Judges

I am a dedicated engineer in the utility industry with a strong focus on power system protection and asset reliability. Outside of his professional role, Leroy enjoys spending time with friends and embracing the outdoors. I am an avid gardener and passionate cook, often blending these interests by preparing meals with ingredients grown in my own backyard. Whether hiking, entertaining, or experimenting in the kitchen, I values creativity, connection, and continuous learning.

Bashir Agboola is Chief Technology Officer and Vice President at the Hospital for Special Surgery, a top hospital for bone and joint care. He has led technology projects at major hospitals, won multiple leadership awards, and often speaks about tech and leadership. Bashir holds degrees in Computer Science, Economics, and Business, and serves on several advisory boards.

Lauren is front-end focused software engineer with over ten years of experience building websites at companies large and small. She started coding as a hobby during high school and is thankful for the chance to share her enthusiasm with today’s students.

Stephen brings over 20 years of experience in high-tech, spanning public and private sectors. As CIO for PA's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, he modernized systems and implemented innovative solutions. Later, as SVP of Technology at Member's 1st Federal Credit Union, he led mobile banking initiatives and digital transformation. Now at AWS as a Customer Solution Manager, he leverages his diverse background to help organizations navigate cloud transformation and drive innovation.

Joshen began his career at the YMCA of Greater New York, delivering leadership, civic engagement, and STEM based programming to Middle School and High School aged youth. He is passionate about providing youth with opportunities to create a brighter future for themselves. Outside of work, you can find Joshen binge-listening to podcasts or chasing after his fluff-ball pet chinchilla!

 

I am an accomplished engineering & design leader with over 15 years of experience in tech in NYC. I most recently worked in engineering leadership at Adobe, building and maintaining cloud infrastructure to enable artists across the world. In 2023, I left big tech to focus on AI and related projects. Since then, I’ve been making art, writing, and making apps with friends.

I am an Assistant Professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, and I lead an infectious disease research group that studies how our immune systems respond to tuberculosis and other bacterial infections. I am passionate about fostering creativity in science, training the next generation of STEM professionals, and finding new ways to use technology in science and education.

Robert is a strategy and product leader at COMPLY, the industry standard for regulatory software and services for the financial services. Before that, Robert graduated from Harvard College with a degree in Applied Math and Economics with a secondary degree in Computer Science, and he is attending MIT to pursue his MBA starting this Fall. In his free time, Robert loves to adventure, play sports, and discuss his favorite television shows.

Vivian Boyd is a Supervisor in Con Edison’s Manhattan Substation Electric Construction department, overseeing major electrical installations that keep NYC powered. She has been with the company for nearly six years; Vivian began as a college intern before joining the company's rotational program, the Leadership Development Program. Prior to Con Edison, Vivian attended Mercy University, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Business Honors program with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administrations with a concentration in Marketing. Outside of work, she paddles with Con Edison’s dragon boat team, the Electric Dragons, and explores the world through travel.

Corinne is a researcher with a PhD in Educational Communication and Technology from New York University. Corinne's research interests include applying quantitative methods to understand human behavior, impact evaluation, and examining the affordances of immersive technology for education and entertainment.

I have a background in Psychology and transitioned to education once I fell in love with curriculum development. I enjoy supporting students' growth, learning, and opening doors to potential career paths. By connecting mentors with our Design League students, they can see themselves as UX/UI designers, Software developers, etc. to further diversify the STEAM career fields.

I loved technology when I was a little kid! I would go to yard sales and buy remote controls just to open them up and investigate the chip inside. As I went through school, though, my chances to study technology and computer science was limited. I do not remember a single thing that I learned between grades K and 12. This affected me in college.

I chose to study biology and pre-med since I had experience with them, knew that I enjoyed them, and knew that I could do well in them. I was intrigued by CS, but I didn't want to take a class, risking thousands of dollars in tuition on a subject that I didn't know if I would be good at or enjoy. I distinctly remember seeing the CS majors' projects, programming robots to play music and dance around the floor, and wishing that I could do that...yet I never did.

Fast forward a few years, and I am a high school science teacher. A friend tells me about an opportunity to be trained in something called Exploring Computer Science, an introductory high school curriculum for students with little-to-no background in CS. This is perfect! I can provide my students with the opportunities that I wish I had in school. I ended up creating a pathway for students to take ECS, AP CSP, and AP CSA, but I knew that I had done all I could at that school.

I left to become a professional developer. I now spend my time designing and implementing trainings for K-12 teachers who want to start teaching CS, either as a standalone class or integrated into another subject area. And I still occasionally run coding events for kids at my local library.

Jonah Brucker-Cohen, Ph.D. is an artist, writer, and Associate Professor at Lehman College / CUNY. His work has been exhibited at venues such as SFMOMA, Canadian Museum of Contemporary Art, MOMA, ICA London, Whitney Museum of American Art, Palais du Tokyo, Tate Modern, Ars Electronica, Transmediale, and more. His writing has appeared in publications such as WIRED and Make and his Scrapyard Challenge workshops have been held in over 15 countries on 5 continents.

Franziska Brunner is a Swiss researcher based in Vienna, with a focus on ethical tech and inclusive design. Dr. Brunner has contributed to projects on AI ethics, security, and education, including Austria’s national FAIR-AI initiative and http://aurigin.ai/ in Zürich. She supports uxcon vienna’s leadership team and manages international research programs for professors at Fulbright. She’s honored to support youth innovation at Emoti-Con as a mentor and judge.

Isabela Caetano is a Network Consultant Engineer at IND Technology, supporting the implementation of cost-effective, proactive maintenance technology to mitigate wildfires and enhance network reliability and safety on high-voltage systems globally. Previously, she was a Data Scientist at IBM, working on machine learning and analytics for industrial applications. Isabela is also a former Emoti-Con Crowd Favorite winner and Mouse Design League alum.

Kenneth is a passionate connector and lifelong learner based in NYC. I love bringing people together, mentoring, and tackling challenges with optimism. Big fan of tacos, Brooklyn adventures, and free learning opportunities. Always ready to collaborate, share ideas, and spread positive energy.

Lauren is a software engineer focused on writing compilers for quantum computers. She graduated with a double major in Physics and Computer Science from UC Berkeley.

I have a Bachelors in Human Resources and an MBA in Industrial Organizational Psychology, both from Baruch College. I love to travel and have been to many different countries, including Kenya on a safari. I love animals and have a Great Dane named Tank. He is 5 years old and 120 pounds. 

Karina is a Technical Program Manager at Microsoft, working on emerging technologies in one of the company’s few startup and incubation ecosystems, with a focus on quantum and science-driven AI. She’s passionate about mentoring students from underrepresented backgrounds in overcoming socioeconomic barriers to pursue dream careers. A returning Emoti-Con volunteer and current Mouse Classroom Mentor, Karina is excited to uplift the next generation of technologists.

Niamh Claffey is a Senior Product Designer based in NYC with 10 years of experience creating intuitive, user-centered digital products. At ADP, she leads design for complex B2B tools, focusing on usability, accessibility, and scalable systems. She’s passionate about simplifying complexity, mentoring designers, and collaborating cross-functionally. Originally from Ireland, Niamh brings a global perspective and a thoughtful, strategic approach to every project.