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.
UW–Madison experts available to discuss importance of vaccinations amid new cases of infectious disease
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services confirmed Monday, February 2 that a Dane County resident has measles, a highly contagious and potentially deadly disease. This comes after another recent case in Waukesha County the previous week.
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James Conway
Dr. Conway is a Professor in the Divisions of Infectious Diseases and Global Pediatrics and a leading expert in pediatric infectious diseases and immunization programs.
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Nasia Safdar
Dr. Safdar is the Dr. Dennis G. Maki Endowed Faculty Fellow in the Division of Infectious Disease within the Department of Medicine and the associate dean for clinical trials at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and a leading expert in infectious disease and healthcare-associated infections.
Experts on the news
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Derek Clinger on: President Trump's Call to Nationalize U.S Elections
President Trump’s call for the federal government to “nationalize” U.S. elections has reignited debate over who controls election administration and the constitutional limits on presidential authority. The proposal raises fundamental questions about the balance of power between states and the federal government, the role of Congress, and how courts have historically treated efforts to centralize election control.
Derek Clinger, senior staff attorney with the State Democracy Research Initiative at the University of Wisconsin Law School, is an expert in election administration, voting rights, and federal–state election disputes. He has been quoted in national coverage by ProPublica and Business Times on federal involvement in state election systems and court rulings restricting unilateral election actions.
He can speak to:
• What the Constitution actually says about state controls elections.
• Why courts have consistently rejected attempts to impose nationwide election rules without congressional action.
• What legal challenges would likely follow any effort to centralize election administration at the federal level.Recent Media:
ProPublica- February 2026
Business Times- January 2026
