top of page
Global Studies Seminar Exhibition
International High School
Paterson, New Jersey
Meet Our Judges​
Ana Maria Quispe
Blogger - Health, Hunger, Envronment and Human Rights
Ms. Quispe graduated from Montclair State University in 1998 with a BS in Human Ecology Dietetics and Health Studies. She promotes vegan ancestral diets, for physical, mental and spiritual health. She works towards environment and social justice. She offers related education conferences and teaches therapeutic food preparation which is especially directed to indigenous communities to preserve their rich ancestral biodiversity.
Abraham Lopez
Executive Director - Governor's Office
www.state.nj.us/state/programs/dos_program_chprd.html
Mr. Lopez is a graduate of New Jersey City University. He was appointed by Governor Christie in 2011 as the Executive Director of the New Jersey Center for Hispanic Policy, Research and Development. Prior to holding this position, he served the Governor's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs as Director of Hispanic and Faith Based Affairs.
Gina Vergel
Assistant Director of Communications - Fordham University
Ms. Vergel currently lives in Manhatten, as a media relations officer for Fordham University's Office of Marketing and Communications. She is an award-winning journalist with nearly a decade of media experience in higher education, newspapers and radio. Prior to joing Fordham, Ms. Vergel was a reporter for the Home News Tribune, a staff writer for The Ridgewood News and is currently the New York Editor for the London-based music magazine , Sounds and Colours.
Senator Nellie Pou
Legislative District 35
www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/bio.asp?Leg=335
Senator Pou is the primary sponsor of the Human Trafficking Prevention, Protection, and Treatment Act (Senate No. S2239). This Act broadens the definition of and penalties for human trafficking, putting New Jersey in the forefront of protecting victims of sex trafficking and labor trafficking. She is a graduate of Kean College and Rutgers University. A native of Paterson, NJ, she served the city and Passaic county throughout her political career. She was elected to serve the Senate in 2012.
Hector C. Lora
Freeholder - Passaic County
Freeholder Lora was born and raised in the city of Passaic. He is the son of two hard working immigrant parents who today are full American citizens. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Liberty University with a Bachelors of Science and has continued his education at the College of St. Elizabeth in Morristown, NJ pursuing a Masters in Healthcare administration. Hector currently serves as Public Health and Patient Liaison at St. Mary’s. He has also been an active volunteer serving as a counselor at both the Boys and Girls Club of Passaic on Hudson St. and Camp Union of Union Baptist Church.
Dr. Aref Assaf
PhD - Political Science and International Law
Dr. Assaf has a PhD in Political Science from Columbia Univeristy. He is currently serving as a member of the New Jersey Governor's Ethnic Advisory Coucil. He is an advocate for human rights. Dr. Assaf is the founder and president of American Arab Forum (AAF), a non-partisan think tank dedicated to advocating a positive image of the Arab community. He is also the founding president of the NJ Arab American Heritage campaighn which was signed into law by Governor Corzine, creating the commision in 2008 and the former president of the Denville Rotary Club.
Human Rights for All
Free Trade and Globalization
Genetically Engineered Foods
Gabriel Man
Researcher - Princeton Univeristy
Mr. Man is a graduate of the University of British Columbia at Vancouver and is currently completing a PhD at Princeton University. His disciplines are in Physical Sciences. As a scientist, he has a keen interest in the impact of genetically engineered foods and the foreign genes inserted into their genetic codes. His main concern is that the genes from one food that are inserted into another food may cause severe allergic reactions and that plants may be less resistant to some pests and more susceptible to others.
Water Management Crisis
Rhys Searles
Relationship Coordinator - The Water Project
Mr. Searles is a member of The Water Project. This project is currently focused on building a community of volunteers and raising money to construct water wells and rain water collection and filtration systems in communities throughout Burkina Faso, Kenya, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sudan, and Uganda. They have also previously funded projects in Cameroon, Haiti, and India.He works directly with supporters to answer questions and cultivate an experience that will grow your passion for the poor, knowing how you're impacting the world
bottom of page