These experts from the UW–Madison faculty and staff have agreed to comment on breaking news, ongoing developments and trends in their areas of expertise. If you need help arranging interviews, email the Office of Strategic Communication.
Experts on the news
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Barry Burden on: Wisconsin's 2026 Elections and the Political Landscape
As Wisconsin's election season accelerates, key legislative races are drawing increased attention for what they could mean for the balance of power in the state Capitol. The campaigns also offer an early look at voter priorities, turnout dynamics, and the issues likely to shape the November election.
Barry Burden, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Elections Research Center at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, studies elections, voting behavior, political campaigns, and election administration.
He can speak to:
- The legislative races and political trends to watch as Wisconsin's election season unfolds.
- What candidate recruitment, campaign strategy, and voter engagement reveal about the state's political environment.
- How Wisconsin's election results could shape policymaking and provide insight into broader national political trends.
Recent Media:
Wisconsin Watch- July 2026
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Andrea Gilmore Bykovskyi on: Lucidity in Dementia
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin Madison and Mayo Clinic are leading the nation's first research network dedicated to studying unexpected moments of lucidity in people with advanced Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The NIH funded initiative brings together researchers across the country to better understand these episodes and their implications for patient care and brain science.
Andrea Gilmore Bykovskyi, Associate Professor in the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and co director of the Lucidity in Alzheimer's and Dementia Network, researches dementia care, late stage Alzheimer's disease, and episodes of unexpected lucidity.
She can speak to:
• What episodes of lucidity may reveal about brain function in advanced dementia.
• How the new national research network will advance the scientific understanding of these rare events.
• What this research could mean for patients, caregivers, and future dementia care.Recent Media:
The New York Times- July 2026
