Judges & Mentors

The 2024 WMGIC x NATO Countering Disinformation Challenge took place on November 1, 2024.

Please complete this form if interested in serving as a judge or mentor

Judges & Mentors

Judges and mentors are our invaluable assets. As professionals in the real world, our judges and mentors bring their diverse perspectives and experiences to the competition, and help our participants further consider the feasibility, creativity, and other aspects of their proposal. Every year, our participants gain insightful feedback when interacting with the judges and mentors, and our judges and mentors also obtain valuable experience while they volunteer their time to inspire the next generation of international leaders. WMGIC also connects them with like minded-professionals in their fields throughout the event as they support the emerging talents.

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What does it mean to be a judge?

Judges are our evaluators. Being a judge is a unique opportunity to interact with the next generation of global leaders and problem solvers. As a judge, you will listen to teams of participants presenting their innovative solution to the existing disinformation issue in your professional field. A judge asks valuable questions that help them further consider the feasibility, creativity, and other aspects of their proposal. Then, you will draw on your expertise to assess the team’s efforts using a set criteria, ultimately declaring a winner. You encourage these bright, creative, and intelligent undergraduate students, while getting inspiration from their passion and innovative mindsets. Maybe there is an idea you can put into practice, with attribution of course. You may even be their light in the tunnel, inspiring them to continue in this field.

Click to view a brief video on what it means to be a judge

Judges Responsibilities:

Listen to approximately an entire streams’ final presentations on zoom.
- Participants will be arranged into several streams during the competition this year. Each stream represents a realm that needs innovative solutions on countering disinformation.
Ask teams valuable questions that help them further consider the feasibility, creativity, and other aspects of their proposal.
Assess the team’s efforts using a set criteria that would be made public with the case document before the competition begins.
Discuss with the other judges in the stream to declare a stream winner.
Judging rubric sample:

Click to view a sample judging rubric from the 2022 Challenge

Time commitment for this year's judges:

11:20AM - 1:00PM EDT on November 1, 2024.

Click to view a sample schedule from the 2023 Challenge

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What does it mean to be a mentor?

Mentors are our expert coaches who share their diverse perspectives and experiences with students. In the course of 6 hours, a mentor will spend approximately 15 minutes with each student team, listening to their pitch and then providing feedback before rotating to the next cohort. A mentor will meet with teams to aid in their development of a solution to this challenge’s case topic. The experience you impart on them as a mentor is crucial in their understanding of the field and in their final presentation. A mentor is not the authority on everything – you will speak to what you know and where you feel you can provide value. You will encourage these bright, creative, and intelligent undergraduate students, while giving constructive critiques and points they may wish to consider. The role of a mentor is an existing way to engage and shape incredible young leaders who may one day be alongside you.

Click to view a brief video on what it means to be a mentor

Mentor Responsibilities:

Listen to teams from the same stream on Zoom to aid in their development of a solution to this challenge's case topic.
- Participants will be arranged into several streams during the competition this year. Each stream represents a realm that needs innovative solutions on countering disinformation.
Spend approximately 30 minutes (within 2 rounds) with each student team, listen to their pitch and provide feedback before rotating to the next cohort.

Time commitment for this year's mentors:

8:30 - 11:00AM EDT on November 1, 2024.

Click to see a sample schedule from the 2023 Challenge

WMGIC x NATO is pleased to announce the following distinguished judges and mentors for the 2024 Countering Disinformation Challenge:


	Carsten Alvén Public Diplomacy Division Analyst, NATO
	Alex Anvari Finance and Technology Executive, Retired, Alpine Ski Racing Coach, Kirkwood Ski Education Foundation
	Alek Barović PhD Candidate, University of Padova, Columnist and Civic Activist
	Dr. Judit Bayer Associate Professor, Budapest Business University
	Elina Beketova Democracy Fellow, CEPA
	McKenna Black Analyst, Public Diplomacy Division, NATO HQ
	Lenka Bobuľská Associate Professor, PhD., Vice Dean for International Relations, Development And Quality Assurance, Department of Ecology, Faculty of Humanities and Natural Sciences, University of Prešov
	Eric Brown Senior Research Scientist, Global Research Institute, William & Mary
	Chris Burdett Department of Political Science, Virginia Commonwealth University
	Fred Caprio CLU, Founder and CEO, The Caprio Group
	Dr. Daryl Chamberlain Transitioning Army Officer, DoD Skillbridge Program, Whole of Government Center of Excellence, William & Mary
	Maj. Nicholas M. Chopp Deputy Media Chief, U.S. Army Europe and Africa
	Joseph Chretien US Army Lieutenant Colonel (Retired)
	Leah Cole National Security Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School
	Nathan Colvin Visiting Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations
	LTC Anthony D'Amato Lieutenant Colonel, Virginia Air National Guard
	Michael Dick Colonel, USMC (Ret.), Clinical Associate Professor and Director, Lewis B. Puller, Jr. Veterans Benefits Clinic, William & Mary Law School; Director, Law School Office of Military and Veteran Affairs
	Ben Dubow Chief Technology Officer, Omelas
	Robin El Kady Data Scientist, Data Insights and Information Threats, NATO HQ
	Dr. Miles Murphy Evers Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Connecticut
	Matt Fine Senior Manager, Cyber & Strategic Risk, Deloitte
	Kathryn H. Floyd Director, Whole of Government Center of Excellence, William & Mary
	Sergiy Gnatyuk Professor, National Aviation University, Kyiv, Ukraine
	Seda Goff Founder/General Partner, Flintlock Capital
	Włodzimierz Gogołek Professor, University of Warsaw
	Beata Górka-Winter Assistant Professor, University of Warsaw
	Kira Graves President, Via Verde LLC
	Albulena Halili Research Associate-Assistant Professor, Max van der Stoel Institute, South East European University
	Vladimíra Hladíková Assistant Professor, Faculty of Mass Media Communication, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, Slovakia
	Anna Hurajová Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Mass Media Communication, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, Slovakia
	Jekaterina Iljina EU Advisor, Estonian Ministry of Defence
	John Jacobs Director, Atlantic Forum
	Dr. Katharine W. Jennings Senior Manager, Life Sciences, Noblis, Inc.
	Dr. Steven Jones Associate Professor of Political Science, Director, Global Studies Certificate Program, Georgia Gwinnett College
	Bernie Kaussler Professor of Political Science, James Madison University
	Barbara Keller University Lecturer, Aalto University
	Alba Kruja Associate Professor, Dean, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Epoka University
	Dr. Arthur PB Laudrain Research Associate in Cyber Diplomacy, King's College London
	Maj. Gen. Charlie Lyon United States Air Force, Retired, Adjunct Lecturer, William & Mary
	LTC Jahara Matisek Military Professor, U.S. Naval War College
	Dr. Blagoj Nenovski Assistant Professor, University "St. Kliment Ohridski"
	Katie Pelletier Associate Director, Whole of Government Center of Excellence, William & Mary
	Diana Poudel Junior Research Fellow, University of Tartu, Estonia
	COL Dobril Radoslavov State Expert, Ministry of Defence, Bulgaria
	Dr. Elizabeth Radziszewski Associate Research Scientist, University of Maryland
	LTC Krisjand Rothweiler U.S. Army, Chief of Joint Intelligence Doctrine and Concepts, Joint Staff
	John A. Scherpereel Professor, Political Science, James Madison University
	Analise Schmidt Doctoral Researcher, Institute of Political Science Louvain-Europe, Catholic University of Louvain
	Shana Serrano International Affairs & Strategic Planner Functional Community Manager
	Dr. Goran Shibakovski Associate Professor and Dean, Faculty of Applied ITMIR, University St. Paul the Apostle, N. Macedonia
	Bruno Reynaud de Sousa Lecturer of International Law, University of Minho
	Sabrina Spieleder Head of Information Environment Assessment, NATO Public Diplomacy Division
	Allison Stanger Professor, Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society, Harvard University
	Anthony Stefanidis Professor of Data Science, William & Mary
	Biljana Risteska Stojkoska Professor, University Ss. Cyril and Methodius, Skopje, North Macedonia
	Shane Szarkowski Editor in Chief, Diplomatic Courier
	Kristina Vezbergaitė Leader, Klaipeda, Lithuanian Business Women's Network, Associate Partner, JurisConsultus
	Jay Walker Managing Partner
	Michael Widener Former CIA Senior Operations Officer
	Roger Yee Managing Partner, outcome/one

Due to privacy concerns, not all judges and mentors are publicly listed.

Judge Testimony

"WMGIC is a place to see bright minds tackle wicked problems with creativity, empathy, and wit. I consistently leave WMGIC inspired by the talent, hard work, and passion of the participants."

- Meredith Perry (USAID)
WMGIC I, II, IV, V, VI, & VII Judge

Mentor Testimony

"As a development professional who works at the intersection of innovation and social impact financing for some of our world's biggest development challenges, I am continually blown away by the level of professionalism, informed and thoughtful problem-solving, and the creative and implementable solutions that the students at WMGIC come up with and present each year."

- Heather Lane Chauny
WMGIC III, IV & V Mentor

Judges & Mentors

Judges

Mentors

2024 Judges & Mentors

WMGIC x NATO is pleased to announce the following distinguished judges and mentors for the 2024 Countering Disinformation Challenge:

Judge Testimony

Mentor Testimony