Hosts
Daniel Rothbart Director, PiVoT Peace Lab
Dr. Daniel Rothbart is the Druscilla French Chair in Conflict Analysis and Resolution at the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, where he specializes in the prevention of mass violence, ethnic conflict, and the ethics of conflict resolution. He also serves as co-director of the Program on Prevention of Mass Violence. Dr. Rothbart has authored or edited ten books and began his academic career in philosophy after earning his Ph.D. from Washington University in St. Louis.
Randy Lioz Director, DeLTA | Manager, PiVoT Peace Lab
Randy Lioz is a master’s student at the Carter School and has worked to bridge political divides with Braver Angels, and more recently at Mason’s Political Leadership Academy and Conflict Resolution Youth Summit, and joins the Carter School as an adjunct professor in 2026, teaching conflict resolution techniques and practice. Randy holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Duke University and an MBA from the University of Michigan.
Mary Tanner Director, Ambassador Program, NICD | Program Coordinator, DeLTA
Mary Tanner is a master’s student at the Carter School. She also directs programs at the National Institute for Civil Discourse, helping strengthen civility and bipartisanship in Congress. With degrees in International Law and Diplomacy (BA) and Education and Training (MSc), Mary brings global experience from the UK, Israel/Palestine, and Denmark to her work in trust-building and conflict management.
Free Speech, Hate Speech and Online Radicalization
Solon Simmons Director, The Narrative Transformation (TNT) Lab
Dr. Solon Simmons is Professor and Director of the Narrative Transformation Lab at George Mason University’s Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution. A sociologist and leading scholar of narrative in peace and politics, Solon develops tools that help bridge divides through storytelling and dialogue. He has served as Interim Dean of the Carter School, Vice President for Global Strategy at Mason, and is currently President of the Faculty Senate. His courses explore the craft of peace writing, conflict theory, narrative, and discourse, and his research informs practical applications in both justice-oriented activism and collaborative peacebuilding.
Angel Eduardo Senior Writer and Editor, FIRE
Angel Eduardo is the Senior Writer and Editor at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and the creator of the rhetorical concept of “star-manning.” He also serves as board chair for the Foundation Against Intolerance & Racism (FAIR) and sits on the advisory boards of Atheists for Liberty and the Institute for Liberal Values. Through his work, Angel promotes a culture of free speech, open inquiry, and good-faith dialogue across political and ideological lines. His philosophy is summed up in six words that guide his public engagement: Be kind; we’re all first drafts.
Victoria Gurevich Senior Researcher, PERIL
Dr. Victoria Gurevich is a Senior Researcher at the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab (PERIL) at American University. Her research focuses on public opinion toward ideologically motivated violence in the United States and how perceptions differ across ideological motives. She holds a PhD in Political Science from The Ohio State University and previously worked with the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships (CP3). Her broader interests include radicalization, extremism, violence prevention, and post-conflict rehabilitation—bridging academic research with practical strategies to reduce polarization and promote democratic resilience.
Babak Bahador Director, Media and Peacebuilding Project
Dr. Babak Bahador is an Associate Professor of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University and Senior Lecturer at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. Since 2006, his teaching and research have focused on media, peace and conflict, and political communication. Babak leads GW’s Media and Peacebuilding Project, which bridges academic research and peacebuilding practice, and is co-editing a book on media’s role in peacebuilding. He previously chaired the International Communication section of the International Studies Association and founded Peace News, a media initiative covering peace efforts in conflict zones. Before academia, he founded and led a Toronto-based market research firm acquired in 2006.
Civic Health and Campus Initiatives
Paul Brown Director, Civic Innovation Center
Paul Brown is Associate Clinical Professor and Director of the Civic Innovation Center at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy. He co-leads the Maryland Democracy Initiative and directs the university’s 2024 U.S. Election Assistance Commission grant to recruit student poll workers. Paul also co-developed the Big Ten Collaboration: Democracy in the 21st Century, uniting universities to advance civic education and engagement. His work leverages the strengths of a flagship public university to foster youth civic participation, strengthen democratic institutions, and promote innovative forms of deliberative democracy at local and national levels.
Pizza & Perspectives
Keith Allred Executive Director, NICD
Dr. Keith Allred is the Executive Director of the National Institute for Civil Discourse (NICD), which builds the nation’s capacity to engage differences constructively. He founded CommonSense American, NICD’s flagship program that unites Republicans, Democrats, and Independents to identify broadly supported policy solutions—successfully championing four bipartisan bills in Congress. Before leading NICD, Keith was an Associate Professor at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and began his career at Columbia University. He holds a PhD in Organizational Behavior and Social Psychology from UCLA and a BA in American History from Stanford. A fifth-generation Idahoan, Keith also grew up on his family’s cattle ranch and once ranked eighth worldwide in the National Cutting Horse Association.
Maury Giles CEO, Braver Angels
Maury Giles is the CEO of Braver Angels, the nation’s largest volunteer-led, cross-partisan organization dedicated to depolarizing America. For more than two decades, Maury has led and scaled mission-driven organizations and built high-trust teams across ideological divides. A longtime Braver Angels volunteer, he previously moderated Red/Blue workshops and spearheaded bipartisan legislative initiatives through Braver Politics. Earlier in his career, Maury worked as a journalist and political strategy consultant, advising candidates, associations, and nonprofits across five continents. He studied at BYU and New Mexico State University, where he now chairs the College of Arts & Sciences National Advisory Board and serves as an adjunct professor.
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