VCU news

By Mike Porter and Frances Dumenci

Experts at Virginia Commonwealth University are available to speak with the media about a variety of topics related to the 2014 Winter Olympics, which take place Feb 7 to Feb. 23 in Sochi, Russia.

n        Steven Danish, Ph.D., professor of psychology and social and behavioral health, is a registered sport psychologist for the sports medicine division of the U.S. Olympic Committee. He can discuss the psychology of competing at the Olympics, as well as the mental preparedness needed by Olympic athletes.

"All you can do is focus on doing your personal best – you have no control over your competitor's performance or what your fans, friends or family wants for (from) you or says to you," Danish said.

n        Kelly O'Keefe, professor of brand strategy in the VCU Brandcenter, can speak in detail on a variety of branding topics from how countries can use the Olympic opportunity to rebrand themselves internationally or polish their images to how athletes can build their personal brand while in the spotlight.

n        Carrie W. LeCrom, Ph.D., interim executive director of the Center for Sport Leadership, can discuss sport leadership, global sport issues, international development through sport and sport sociology.

n        Marcus Messner, Ph.D., assistant professor at VCU's Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture, is an expert on the growing influence and adoption of social media. He is available to discuss social media and the role it is expected to play at this year's Olympics.

n        William Pelfrey Jr., Ph.D., associate professor and program chair of homeland security and emergency preparedness,was part of the national security evaluation team at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta in 1996 and researches terrorism. He can discuss Olympic security issues, possible terrorist attacks, response to terror attacks and the coordination of international law enforcement agencies to investigate attacks. 

“It looks like the Russians are working diligently to develop secure facilities. They have an advantage over the United States in that their police and investigative units are much more closely connected to the military,” Pelfrey said. “Olympic security is extraordinarily difficult given the multiple venues, international nature of the audiences and complex schedule of events. Additionally, Russia has been the target of internal and external terrorist activities over the past few years.

n        Donna W. Reamy, associate professor and interim chair of the Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising, co-authored “The Global Impact of the Fashion Industry and Media on Body Image.” She can discuss the Olympic uniform as a status symbol, how the designs must incorporate form and function and how spectators at home can buy uniform-inspired apparel.

“The Olympics have fashion throughout the games beginning with the opening ceremony and ending with the closing ceremony. From athletes wearing Ralph Lauren’s basic functional all-American look to ice skaters’ glamorous outfits designed by home sewers and haute couture fashion designers such as Vera Wang, form, function and style will be seen, worn and – thanks to social media – we will see it in a split second," Reamy said.