Judges & Mentors

The WMGIC x NATO Countering Disinformation Challenge was held on November 3, 2023.

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.

ExpandSection Expand

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. This year's streams are:
  - Russia-Ukraine War
  - Artificial Intelligence
  - Public Health
  - Sexism/Gender-Based Violence
  - Human Rights
  - Terrorism
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 3, 2023.

Click to view a sample schedule from the 2022 Challenge

ExpandSection Expand

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. This year's streams are:
  - Russia-Ukraine War
  - Artificial Intelligence
  - Public Health
  - Sexism/Gender-Based Violence
  - Human Rights
  - Terrorism
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 3, 2023.

Click to see a sample schedule from the 2022 Challenge

WMGIC x NATO is pleased to announce the following distinguished judges and mentors for the 2023 Countering Disinformation Challenge

Judges and Mentors for the 2023 WMGIC x NATO Countering Disinformation Challenge
	Alex Anvari Advisor
	Fabio Biondi Lieutenant Colonel ITA Air Force, ITA MoD CYBER COMMAND
	Eric Brown Senior Research Scientist, Global Research Institute, William & Mary
	Mateusz Buczek Crypto SME
	Dr. Chris Burdett Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Virginia Commonwealth University
	Nathan Colvin U.S. Army Strategist / Public Policy Fellow, William & Mary
	Mike Descher Founder & CEO, MediaGroup
	Michael Dick Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.), Visiting Professor of the Practice, Director of Military and Veteran Affairs, Assistant Director, Center for International Law and Policy, Co-Director of the Puller Clinic, William & Mary Law School
	Charlie Foster Director, Office of Student Veteran Engagement, William & Mary
	Commander Jacob P. Galbreath Strategy Branch Chief, CCDCOE
	Commander Davide Giovannelli Law Researcher, CCDCOE
	Wlodzimierz Gogolek Professor, University of Warsaw
	Guillermo Colell Executive Director of Strategy & Roadmaps, Innovation & Capabilities Office, ManTech International
	Dr. Sean Hearne President and CEO, Southeastern Universities Research Association (SURA)
	Vladimira Hladikova Assistant Professor, Faculty of Mass Media Communication, University of SS. Cyril and Methodius
	Anna Hurajová Faculty of Mass Media Communication, University of SS. Cyril and Methodius
	John G.L.J. Jacobs Director, Atlantic Forum
	Katharine Jennings Senior Manager, Noblis
	Robin El Kady International Staff, NATO HQ
	Dr. Bernie Kaussler Professor, Political Science, James Madison University
	John Linantud Professor Political Science, Degree Coordinator of Political Science, University of Houston Downtown
	Dr. Birgy Lorenz Scientist, Tallinn University of Technology
	Elizabeth Losh Duane A. and Virginia S. Dittman Professor of English & American Studies, William & Mary
	Keith J. Masback Principal Consultant, Plum Run LLC
	Colonel Ben Miller CWMD & CBRNE Senior Manager, Noblis
	Beatriz Molina Sanchez Research Analyst, Strategic Communications Unit, Public Diplomacy Division, NATO HQ
	Dani Madrid-Morales Lecturer in Journalism and Global Communication, University of Sheffield
	Dobril Radoslavov State Expert, Defense Policy Directorate, Ministry of Defense
	Micaela Rodrigues-Rafael Public Diplomacy Support, NATO HQ
	David Rowe Professor of Political Science, Kenyon College
	John Scherpereel Professor of Political Science, James Madison University
	Daniel Shin Cybersecurity Researcher, Center for Legal and Court Technology's (CLCT), William & Mary Law School
	Jay Walker Managing Partner
	Roger Yee Managing Partner, outcome/one

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

2023 Judges & Mentors

WMGIC x NATO is pleased to announce the following distinguished judges and mentors for the 2023 Countering Disinformation Challenge

Judge Testimony

Mentor Testimony