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. 

William Issel

William Issel

Professor Emeritus of History

Office Phone: (415) 338-2250

Email: bi@sfsu.edu

William Issel studies the history of the U.S. since 1900 and is an expert on the role of ethnicity, race, religion, and politics in American cities, particularly the city of San Francisco.

Areas of Expertise:

Modern U.S. urban history

Religion and politics in U.S. history

Civil liberties and civil rights in U.S. history

Highest Degree:

Ph.D., American Civilization, University of Pennsylvania


Russell Jeung

Russell Jeung

Professor and Chair of Asian American Studies

Office Phone: (415) 338-7586

Email: rjeung@sfsu.edu

Jeung is an expert in Asian American Christianity and secularism; he also studies nonreligious Chinese in the United States. He is the author of "Sustaining Faith Traditions: Race, Ethnicity, and Religion Among the Latino and Asian American Second Generations" (NYU Press, 2012) and "Faithful Generations: Race and New Asian American Churches" (Rutgers University Press, 2005). He also co-produced the video documentary, "The Oak Park Story" (2010), about his organizing work in the Latino and Cambodian communities of Oakland, California. Currently, Jeung is working on a memoir about life in East Oakland.

Areas of Expertise:

Asian American communities

Community issues

Religion

Highest Degree:

Ph.D., sociology, University of California, Berkeley


Mark Johnson

Mark Johnson

Professor of Art

Office Phone: (415) 338-1017

Email: gallery@sfsu.edu

Mark Johnson is the director of the Fine Arts Gallery on the SF State Campus and during his career has curated art shows and written books detailing past and present Asian American art.

Areas of Expertise:

Asian American Art History

California and Bay Area art history

Highest Degree:

M.F.A., University of California, Berkeley,


Karen Johnson-Brennan

Karen Johnson-Brennan

Professor Emerita of Nursing

Office Phone: (415) 338-2315

Email: kcjb@sfsu.edu

Karen Johnson-Brennan is an expert on simulation equipment and training techniques for nursing students.

Areas of Expertise:

Nurse training and technology

Highest Degree:

Ed.D., University of California, San Francisco


Venoo Kakar

Venoo Kakar

Assistant Professor of Economics

Office Phone: (415) 405-3461

Email: vkakar@sfsu.edu

Venoo Kakar is an economist with an expertise in macroeconomics, monetary policy, forecasting, macro-finance/banking and applied econometrics. Her research focuses on (1) the impact of monetary policy on the economy; and (2) exploring links between education, economic demography and economic growth. She is currently working on discrimination in the "sharing economy" of the housing market as well as on making google search data useful for better forecasting.

Areas of Expertise:

Macroeconomics

Monetary Policy

Forecasting

Highest Degree:

Ph.D. University of California, Riverside


Rachele Kanigel

Rachele Kanigel

Professor of Journalism

Office Phone: (415) 338-3134

Email: kanigel@sfsu.edu

Rachele Kanigel is an expert on ethics in journalism, student press and multi-media journalism.

Areas of Expertise:

Newspaper and magazine editorial practices

Ethics in journalism

Highest Degree:

M.S., Journalism, Columbia University School of Journalism


Santhi Kavuri-Bauer

Santhi Kavuri-Bauer

Associate Professor of Art

Office Phone: (415) 338-6511

Email: santhi@sfsu.edu

Santhi Kavuri-Bauer is an expert in South Asian art and South Asian Art history. Kavuri-Bauer's research focuses on the preservation and representation of South Asian architectural monuments, and the implications of these activities on the construction of social identities, national memory, and political protest.

Areas of Expertise:

Asian Art

South Asian History

Art History

Highest Degree:

Ph.D., Art, University of California, Los Angeles


Sherry Keith

Sherry Keith

Professor Emerita of Social Science

Office Phone: (415) 338-1604

Email: skeith@sfsu.edu

Sherry Keith is an expert on international economic policies, including policies of the IMF, World Bank, World Trade Organization and United Nations, and how they affect women.

Areas of Expertise:

International economic policy and women

Women and education

Women and environmental issues

Highest Degree:

Ph.D., International Development Education, Stanford University