People

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Our Team

LITONG NIE

Co-Founder

I’m Litong, a senior at Leland High School passionate about exploring the intersections of philosophy, communication, and community. I am interested in various fields in philosophy, from decision theory to metaethics to metaphysics. My research has been accepted to peer review at Columbia University’s Voices in Bioethics, Philosophia, and more. Beyond philosophy, Speech and Debate has taught me to think critically and speak confidently. As a Congressional Debate national semifinalist, finalist at the Jack Howe Invitational, and a Speech and Debate mentor to middle schoolers in my area, I genuinely believe that discourse can drive growth. When I’m not debating or philosophizing, I’m either lost in a book, designing video games, or curating the perfect playlist for every scenario.

EMMA ZHANG

Co-Founder

I’m Emma, an incoming Harvard University freshman dedicated to fostering meaningful discourse and interdisciplinary collaboration. As a National YoungArts Winner in Writing, Scholastic Best in Grade Gold Medalist, California Youth Poet Laureate Runner-Up, founder of Love Letters to San Jose, and researcher at Stanford examining both neurological and mathematical evolutionary thinking, I love questioning anything and everything literarily, academically, and most importantly, conversationally. I enjoy ethics, epistemology, philosophical fiction, political philosophy, and social theory. When not writing, researching, or philosophically thinking, I can be found on a spontaneous middle of the night run or reading Latin American fiction.

Avni Harsh

Web Developer + Treasurer

I’m Avni, a sophomore at Leland High School who loves exploring the contrasting perspectives in philosophical matters. I definitely believe it is important to discuss topics that may be considered controversial or have extremely polar view points. As a member of Leland’s Speech and Debate team, I view being able to speak one’s beliefs and the expression of critical thinking as crucial skills which philosophy can help develop. In my free time, I volunteer as a webmaster at my local library, teach kids how to code, and participate in organizations such as Girls Who Code and Hack Club.

KIMMY NGUYEN

Outreach + Secretary

I’m Kimmy, a junior at Branham High School intrigued by how technology and philosophy can work together. I helped Emma start the Cognitive Science Club at our school and right now, I am working towards providing more opportunities for girls in STEM as a member of Girls Who Code. In my free time, I enjoy participating in local coding events such as hackathons and building LEGO sets when my bank account allows me to. I hope to share my love of computer science in this organization while showing how philosophy can still be incorporated even though many choose to separate the two.