Our amazing team of partners, donors, student leaders and volunteers is committed to helping teens recognize and fight tech-fueled disinformation. We take our convictions and turn them into action.
Seeing a need for energetic, nonprofit work in this area, we incorporated The Disinformation Project in 2020 to raise awareness and explore sensible solutions tailored to the specific needs of teenagers.
We empower teens to recognize and fight online disinformation by raising awareness and exploring tailored solutions and mitigation strategies across multiple disciplines.
Matt Verich recently retired from the US Navy and founded the Project after watching his teenage kids engage online. Already familiar with how disinformation is used by state actors, he was motivated to get involved after observing how technology trends, politics, great power competition, the pandemic, and social media habits have conspired to create the perfect storm for online disinformation.
Allison Verich teaches in a Spanish immersion school in Fairfax County Virginia. She has committed her life to education and improving her community. As Chief Content Officer she creates engaging material to help teens learn about disinformation and its negative consequences so they are empowered to develop solutions.
Emil Thomann is the Chief Talent Officer for the Project. In this role he leads recruitment efforts and advises the Board on personnel matters. He is a Naval officer.
Rachel Greenspan is Chief Media Officer for the project. Rachel is employed as a systems engineer by the MITRE Corporation and has experience conducting research and analyses in support of counter-disinformation projects at the national level, as well as in her graduate level coursework through Johns Hopkins University.
Anthony retired in 2018 after 36+ years in the National Security community. Tio served in uniform as an officer in the Active-Duty Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard, performing as a Missile Launch Officer, Intelligence Officer and C-130 Navigator. As a civilian he served with the Central Intelligence Agency and 21 years
Anthony retired in 2018 after 36+ years in the National Security community. Tio served in uniform as an officer in the Active-Duty Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard, performing as a Missile Launch Officer, Intelligence Officer and C-130 Navigator. As a civilian he served with the Central Intelligence Agency and 21 years as an International Security Analyst at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
Nikki Hinshaw is an international education and public diplomacy professional experienced in media literacy education, especially through a global lens. She expands on her work helping train international students and journalists on countering disinformation through supporting the Disinformation Project chapters and students. Nikki earned
Nikki Hinshaw is an international education and public diplomacy professional experienced in media literacy education, especially through a global lens. She expands on her work helping train international students and journalists on countering disinformation through supporting the Disinformation Project chapters and students. Nikki earned her Master's degree in Global Communication from The George Washington University where she focused her studies on the intersections between media, education and democracy.
Elizabeth Herington is a Naval Officer. She has long been involved in civic education programs, including volunteering through Harvard University while she was in college there. She found herself interested in disinformation after seeing firsthand how state actors use disinformation through her job in the Navy. She also volunteers with various local organizations in her home in DC.
Anna Verich is a junior at West Potomoc High School and founding member of the first chapter of The Disinformation Project. She also serves as student advisor on the Board of Directors. In this capacity she represents the needs and perspectives of our teen leaders and members
Connie Matthews Reynolds is a cybersecurity expert and entrepreneur. She founded and leads ReynCon Educational Services and Training (REST) and is actively involved in her community as a mentor and leader.