Hamilton in the National News: July 2025 – June 2026
Hamilton College faculty, staff, and alumni continued to make their mark this year in the media as thought leaders, with major national media outlets, as well as prominent higher education publications, seeking their expertise on a wide range of topics.
The pioneering research and creative work of Hamilton’s faculty and staff not only push the boundaries of their disciplines but also provide valuable insights into some of the world’s most critical challenges. Media coverage of these accomplishments amplifies Hamilton’s reputation as a leader among liberal arts colleges.
Faculty in the News
Spotlight on Economics
On American Public Media’s Marketplace, Professor of Economics Ann Owen discussed the effects the labor market and inflation might have on Federal Reserve decisions in September in “Inflation rises, putting the Fed in a tricky spot with rates,” and she referenced her class on monetary policy in addressing the issue of the Federal Reserve minutes in “What's Next for interest rates? Look to the Fed minutes” in October. In December she addressed the “Latest CPI report signals cooling inflation, with key caveats” also for Marketplace.
Professor of Economics Stephen Wu commented in “Economists Are Studying the Slowing Job Market—and Feeling It Themselves” in the Wall Street Journal in January. “A Good Bet: Gambling Companies Should Pay You to Exercise,” appearing on Yahoo, presented research by Wu and Assistant Professors of Economics Jeff Cross and Cody Couture that looked at what happened to physical activity after states legalized sports betting. And in The Street’s “Sports Betting Ensnares Young Men with ADHD,” Wu was interviewed about how sports betting can be uniquely triggering for some people—especially when apps are always within reach.
Professor of History Maurice Isserman was called upon numerous times to discuss the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), of which he was a founding member.
As Zohran Mamdani rose as the leading candidate for mayor of New York City, Isserman spoke about the DSA’s current political leanings in The Atlantic’s “The Mainstreaming of Zohran Mamdani.” In October he spoke with ABC News about the evolution of the party for “Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani could be New York City's next mayor. Here’s how it happened.” He continued the conversation with ABC News in November when he addressed “What is democratic socialism and how Zohran Mamdani rose to power.”
On a separate subject related to Isserman’s book The Winter Army, he commented on “The Military Roots of Ski Mountaineering and Biathlon: These winter sports share a unique historical legacy” for The History Channel in February.
Assistant Professor of Literature and Creative Writing T Kira Madden received a significant amount of media attention for her debut novel, Whidbey. She was profiled in Elle magazine in an article titled “T Kira Madden Is Not the Dark Person You Might Expect” in March
and in a segment by CBS New York in April titled “Author T Kira Madden talks about Whidbey.” Poets & Writers Magazine profiled her in “Crime and Compassion: A Profile of T Kira Mahealani Madden” in its March/April issue.
Associate Professor of Philosophy Alexandra Plakias discussed awkwardness and how to handle such situations in Vox’s “How to survive awkward encounters” to help those preparing for the holiday season in November. She offered additional guidance on surviving the season in Slate’s “You’re Not the Only One Who Wants to Crawl Out of Their Skin at Holiday Parties. An Awkwardness Researcher Explains Why” in December.
Professor of History Ty Seidule, who served as vice chair of the U.S. Naming Commission, continued to be tapped by media outlets for comment on related issues including by the Associated Press in September for “West Point restores Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s portrait.” He wrote an essay, “Hegseth subverts Congress by ordering racist Confederate monument’s return to Arlington,” for The Hill in August.
Broadcasters also sought out Seidule for his expert commentary on the topic, including three CNN segments in August. Seidule’s appearance on “Pentagon reinstalling Robert E. Lee portrait at West Point” was followed by NPR’s national news program Here & Now interview with Seidule for “'Cruelest, most hateful monument I've ever seen': Military historian on Confederate statue's return” in September and another segment in October.
Upon the release of his co-authored book, A Promise Delivered - Ten American Heroes and the Battle to Rename Our Nation's Military Bases, Seidule spoke with political consultant James Carville and journalist Al Hunt on a Politico segment titled “Duty, Honor, Country with Brigadier General Ty Seidule.” He also spoke on “The Importance of Who We Honor when Naming Military Bases” on the PBS program “Story in the Public Square” in November. In a San Antonio Express News article that appeared across the country and on Yahoo titled “Why retired generals are staying silent about Trump: They're scared,” he said, "I will not be silent. But many others fear retribution. I fear the consequences of staying silent."
On other military-related issues, Seidule appeared on CNN News’ “Military Strikes on Iran” in July 2025 and later in 2026 in January, “State Department After Maduro Arrest,” and in March “War With Iran” and “General Ty Seidule.”
David Wippman
President Emeritus David Wippman continued to co-author multiple op-eds each month for The Hill throughout the year as well as letters to the editor published in the New York Times, Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal. Most of the essays also appeared on Yahoo and MSN, greatly expanding their reach. Here is a sampling for the month of February:
Why ‘might makes right’ is wrong in today’s world order
The Hill, Feb. 1
Universities can’t be neutral. They should try anyway.
The Hill, Feb. 8
Don’t underestimate the UN — Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ is no substitute
The Hill, Feb. 15
Victims who sue ICE are likely to lose — they should sue anyway.
The Hill, Feb. 22
Academic independence must be protected. Here’s how.
Washington Post, Feb. 12
Staff in the News
Students in the News
Evan Fernando ’29 wrote four letters to the editor on a variety of topics, all of which were published in the Wall Street Journal’s Future View. They include:
Alumni in the News
In this Democracy Docket conversation with Minority Leader of the House Jeffries, “Hakeem Jeffries on Gerrymander War: ‘The Empire State Will Strike Back’,” Marc Elias ’90 talked about attending Hamilton College as part of establishing himself as a New Yorker.
Sarah Maas ’08 was interviewed in March about her newest projects on a segment of ABC’s "Good Morning America," titled “Sarah J. Maas reveals new 2 'ACOTAR' books are on the way.”
In this May Fortune profile, “Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon had 2 jobs as a teenager while also juggling 3 sports. Now, he’s telling Gen Z to stop wasting time,” David Solomon ’84 discussed his Hamilton education.
The American Spectator profiled Thomas Tull ’92 in “The Quiet Man” in May 6.
Gillian Zucker ’90, president of business operations of the Los Angeles Clippers, talked about her time at Hamilton in this Fortune interview, “Fortune Leadership Next: Gillian Zucker's Blueprint for Modern Sports Entertainment,” in July.
Great Names in the Media
Campus News on the National Stage
Men’s Head Ice Hockey Coach Rob Haberbusch was celebrated in “D-II/III Men’s Ice Hockey USCHO Coach of Year – Haberbusch takes Continentals to the top” - U.S. College Hockey Online (USCHO), April 1
Hamilton’s Philosophy Camp, directed by Professor of Philosophy Russell Marcus, was the subject of “A Summer Camp Where Professors Are the Focus” published by the Chronicle of Higher Education in July.
Dean of Engaged Education KinHo Chan discussed the ALEX program’s new focus on encouraging students to try new things and risk the possibility of failure in “How One College Aims to Help Students Fail Better” published by Inside Higher Ed in July.
Posted July 10, 2026
