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. 

Francis Neely

Francis Neely

Associate Professor of Political Science

Office Phone: (415) 338-1522

Email: fneely@sfsu.edu

Francis Neely is an expert on American politics and political psychology, including how voters process political information, form attitudes and identify with political parties and candidates.

Areas of Expertise:

Parties and partisanship

Election systems

Instant-runoff voting

Highest Degree:

Ph.D., Political Science, State University of New York


Bill Nichols

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

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

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

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

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

Highest Degree:

Ph.D., History, El Colegio de Mexico


Gary Pahl

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

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

Highest Degree:

Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry