People

Program DIRECTOR

LEONIDAS (LEO) KIRBY

Leo Kirby comes to NHSEB with prior experience as a philosopher, a video game developer, and an educator. A graduate of the University of North Carolina’s Department of Philosophy, Leo has been involved with the National High School Ethics Bowl for many years. Leo believes in using normative thinking as a teaching tool to promote understanding and inclusivity. He’s interested in the intersection between ethics and action and how our beliefs shape our day-to-day lives.

Executive Committee

Advisory Board

  • Rhiannon Boyd

    Director, JK-12 Capstones, The Collegiate School

  • Mark Doorley, Ph.D.

    Director, Ethics Program, Villanova University
    Organizer, Delaware Valley High School Ethics Bowl

  • Alex Feldt, Ph.D.

    Chair, Case Advisory Committee
    Distinguished Lecturer, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

  • Jonathan Finnerty

    Instructor, Middlesex College

  • Daniel Gellasch

    Outreach Coordinator, Hoffberger Center for Ethical Engagement
    Organizer, Maryland High School Ethics Bowl

  • Venus Kent, M.B.A.

    Program Coordinator, Cincinnati Ethics Center
    Regional Organizer, Cincinnati High School Ethics Bowl
    Divisional Organizer, NHSEB Northeastern Division

  • Julie Piering, Ph.D.

    Richard Wood Professor, Northern Arizona University
    Assistant Director, Institute for Public and Professional Ethics in Leadership
    Organizer, Arizona High School Ethics Bowl

  • Alex Richardson, PH.D.

    Associate Director, Janet Prindle Institute for Ethics
    Regional Organizer, Indiana High School Ethics Bowl
    Divisional Organizer, NHSEB Central Division

  • Walter Riker, PH.D.

    Organizer, West Georgia High School Ethics Bowl
    Professor, Philosophy, University of West Georgia

  • Sean Riley, Ph.D.

    Executive Director, Gravitas: A Global Extension of the Stony Brook School
    Regional Organizer, NHSEBBridge @ Gravitas
    Coach, The Stony Brook School (NY)

  • Kyle Robertson, J.D. Ph.D.

    Chair, Rules Council

    Managing Director, Center for Public Philosophy
    Lecturer, Philosophy, University of California, Santa Cruz
    Regional Organizer, Northern California High School Ethics Bowl
    Divisional Organizer, NHSEB Western Division

  • Kristen Fuhs Wells, M.B.A.

    Chair, Committee on Equity, Access, and Community

    Executive Director, Association for Practical and Professional Ethics (APPE)

ABOUT THE ADVISORY BOARD

OVERVIEW AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The NHSEB Advisory Board is responsible for counseling the National High School Ethics Bowl Director and Executive Committee on all aspects of the program, including (but not formally limited to): the direction and design of NHSEB’s annual case sets, the administrative and pedagogical design of NHSEB’s rules, regulations, and procedures, and work toward NHSEB’s commitment to ensuring that the Ethics Bowl activity is accessible to all high school students, regardless of their location, socio-economic background, or other demographics. Each member of the Advisory Board will be assigned to a working committee each year.

The NHSEB Advisory Board is composed of fifteen representatives from among NHSEB Regional Organizers, Coaches, the newly-formed Student Advisory Council and other partners and stakeholders on an ex officio basis. These members are appointed at the discretion of the NHSEB Director and Executive Committee, and will be appointed for terms of varying lengths: 

  • Coaches: One year, non-renewable, by appointment. Terms run July 1-June 30

  • Organizers/Partners: Two years, renewable, by appointment. Terms run July 1-June 30

  • Ex Officio: Indefinite terms by appointment.

2023-2024 Advisory Committees

Student Advisory Council

  • Aahelie Battacharya

    Cupertino High School, CA
    2023-2025

  • Cailin Bohm

    Campbell High School, GA
    2023-2025

  • Bridget Flynn

    The Wheeler School, RI
    2024-2026

  • Vishnu Vanapalli

    North Carolina School of Science and Math at Durham, NC
    2024 - 2025

Established in 2022, the NHSEB Student Advisory Council is responsible for providing the National High School Ethics Bowl Director and Executive Committee with student feedback, ideas, and counsel on relevant aspects of the NHSEB program. The NHSEB Student Advisory Council (SAC) is composed of four representatives from among the students participating in the NHSEB program across the United States. One representative from each of NHSEB’s four Divisions will be selected as the result of a competitive application process occurring early each Fall. Prior experience with the NHSEB program is a prerequisite for eligibility (i.e., students must be at least in their second year of high school and program participation in order to apply). Applications will be made available on August 1 of each year, and must be submitted in full by August 31. 

After their selection, Council members will be appointed at the discretion of the NHSEB Director and Executive Committee, and will be appointed for terms of up to two years (i.e., typically a second-third year, or third-fourth year sequence). Terms on the Student Advisory Council will run from September 15 to August 31. The Student Advisory Council will be chaired and coordinated by NHSEB’s Undergraduate Program Assistant. The Chair will serve as the primary point of contact for the business of the Council, and a liaison between the NHSEB Executive Committee and Advisory Board. 


ABOUT THE STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL