CHICAGO — DePaul University faculty experts are available to provide commentary and insight on the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Experts can discuss a range of related topics, including medical ethics, microbiology, economics, politics and transportation.

Scholarly experts available to speak include:

Clement Adibe, associate professor, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. Adibe is a political scientist and can discuss how governmental policy, capacity and management are affecting the Ebola outbreak. “The crisis itself is familiar, though totally unexpected by many in terms of its intensity and spread,” said Adibe. “The stark differences in outcome in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria underscore a profound issue in West Africa and elsewhere in the world today: the qualitative differences in state capacity and their effect on human and global security.” He can be reached at cadibe@depaul.edu or 773-325-1982.

Craig Klugman, professor and chair of Health Sciences, College of Science and Health. Klugman is a bioethicist and medical anthropologist who researches death and dying. He can speak on medical ethics issues related to Ebola, including the distribution of scarce resources like medicines and personnel; obligations to provide assistance; the ethics of quarantine; using experimental drugs in compassionate care circumstances; and health policy. “Diseases do not recognize national or socioeconomic borders. The U.S. has an ethical obligation to assist in this epidemic that threatens the health and well-being of millions.” He can be reached at cklugman@depaul.edu or 773-325-4876.

Sarah Connolly, assistant professor, College of Science and Health. Connolly is a microbiologist and can discuss the molecular details of how the Ebola virus infects cells and the basics behind the experimental treatments and vaccines in development. “Fears that the virus may adapt to become airborne are not supported by evidence,” said Connolly. “That being said, the fact that this outbreak does not pose a significant immediate risk to the U.S. population in no way lessens the need for international efforts to contain the outbreak in West Africa. Time is of the essence. Quelling the spread of this infection sooner rather than later will save thousands of lives.” She can be reached at sconnol6@depaul.edu or 773-325-4498.

Joseph Schwieterman, professor and director of the Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Schwieterman is an expert in transportation systems and can speak to how disease outbreak affects the economics of the travel market. His research focuses on public policy, transportation, geographic information systems and economics. He can be reached at jschwiet@depaul.edu or 312-362-5732.

Ted Anton, professor, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Anton is a science writer and can discuss the representation of risk in epidemics in the media. He can be reached at tanton@depaul.edu or 773-352-1767.  

Derise Tolliver Atta, associate professor, School for New Learning. Tolliver is a psychologist and can offer a critical perspective on Ebola that incorporates cultural, historical, and political context. Her research interests include African-centered psychology, spirituality, cultural issues in psychology and education, and HIV/AIDS. She can be reached at dtollive@depaul.edu or 312-362-8199.

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