrimes including ransomware and cyber espionage. He was a highly-decorated career U.S. Air Force Intelligence Officer.

Neely is an expert in survey research on policy and election topics, quantitative analysis, public policy and media and politics.

MacManus is a nationally-recognized expert in Florida politics, political issues, women in politics and voter demographics.

Kulekevich studies Eastern Europe, Belarus, international political economics, migration and protest politics, democratization, international security and ethnic politics. Her research examines how opposition, identity, and institutions evolve under pressure and repression, including dynamics of authoritarian learning with extensions into international security, comparative politics and migration/diaspora politics.