Faculty Experts
From the discovery of new planets to the work of noted criminologists, SF State offers a wide variety of scholars who are the most distinguished in their fields. This directory identifies academics who possess insight and knowledge of diverse subjects and who are willing to work with journalists whenever possible. The faculty experts directory is compiled by the Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications.
If you need immediate assistance finding an expert, please call (415) 338-1665 or email pubcom@sfsu.edu.
Bill Nichols
Professor Emeritus of Cinema
Office Phone: (415) 338-6192
Email: billnichols99@gmail.com
Bill Nichols is an expert in contemporary American and foreign film. He can comment on trends and issues in cinema, as well as historical film movements. A widely-published author, Nichols has written 10 books about various aspects of cinema during his career.
Areas of Expertise:
Recent U.S. and foreign films
Trends in American cinema
Post-war American film
Highest Degree: Ph.D. Theater Arts, University of California, Los Angeles
Wade Nobles
Lecturer and Professor Emeritus of Africana Studies
Office Phone: (415) 338-6806
Email: drnobles@sfsu.edu
Wade Nobles is an authority on black family values and culture in the U.S.
Areas of Expertise:
Black culture in the U.S.
Highest Degree: Ph.D., Psychology, Stanford University
Kathy O'Donnell
Professor of Marketing
Office Phone: (415) 338-2281
Email: odonnell@sfsu.edu
Kathy O'Donnell is an expert in advertising and can comment on a variety of advertising issues, from Super Bowl ads to shopping behavior.
Areas of Expertise:
Advertising
Shopping behavior
Coolness
Highest Degree: Ph.D. Business, Kent State University
Kazunori Okada
Professor of Computer Science
Office Phone: (415) 338-7687
Email: kazokada@sfsu.edu
Kazunori Okada has broad research interests in the areas of intelligent computing: computer vision, pattern recognition, machine learning, artificial intelligence and data mining. He has been active in the research fields of medical image analysis, statistical data analysis, cognitive vision and face recognition.
Areas of Expertise:
Intelligent computing
Medical image analysis
Face recognition technology
Highest Degree: Ph.D., Computer Science, University of Southern California
Abdiel Onate
Professor Emeritus of History
Office Phone: (415) 338-6177
Email: onate@sfsu.edu
Abdiel Onate is an expert on the modern economic, political and intellectual history of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Areas of Expertise:
Modern history of Latin America
History and culture of Mexico
Modern history of the Caribbean, including Haiti
Highest Degree: Ph.D., History, El Colegio de Mexico
Ozgur Ozluk
Associate Professor of Decision Sciences
Office Phone: (415) 338-2214
Email: ozgur@sfsu.edu
Ozgur Ozluk is an expert in spreadsheet engineering and applications of mathematical programming, which he is examining in relation to planning in oil refineries. He is available for interviews in Turkish.
Areas of Expertise:
Spreadsheet engineering
Revenue management practices
Applications of mathematical programming
Highest Degree: Ph.D. Operations Research, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Gary Pahl
Professor Emeritus of Anthropology
Office Phone: (415) 338-3004
Email: gwpahl@gmail.com
Gary Pahl is an expert on the archeology of China's walled settlements and on ancient writing systems.
Areas of Expertise:
Archaeology of China
Archaeology of California
Maya civilization
Highest Degree: Ph.D., Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles
Peter Palmer
Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Office Phone: (415) 338-1288
Email: palmer@sfsu.edu
Peter Palmer has 30 years of experience in organic pollutant monitoring and trace metal analysis and 12+ years of experience serving as a science advisor for the FDA.
Areas of Expertise:
Monitoring toxic substances (heavy metals, pesticides, etc.) in air, water, food, and consumer products
Highest Degree: Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry