About Us
Improving professions, one judgment at a time
The Judgment Project develops and supports a global community of scholars and practitioners doing research and development in the area of professional in situ judgment across a wide range of fields.
These consequential judgment calls often need to happen in five seconds or less.
While core professional knowledge and skills are essential, leaders also must be able to draw upon their knowledge and skills in situ to read the context, analyze, act, and learn. Such critical events can shape institutions, careers, and the lives of those served.
Yet the use of simulated and assessed experiences—through which nascent professionals can learn to make in-the-moment judgments in contextually complex, emotionally charged, and personally unsettling situations—is highly uneven across professions and tends to produce research in silos. The Judgment Project bridges those professional worlds to enhance the work in each.
The Spencer Foundation, funder of our inaugural global conference, invests in education research that cultivates learning and transforms everyday lives.
The Judgment Project: Participants
Sudeep Bhatia
Associate Professor of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania Sudeep Bhatia investigates the computational and cognitive processes underlying human judgment and decision-making. Using mathematical modeling and behavioral experiments, he studies how individuals process information to reach conclusions in complex environments.
Arjen Boin
Professor of Public Institutions and Governance, Leiden University Arjen Boin is a leading scholar in crisis management, institutional leadership, and public administration. His research explores how public institutions and leaders navigate large-scale crises and the organizational structures that support effective governance.
Arnaud Chevallier
Professor of Strategy, IMD Business School Arnaud Chevallier serves as the Director of IMD’s Global Management Foundations program. His expertise lies in helping executives improve complex problem-solving skills and strategic decision-making through structured, analytical approaches.
Julie Jackson Cohen
Associate Professor, University of Virginia Julie Jackson Cohen focuses on teacher development and the policies influencing instructional quality. She contributes to the understanding of how educational leadership and classroom practices intersect to impact student learning outcomes.
Frédéric Dalsace
Professor of Marketing and Strategy, IMD Business School Frédéric Dalsace co-directs the Leading Customer-Centric Strategies program. His research and teaching emphasize the importance of customer-centricity and strategic partnerships in driving long-term organizational success.
Sara Dexter
Associate Professor of Education, University of Virginia Sara Dexter explores educational leadership and the integration of technology in teaching. She is interested in how school leaders facilitate professional development to improve instructional technology use in the classroom.
Phil Dickison
Chief Executive Officer, NCSBN Phil Dickison oversees the organization responsible for developing the licensure examinations for registered and practical nurses in the U.S. His work ensures the psychometric integrity and regulatory standards of the nursing profession.
Lisa Dieker
Distinguished Professor in Special Education, University of Kansas Lisa Dieker is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with disabilities through innovative teacher preparation and virtual reality simulations to enhance special education training and clinical practice.
Maria (Maki) Haberfeld
Professor of Police Science, John Jay College of Criminal Justice A former Assistant Commissioner for the NYPD, Maria Haberfeld specializes in police training, integrity, and international policing standards. She is a prominent voice in the field of criminal justice administration.
Jason M. Harley
Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, McGill University Jason Harley directs the SAILS Laboratory, focusing on the role of emotions and simulation-based training in surgical education. Their work explores how affect influences learning and performance in health sciences.
Anne Marie Hoyt Brennan
Simulation Education Specialist, University of Pennsylvania Anne Marie Hoyt Brennan directs the Helene Fuld Pavilion for Innovative Learning and Simulation. She specializes in high-fidelity simulations to train nursing students in clinical judgment and patient care.
Stephan Huber
Professor of Education Research, PH Zug Stephan Huber heads the Institute for Management and Economics of Education in Switzerland. His research focuses on school leadership, organizational development, and the management of international educational systems.
Michael Johanek
Distinguished Senior Fellow, NCREST / Adjunct Professor, Columbia University Michael Johanek is an expert in educational leadership and the history of education. He holds multiple scholarly affiliations, including Penn GSE and Boston College, focusing on school reform and community leadership.
Adina Luba Kalet
Chair for Medical Education, CUNY School of Medicine Adina Kalet focuses on clinical competence and the remediation of medical students. Her work ensures that future physicians possess the necessary clinical reasoning and professional identity for high-quality care.
Kristján Kristjánsson
Professor of Character Education, University of Birmingham Kristján Kristjánsson is a leading figure in the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues. His research delves into Aristotelian ethics and the practical application of virtue ethics in contemporary education.
Susanne Lajoie
Professor of Educational Psychology, McGill University Susanne Lajoie designs technology-rich learning environments. She uses cognitive models to enhance professional learning and problem-solving in complex domains such as medicine and mathematics.
Denise LaMarra
Director, Standardized Patient Program, Penn Medicine Denise LaMarra specializes in using standardized patients to teach and assess clinical communication and diagnostic skills, ensuring medical students are prepared for complex real-world patient interactions.
Kathie Lasater
Professor of Nursing Emerita, Oregon Health & Science University Kathie Lasater is globally recognized for the Lasater Clinical Judgment Rubric, a tool used in nursing education to assess and develop the clinical thinking and decision-making skills of students.
Brian Moon
Executive Director, Naturalistic Decision Making Association Brian Moon focuses on Naturalistic Decision Making (NDM), investigating how experts make high-stakes decisions in real-world, time-pressured, and uncertain environments through Perigean Technologies.
Will Muntean
Senior Manager of Psychometrics, NCSBN Will Muntean applies psychometric principles to ensure the validity and fairness of nursing licensure exams. His work supports the mission of public protection through rigorous testing standar
Paul Nieuwenburg
Professor in Political Science, Leiden University Paul Nieuwenburg’s research interests include the history of political thought and the intersection of political philosophy and public administration, focusing on moral and intellectual virtues in public life.
Angeles Ortega-Luque
Applied Linguistics Scholar, Georgetown University Angeles Ortega-Luque studies language use in social and professional contexts. Her work contributes to the understanding of how communication influences learning, professional practice, and cross-cultural interaction.
Haiyan Qian
Associate Professor, Education University of Hong Kong Haiyan Qian directs the APCLC and focuses on school leadership and educational change. Her research provides insights into leadership practices and school improvement within the Asian Pacific context.
Suzie Rose
Senior Vice Dean for Medical Education, University of Pennsylvania Suzie Rose oversees the medical curriculum and student affairs at the Perelman School of Medicine. She leads the educational mission to train the next generation of physicians and medical leaders.
Eduardo Salas
Professor of Psychological Sciences, Rice University Eduardo Salas is a world-renowned expert in team science, human factors, and training effectiveness. His work focuses on high-stress environments such as aviation, space exploration, and healthcare.
Jon Supovitz
Professor of Education Policy, University of Pennsylvania Jon Supovitz directs the CPRE and studies how educational leadership and policy influence instructional practice. He is a leading voice in school reform and the use of data in education.
Connie M. Ulrich
Professor of Nursing and Medical Ethics, University of Pennsylvania Connie Ulrich explores the ethical challenges faced by clinicians. Her research focuses on moral distress and the impact of bioethics on healthcare providers and patient outcomes.
Antonia M. Villarruel
Dean of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania Antonia Villarruel is a leader in health promotion and health disparities research. As Dean of Penn Nursing, she directs the WHO Collaborating Center for Nursing and Midwifery Leadership.
Paulo Volante
Associate Professor, Pontificia Universidad de Chile Paulo Volante centers his work on educational leadership and school improvement. He leads initiatives to implement effective educational policies and leadership training across Latin America.
Joan Walker
(former) Program Director, National Science Foundation Joan Walker oversees federal research initiatives aimed at improving STEM education. Her work focuses on understanding how people learn in both formal and informal educational settings.
Meet the Team
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Mike Johanek
Founding Director
Distinguished Senior Fellow, NCREST
Teachers College, Columbia UniversityResearch Professor, The Lynch School of Education and Human Development
Boston College
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Ángeles Ortega-Luque
Project Coordinator
Georgetown University
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