Voting: Democracy in Action - Combatting Misinformation and Propaganda

Voting: Democracy in Action looks at democracy, civic engagement, and the power we the people have in strengthening our collective community. Join the Prince George’s County Office of Human Rights and the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System as this critical series continues with a special event on combatting misinformation and propaganda.

Featuring returning special guests Dr. David Crocker, Dr. Stacy Kosko, and Theo Dolan, we will talk about why it’s important to notice misinformation and propaganda and how to spot and combat them.

Dr. David A. Crocker is a Research Professor Emeritus at the University of Maryland’s Thurgood Marshall School of Public Policy. He came to UMD in 1993 and retired in 2019. He specializes in international development ethics, sociopolitical philosophy, transitional justice, democracy , and democratization. He was the founder and first president of the International Development Ethics Association. In 2010, Crocker received the Landmark Award "given for exceptional long-term achievements in support of international life at the University of Maryland." In 2018, he received the School of Public Policy’s award for “Social Impact.”

Dr. Stacy J. Kosko is an Associate Research Professor in the Department of Government and Politics and Director of the College Park Scholars International Studies program at the University of Maryland.  Her research and consulting work focuses on development ethics, human rights, and marginalized populations, while her teaching and pedagogy emphasize experiential and project-based learning.  She spent the 2017-2018 academic year as a Fulbright Scholar in Moldova. At UMD, she co-founded the Experiential Learning Working Group.  She is a fellow of the Human Development and Capability Association, Vice President of the International Development Ethics Association, and Vice Chair of the Board at the Center for Values in International Development. 

Theo Dolan leads the strategy and development of IREX’s Learn to Discern programs. These programs build citizens’ resilience to manipulative information in more than 20 countries, including Ukraine. Theo has worked at the intersection of media, technology, and peacebuilding for nearly 20 years, mainly by designing and managing complex peacebuilding projects and analytical studies in conflict-affected countries. He is currently the Global Lead for Innovation in Countering Disinformation at IREX, leading the strategic growth of IREX’s Learn to Discern digital resilience approaches.