Lara M. Brown, Ph.D., works as an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at Villanova University in Pennsylvania. Her research interests include national elections, presidential aspirants, congressional incumbents and political scandals.

Ms. Hamel also worked for four years on Capitol Hill where she served in various press positions. Hamel managed state-based press outreach, was an adviser on agriculture issues, and executed a communications plan that advanced the passage of the toughest identity theft law in U.S. history. In addition to her deep relationships with local, state, national and global media, Hamel has worked with the editorial boards of all the nation's leading daily newspapers, including The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, and The Wall Street Journal, and with specialty entertainment and news programs such as Oprah, Lou Dobbs Tonight and 60 Minutes. Her global communications credits include work with BBC, CNBC Asia, and CNN International.

Prior to returning to academia, she worked as an education policy and public affairs consultant. Dr. Brown also served in President William J. Clinton's administration at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. In 2001, she earned her Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles.