Past Raft Debates
Each year, four William & Mary professors representing each of the major academic disciplines have taken their positions as castaways on an onstage desert island. The champions from past debates are in bold.
March 2019
Humanities: Annie Blazer, Associate Professor Religious Studies.
Social Sciences: John Lopresti, Assistant Professor Economics and Public Policy.
Natural and Computational Sciences: M. Drew LaMar, Associate Professor Biology.
Devil's Advocate: Michael Halleran, Provost and Professor Classical Studies.
Judge: Virginia Torczon, Dean of Graduate Studies and Research
March 2018
Humanities: Fabricio Prado, Assistant Professor History.
Social Sciences: Jaime Settle, Assistant Professor Government.
Natural and Computational Sciences: Doug Young, Associate Professor Chemistry.
Devil's Advocate: Pieter Peers, Associate Professor Computer Science.
Judge: Virginia Torczon, Dean of Graduate Studies and Research
October 2016
Humanities: Elena Prokhorova, Associate Professor Russian Studies & Film/Media Studies.
Social Sciences: Marcus Holmes, Assistant Professor Government.
Natural and Computational Sciences: Rowan Lockwood, Professor Geology.
Devil's Advocate: Ryan Vinroot, Associate Professor Mathematics.
Judge: Virginia Torczon, Dean of Graduate Studies and Research
October 2015:
Natural and Computational Sciences: Christopher Del Negro, Professor, Applied Science
Humanities: Katherine Preston, Professor, Music
Social Sciences: Peter Vishton, Associate Professor, Psychology
Devil's Advocate: Christopher Freiman, Assistant Professor, Philosophy
October 2014:
Natural/Computational Sciences: Patricia Vahle, Associate Professor, Physics
Humanities: Charles J. Palermo, Associate Professor, Art and History
Social Sciences: Rob Hicks, Professor, Economics
Devil’ s Advocate: Andreas Stathopoulos, Professor, Computer Science
Judge: Virginia Torczon, Dean of Graduate Studies and Research
October 2013
Natural/Computational Sciences: Dan Cristol, Professor, Biology
Humanities: John Riofrio, Assistant Professor, Hispanic Studies
Social Sciences: Thomas Linneman, Associate Professor, Sociology
Devil’ s Advocate: Sarah Day, Associate Professor, Mathematics
Judge: Virginia Torczon, Dean of Graduate Studies and Research
September 2012:
Humanities, Anne Charity Hudley, Professor, Community Studies, English, and Education
Natural/Computational Sciences, Oliver Kerscher, Associate Professor, Biology,
Social Sciences, Christine Nemacheck, Associate Professor, Government,
Devil's Advocate, Arthur Knight, Associate Professor, American Studies and English,
Judge, John Swaddle, Dean of Graduate Studies and Research
September 2011:
Humanities,Vassiliki Panoussi, Associate Professor, Classical Studies
Natural/Computational Sciences, Larry Leemis, Professor, Mathematics
Social Sciences, Andrew Fisher, Associate Professor, History
Devil's Advocate, Pamela Eddy, Associate Professor, Education
Judge, Laurie Sanderson, Dean of Graduate Studies and Research
September 2010:
Humanities, Richard Palmer, Professor, Theatre, Speech & Dance
Natural/Computational Sciences, Lisa Landino, Associate Professor, Chemistry
Social Sciences, Lee Kirkpatrick, Associate Professor, Psychology
Devil's Advocate, Scott Dodson, Associate Professor, Law
Judge, Laurie Sanderson, Dean of Graduate Studies and Research
September 2009:
Humanities, Giulia Pacini, Associate Professor, Modern Languages and Literatures
Natural/Computational Sciences, David Armstrong, Professor, Physics
Social Sciences, David Feldman, Professor, Economics
Devil’s Advocate, Jeremy Stoddard, Assistant Professor, Education
Judge, Laurie Sanderson, Dean of Graduate Studies and Research
October 2008:
Humanities, Steve Holliday, Associate Professor, Theatre, Speech, and Dance
Natural/Computational Sciences, Mark Forsyth, Associate Professor, Biology
Social Sciences, Danielle Dallaire, Assistant Professor, Psychology
Devil’s Advocate, Laura Heymann, Assistant Professor, Law
Judge, Laurie Sanderson, Dean of Graduate Studies and Research
October 2007:
Humanities, Robert Scholnick, Professor of English and American Studies
Natural/Computational Sciences, Deborah Steinberg, Professor of Biological Sciences, VIMS
Social Sciences, Matt Liebmann, Assistant Professor of Anthropology
Devil’s Advocate, JC Poutsma, Associate Professor of Chemistry
Judge, Laurie Sanderson, Dean of Graduate Studies and Research
February 2007:
Humanities, Scott Nelson, Associate Professor of History
Natural/Computational Sciences, Deborah Bebout, Professor of Chemistry
Social Sciences, Clay Clemens, Professor of Government
Devil’s Advocate, Emmett Duffy, Professor of Biological Sciences, VIMS
Judge, Hans C. von Baeyer, Chancellor Professor of Physics, Emeritus
October 2005:
Humanities, Ron Schechter, Associate Professor of History
Natural/Computational Sciences, Hugh Ducklow, Professor of Biological Sciences, VIMS
Social Sciences, Simon Stow, Assistant Professor of Government
Devil’s Advocate, Philip Daileader, Associate Professor of History
Judge, Hans C. von Baeyer, Director of the Graduate Center and Chancellor Professor of Physics
October 2004:
Humanities, Monica Potkay, Associate Professor of English
Natural/Computational Sciences, John Wells, Dean of the School of Marine Science and Director of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Social Sciences, Joel Schwartz, Director of the Charles Center and Associate Professor of Government
Devil’s Advocate, David Holmes, Professor of Religion
Judge, Hans C. von Baeyer, Director of the Graduate Center and Chancellor Professor of Physics
October 2003:
Humanities, Jennifer Taylor, Associate Professor of Modern Languages
Natural/Computational Sciences, Chuck Bailey, Associate Professor of Geology
Social Sciences, John Nezlek, Professor of Psychology
Devil’s Advocate, Eric Jensen, Professor of Economics
Judge, Hans C. von Baeyer, Director of the Graduate Center and Chancellor Professor of Physics
October 2002:
Humanities, Anne Rasmussen, Associate Professor of Music
Natural/Computational Sciences, Robert Welsh, Professor of Physics
Social Sciences, John Nezlek, Professor of Psychology
Devil’s Advocate, Tom Heacox, Associate Professor of English
Judge, Hans C. von Baeyer, Director of the Graduate Center and Chancellor Professor of Physics
