Experts available: 2016 Summer Olympics

August 2, 2016


MILWAUKEE — Brazil is welcoming elite athletes around the world for the Summer Olympics beginning this week. Marquette University has a wide variety of experts available to provide perspective in Olympics-related news coverage.

Members of the media may contact our experts directly or contact Chris Jenkins in the Office of Marketing and Communication.

Athletes' Perspective on the Olympics

Steve Wojciechowski
Head Coach, men's basketball
Coach Wojciechowski served as an assistant coach and scout for the USA Basketball Men's National Team from 2006-12, including the program's gold-medal performances at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2012 London Olympics. He can discuss the outlook for this year's team, which includes Marquette alumnus Jimmy Butler. Interview requests can go to Scott Kuykendall, Associate Athletic Director, Communications at scott.kuykendall@marquette.edu or (414) 288-4794.

Dave Tamburrino
Director of Development, Corporate and Foundation Relations
Cell: (414) 731-4525
david.tamburrino@marquette.edu
Mr. Tamburrino is a two-time Olympic speedskater (1994, 1998) who recently qualified to compete at the upcoming Olympic Trials after a 17-year break from the sport. Now 43, he'll be competing against athletes half his age. Tamburrino can discuss the commitment it takes to compete in the Olympics.

David Leigh
Clinical Assistant Professor, Exercise Science
Office: 414-288-6078
david.leigh@marquette.edu
Professor Leigh is in the Wisconsin Athletic Trainers Hall of Fame. He has been a trainer at numerous Pan Am and Goodwill Games, and has previously volunteered at the Olympics, along with his daughters. He can talk about training athletes at the highest levels and about what it's like to be with the athletes at the Olympics.

Medical, Social and Economic Issues in Brazil

Dr. Lauriann Klockow
Clinical Assistant Professor, Biomedical Sciences
Office: 414-288-6560
laurieann.klockow@marquette.edu
Dr. Klockow has a Ph.D. in biomolecular chemistry and is an instructor for courses in pathology and human microbiology. She can discuss a wide array of diseases and viral infections, including the Zika virus, as well as the ways disease is spread.

Dr. Brooke Mayer
Assistant Professor, Civil, Construction & Environmental Engineering
Office: 414-288-2161
brooke.mayer@marquette.edu
Dr. Mayer is an expert in water quality and treatment issues, and can discuss concerns about water-based events at the Olympics.

Dr. Jessica Rich
Assistant Professor
Department of Political Science
Office: (414) 288-2166
jessica.rich@marquette.edu
Dr. Rich has researched political activism and mobilization in Brazil. Her book manuscript, State-Driven Activism: The Politics of AIDS in Brazil, analyzes a new form of political mobilization in Latin America. She can provide perspective on Brazil's social issues.

Dr. Abdur Chowdhury
Chair and Professor of Economics
Office: (414) 288-6915
Cell: (262) 853-8759
abdur.chowdhury@marquette.edu
Dr. Chowdhury is a former chief economist of the United Nations Economic Commission in Europe and an expert in international finance, and global economic issues. He can discuss the challenges and opportunities of Brazil's emerging economy.

Sports Law and Marketing

Matt Mitten
Executive Director, National Sports Law Institute
Office: (414) 288-7494
matt.mitten@marquette.edu
Professor Mitten is a member of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and served as one of nine international arbitrators working on-site to resolve competition-related disputes at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia. He can talk generally about legal issues related to the Olympics, and the dispute-resolution process, although he can not comment on the details of specific cases that come up during the games.

Dr. Felicia Miller
Assistant professor of marketing
Dr. Miller is an expert on sports marketing, branding and endorsements and can discuss how all those elements play out during one of the world's most-watched events. Please contact the Office of Marketing and Communication to arrange an interview with Dr. Miller.