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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.
October 2024
Debate Winner
Sciences: Josh Erlich, Professor of Physics
Debaters
Humanities: Jessica Paga, Associate Professor of Classical Studies
Social Sciences: Jennifer Stevens, Associate Professor of Psychological Sciences
Devil's Advocate: Josh Gert, Leslie and Naomi Legum Distinguished Professor of Philosophy
Judge: Trey Mayo, Assistant Dean for Graduate Studies, Arts & Sciences
[The Raft Debate paused during the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by a hiatus until 2024]
March 2019
Debate Winner
Devil's Advocate: Michael Halleran, Provost and Professor Classical Studies
Debaters
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
Judge: Virginia Torczon, Dean of Graduate Studies and Research
March 2018
Debate Winner
Natural and Computational Sciences: Doug Young, Associate Professor Chemistry
Debaters
Humanities: Fabricio Prado, Assistant Professor History
Social Sciences: Jaime Settle, Assistant Professor Government
Devil's Advocate: Pieter Peers, Associate Professor Computer Science
Judge: Virginia Torczon, Dean of Graduate Studies and Research
October 2016
Debate Winner
Humanities: Elena Prokhorova, Associate Professor Russian Studies & Film/Media Studies
Debaters
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
Debate Winner
Social Sciences: Peter Vishton, Associate Professor, Psychology
Debaters
Natural and Computational Sciences: Christopher Del Negro, Professor, Applied Science
Humanities: Katherine Preston, Professor, Music
Devil's Advocate: Christopher Freiman, Assistant Professor, Philosophy
October 2014
Debate Winner
Devil’ s Advocate: Andreas Stathopoulos, Professor, Computer Science
Debaters
Natural/Computational Sciences: Patricia Vahle, Associate Professor, Physics
Humanities: Charles J. Palermo, Associate Professor, Art and History
Social Sciences: Rob Hicks, Professor, Economics
Judge: Virginia Torczon, Dean of Graduate Studies and Research
October 2013
Debate Winner
Natural/Computational Sciences: Dan Cristol, Professor, Biology
Debaters
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
Debate Winner
Humanities, Anne Charity Hudley, Professor, Community Studies, English, and Education
Debaters
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
Debate Winner
Social Sciences, Andrew Fisher, Associate Professor, History
Debaters
Humanities,Vassiliki Panoussi, Associate Professor, Classical Studies
Natural/Computational Sciences, Larry Leemis, Professor, Mathematics
Devil's Advocate, Pamela Eddy, Associate Professor, Education
Judge, Laurie Sanderson, Dean of Graduate Studies and Research
September 2010
Debate Winner
Devil's Advocate, Scott Dodson, Associate Professor, Law
Debaters
Humanities, Richard Palmer, Professor, Theatre, Speech & Dance
Natural/Computational Sciences, Lisa Landino, Associate Professor, Chemistry
Social Sciences, Lee Kirkpatrick, Associate Professor, Psychology
Judge, Laurie Sanderson, Dean of Graduate Studies and Research
September 2009
Debate Winner
Natural/Computational Sciences, David Armstrong, Professor, Physics
Debaters
Humanities, Giulia Pacini, Associate Professor, Modern Languages and Literatures
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
Debate Winner
Devil’s Advocate, Laura Heymann, Assistant Professor, Law
Debaters
Humanities, Steve Holliday, Associate Professor, Theatre, Speech, and Dance
Natural/Computational Sciences, Mark Forsyth, Associate Professor, Biology
Social Sciences, Danielle Dallaire, Assistant Professor, Psychology
Judge, Laurie Sanderson, Dean of Graduate Studies and Research
October 2007
Debate Winner
Natural/Computational Sciences, Deborah Steinberg, Professor of Biological Sciences, VIMS
Debaters
Humanities, Robert Scholnick, Professor of English and American Studies
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
Debate Winner
Devil’s Advocate, Emmett Duffy, Professor of Biological Sciences, VIMS
Debaters
Humanities, Scott Nelson, Associate Professor of History
Natural/Computational Sciences, Deborah Bebout, Professor of Chemistry
Social Sciences, Clay Clemens, Professor of Government
Judge, Hans C. von Baeyer, Chancellor Professor of Physics, Emeritus
October 2005
Debate Winner
Natural/Computational Sciences, Hugh Ducklow, Professor of Biological Sciences, VIMS
Debaters
Humanities, Ron Schechter, Associate Professor of History
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
Debate Winner
Natural/Computational Sciences, John Wells, Dean of the School of Marine Science and Director of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Debaters
Humanities, Monica Potkay, Associate Professor of English
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
Debate Winner
Natural/Computational Sciences, Chuck Bailey, Associate Professor of Geology
Debaters
Humanities, Jennifer Taylor, Associate Professor of Modern Languages
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
Debate Winner
Humanities, Anne Rasmussen, Associate Professor of Music
Debaters
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