Top Stories:

• Associate Professor of Public Health Asal Mohamadi Johnson, PhD, was quoted in the Foster Folly News article, “Joe Biden Says Florida Should Close Bars, Restaurants and Gyms to Slow COVID Spread,” on Jan. 27. “We cannot continue business as usual because nothing is usual or normal about the current status,” Johnson said. “The closure of bars, restaurants and gyms is just the least that can be done.”

• Associate Professor of Marketing Scott Jones, PhD, was quoted in the South Bend Tribune article, “NCAA tournament’s two looming questions: Will fans get to attend? Do they even want to?” on Jan. 21. Jones discussed the uncertainty regarding fan attendance at upcoming NCAA athletic events. “We really don’t have a good pulse on everyone’s comfort,” he said. “With COVID, there is a whole other piece there with safety and concerns about health.”

• Professor of Psychology Christopher Ferguson, PhD, was mentioned in the Upgrade Magazine article entitled, “Aggressive video games are not a risk factor for mental health problems,” on Jan. 14.

• Associate Professor of Philosophy Melinda Hall, PhD, was quoted in the article, “How to Explain Biden’s Gender Discrimination Order—in Terms Simple Enough for Kids to Understand,” at Parents.com on Jan. 26.

• Law Professor Ciara Torres-Spelliscy wrote a Jan. 25 analysis piece for the Brennan Center for Justice called, “Follow the Money Behind the Capitol Riot.” It was also picked up by the Election Law Blog.  

• Law Professor Ciara Torres-Spelliscy was quoted in The Guardian on Jan. 23 for a piece called, “‘Gondor has no king’: pro-Trump lawsuit cites Lord of the Rings.” This was picked up by Yahoo! News affiliates around the world, including India, Ireland and Singapore, and the International Business Times.   

Other News:

• Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science Boris Litvin, PhD, published the article, “What Jean-Jacques Rousseau can teach us about Twitter,” at NewStatement.com on Jan. 20.

• Adjunct Law Professor Irene Sullivan and 3L student Bradley P. Hawkins coauthored, along with adolescent psychologist Adele Solazzo, a Jan. 29 guest column for the Tampa Bay Times called, “It is foster kids who really deserve ‘pardoning.’”

• Law Professor Andrew Appleby coauthored an article in Tax Notes State called, “State Tax Credit Issues Raised by SALT Cap Workaround Legislation.” The article was featured on the TaxProf Blog.  

• Law Professor Peter F. Lake published an essay for The Chronicle of Higher Education’s The New Risk Management report.  

• Law Professor Luz Nagle was mentioned in a Jan. 28 blog on CircleID called, “Freedom of Expression Part 4: Censorship, COVID-19, the Media and Assault on Freedom of Expression.” 

• Law Professor Rebecca C. Morgan wrote the following blogs for the Elder Law Prof Blog: Jan. 24, “Loneliness is Still A Factor;” Jan. 25, “SNFS and Vaccination for COVID;” Jan. 26,” Medically Vulnerable and in Prison;” Jan. 28, “GAO Report on State Reporting of Elder Abuse,” and Jan. 29, “ABA BIFOCAL Latest Issue Released.”

• Law Professor Ellen Podgor posted the following blog to the White Collar Crime Prof Blog: Jan. 29, “Corporate Criminal Reform.”

Alumni News:

• Alumnus John Westervelt was posthumously featured in the Daily Commercial article, “Umatilla to name football field in honor of John Westervelt,” on Jan. 26. Umatilla High School in central Florida recently named their football field after the late former principal, teacher and coach.

• Lakeland lawyer James “Jim” Headley was honored with the Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award for 2021 for the 10th Judicial Circuit (Hardee, Highlands and Polk counties), according to The Lakeland Ledger. 

• National insurance services practice group Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP announced the addition of six attorneys to its Fort Lauderdale and Miami offices, including law alumna Jaclyn Rios. 

• Law alumnus Acton Wayne Chalu, 72, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 17, according to an obituary in The Macon County News.  

• Law alumna Victoria Jones is expanding and renovating the Generation of Trust law offices at 433 76th Ave. in St. Pete Beach to coincide with the five-year anniversary of her purchase of the firm, which was formerly known as Jones and Hitt.  

• Law alumnus Eddie Stephens published the 2021 edition of Stephens’ Squibs Florida Family Law Case Updates.