UNO Faculty Share Expertise on Impacts of COVID-19

It's been nearly three months since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was reported in the United States and while much has changed since then, UNO has continued to serve as a resource to media outlets, both locally and nationally, looking to make sense of this crisis.

With dozens of faculty and staff experts on campus, UNO has helped provide guidance and reassurance to countless individuals across the country on topics such as tracking the spread of COVID-19, impacts on natural disaster relief, how to fight disinformation online and what canceling major local events such as the College World Series means for the Omaha economy.

These are just a few examples of the ways UNO experts are helping us make sense of the world during this time.

Are you a faculty member who wants to share your expertise as a resource for news outlets? Email the University Communications media relations team at unonews@unomaha.edu with your information.

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Phani Tej Adidam, Professor of Marketing and Entrepreneurship

College of Business Administration

As Nebraskans, and others, began rushing to stores to stock up on supplies in early March, Adidam spoke with local NBC affiliate WOWT, looking ahead to the potential for increased prices on certain items and how that may impact buying habits.

Kate Cooper, Assistant Professor of Interdisciplinary Informatics

College of Information Science & Technology

In the early stages of COVID-19, faculty in the College of IS&T, including Cooper, were using big data analytics to try and predict how the virus may spread more widely. Cooper spoke with local ABC and CBS affiliates to talk about the process and how it can help scientists better understand the virus.

Julie Masters, Professor of Gerontology

College of Public Affairs and Community Service

One of the most vulnerable populations at risk for infection by COVID-19 are the elderly. Masters spoke with national news outlet Vox Media to discuss why social factors are just as important as biological factors when it comes to high-risk populations like the elderly.

Adam Tyma, Professor of Communication

College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media

Much like other crises, there is a lot of information circulating online, through word of mouth and in the news. It can make it tough to spot fact from fiction, but Tyma provided some tips to local FOX affiliate KPTM on how to fight disinformation and keep yourself informed.

Chris Decker, Professor of Economics

College of Business Administration

As the sports world was stunned by the cancelation of all major sports leagues and March Madness, one cancelation that hit truly close to home was the cancelation of the College World Series. Decker spoke with NET about the economic impact - upwards of $70 million - that the move was likely to cause.

Samantha Montano, Assistant Professor of Emergency Management

College of Public Affairs and Community Service

Under normal circumstances, spring doesn't just mean blooming trees and growing flowers - it also means increasingly dangerous storms that can devastate communities. But what happens when volunteers are needed to rebuild communities or people are left homeless and forced to seek refuge in a shelter, but the CDC says to stay home and stay away from others?

Montano recently provided her expertise on the impacts COVID-19 would have on emergency relief with the New York Times.

Matt Hale, Associate Professor of Cybersecurity

College of Information Science & Technology

With many forced to work from home, the safety net of business-level cybersecurity efforts and peace of mind that comes with a dedicated information technology team is - at best - strained. Hale told the Omaha World-Herald that is why it is so important, now more than ever, for individuals to be extra cautious of suspicious links and emails, to avoid being the victim of a cyberattack.