Franklin D. Gilliam Jr., dean of the UCLA School of Public Affairs and professor of political science, studies racial and ethnic politics, the mass media, and electoral behavior.

Much of his research focuses on public policy issues in minority communities and on minority political empowerment at the local and national level, as well as on the changing nature of congressional constituencies in the U.S.

As founding director of UCLA's Center for Communications and Community, Gilliam supervises research on the influence of television news coverage and campaign advertising on the public's understanding of race, crime and politics.

Gilliam also serves as associate vice chancellor for community parnterships and has built a strong program of academic civic engagement through the Center for Community Partnerships' UCLA in LA initiative. 

A political analyst for KCAL-TV in Los Angeles, he has published widely on minority politics and comments frequently on national, state and local politics.

 

Video: Gilliam discusses voters, race and the presidential election

Video: Gilliam discusses UCLA United Way Campaign

Video: Gilliam discusses Obama campaign and Rev. Jeremiah Wright