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Meet the Staff
John Turner - Lab Leader
Director of Debate at Dartmouth College
John Turner is the Director of Debate at Dartmouth, winner of the 2021 James Unger Award for coaching, winner of the Rex Copeland award, and the winner of the 2022 NDT Ross Smith Coach of the Year Award. His debaters won the National Debate Tournament championship in 2021 and 2022.
John Turner is the Director of Debate at Dartmouth, winner of the 2021 James Unger Award for coaching, winner of the Rex Copeland award, and the winner of the 2022 NDT Ross Smith Coach of the Year Award. His debaters won the National Debate Tournament championship in 2021 and 2022.
Brandon Kelley - Lab Leader
Director of Debate at Georgetown University
Brandon Kelley is the Director of Debate at Georgetown University, as well as an assistant coach for the Westminster Schools.
Brandon Kelley is the Director of Debate at Georgetown University, as well as an assistant coach for the Westminster Schools.
Dr. Mikaela Malsin - Lab Leader
Director of Debate at Emory University
Mikaela Malsin is concluding her second year as the Director of Debate for the Barkley Forum at Emory University in Atlanta. She previously served as the Director of Debate at Georgetown University. She has been teaching at the DDI continuously since 2011.
Mikaela Malsin is concluding her second year as the Director of Debate for the Barkley Forum at Emory University in Atlanta. She previously served as the Director of Debate at Georgetown University. She has been teaching at the DDI continuously since 2011.
David Kilpatrick - Lab Leader
Coach at Emory University, the Harker School, and the Liberal Arts and Science Academy
Coach at Emory University, the Harker School, and the Liberal Arts and Science Academy. David debated at the University of Texas-Austin. This is his 10th summer leading lab at debate camp and second at Dartmouth.
Coach at Emory University, the Harker School, and the Liberal Arts and Science Academy. David debated at the University of Texas-Austin. This is his 10th summer leading lab at debate camp and second at Dartmouth.
Azja Butler - Lab Leader
Debate Coach at Kansas University and Shawnee Mission South
Azja Butler debated for the University of Kansas from 2018-2021, winning several collegiate debate tournaments and becoming the first Black woman to be awarded Top Speaker at the National Debate Tournament. She now coaches for KU and Shawnee Mission South high school. Her high school teams have had multiple TOC appearances, and won the NCFL National Championship in 2022.
Azja Butler debated for the University of Kansas from 2018-2021, winning several collegiate debate tournaments and becoming the first Black woman to be awarded Top Speaker at the National Debate Tournament. She now coaches for KU and Shawnee Mission South high school. Her high school teams have had multiple TOC appearances, and won the NCFL National Championship in 2022.
Anthony Trufanov - Lab Leader
Assistant Director of Debate at Dartmouth College
Anthony Trufanov is a debate coach at Dartmouth. He won the 2019 National Debate Tournament and Copeland Award and has coached top teams at Kentucky and Northwestern Universities. He has been in debate for nearly a decade.
Anthony Trufanov is a debate coach at Dartmouth. He won the 2019 National Debate Tournament and Copeland Award and has coached top teams at Kentucky and Northwestern Universities. He has been in debate for nearly a decade.
Nick Lepp - Lab Leader
Assistant Debate Coach, Montgomery Bell Academy
Nick is an assistant debate coach at Montgomery Bell Academy and a PhD candidate at the University of Georgia. He has coached multiple teams to elimination rounds at the Tournament of Champions, the National Debate Coaches’ Association, and the National Debate Tournament. Nick is returning to DDI for his 5th consecutive year and is excited to work with a new set of students.
Nick is an assistant debate coach at Montgomery Bell Academy and a PhD candidate at the University of Georgia. He has coached multiple teams to elimination rounds at the Tournament of Champions, the National Debate Coaches’ Association, and the National Debate Tournament. Nick is returning to DDI for his 5th consecutive year and is excited to work with a new set of students.
Dr. Peter Susko - Lab Leader
Director of Debate at Calvert Hall College HS
Peter Susko is the Director of Debate at Calvert Hall College HS in Baltimore, MD. Over the last 5 years his teams have made elimination rounds at nearly every national tournament, recently finishing top 8 at NDCA, NSDA, and 2nd place at NCFL.
Peter Susko is the Director of Debate at Calvert Hall College HS in Baltimore, MD. Over the last 5 years his teams have made elimination rounds at nearly every national tournament, recently finishing top 8 at NDCA, NSDA, and 2nd place at NCFL.
Dr. Chris Callahan - Adjunct Lab Leader
Debate Coach at Dartmouth
Christopher Callahan is a debate coach at Dartmouth. He debated for Glenbrook South High School, where he won the NSDA national tournament, and Northwestern University, where he was twice named one of the top 16 teams in college debate. He coached the 2021 and 2022 National Debate Tournament champions and recently received a PhD in environmental science from Dartmouth.
Christopher Callahan is a debate coach at Dartmouth. He debated for Glenbrook South High School, where he won the NSDA national tournament, and Northwestern University, where he was twice named one of the top 16 teams in college debate. He coached the 2021 and 2022 National Debate Tournament champions and recently received a PhD in environmental science from Dartmouth.
Ethan Greer - Research Coordinator
Coach at Georgetown University
Ethan Greer debated for four years at Georgetown University, qualifying to the National Debate Tournament all four years. He was an NDT double-octafinalist in 2022 and 2023 and was 5th seed at the 2023 NDT. As a member of the Georgetown team, he was also a prolific researcher and produced several files that won high-stakes elimination rounds and round robin debates.
Ethan Greer debated for four years at Georgetown University, qualifying to the National Debate Tournament all four years. He was an NDT double-octafinalist in 2022 and 2023 and was 5th seed at the 2023 NDT. As a member of the Georgetown team, he was also a prolific researcher and produced several files that won high-stakes elimination rounds and round robin debates.
Nick Loew - Lab Assistant
Debater at George Mason University
Nick is a rising senior at George Mason University, and previously debated for three years at Perry High School in Ohio. In high school he won the OSDA State Championship twice, twice qualified to NSDA nationals, and won multiple speaker awards. In college, he has broken to elimination rounds of various regional and national tournaments, most notably including the Quarterfinals of the ADA championship and Doubles of the National Debate Tournament. He attended the 4 week DDI camp in 2018, and attended for 6 weeks in 2019.
Nick is a rising senior at George Mason University, and previously debated for three years at Perry High School in Ohio. In high school he won the OSDA State Championship twice, twice qualified to NSDA nationals, and won multiple speaker awards. In college, he has broken to elimination rounds of various regional and national tournaments, most notably including the Quarterfinals of the ADA championship and Doubles of the National Debate Tournament. He attended the 4 week DDI camp in 2018, and attended for 6 weeks in 2019.
Lindsay Jade Feinstein - Lab Assistant
Lindsay Jade Feinstein is a rising second-year at the University of Texas at Austin majoring in Business Honors and Plan II. She debated for 4 years in high school at Greenhill School and is excited to return to the DDI as a lab assistant!
Ben Sayers
Debater at Georgetown University
Ben is a rising second year at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service majoring in International Political Economy. He debated throughout high school at Westminster and is currently debating for Georgetown.
Ben is a rising second year at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service majoring in International Political Economy. He debated throughout high school at Westminster and is currently debating for Georgetown.
Lucas Lobo - Lab Assistant
Coach at Calvert Hall
Lucas Lobo is a rising sophomore debater at Emory University. He debated at Calvert Hall College HS for 4 years, where he qualified to the TOC twice, placed 7th at the NSDA National Tournament, and 2nd at the NCFL tournament. In college, he has cleared at major tournaments such as Kentucky, Wake Forest, and Gonzaga.
Lucas Lobo is a rising sophomore debater at Emory University. He debated at Calvert Hall College HS for 4 years, where he qualified to the TOC twice, placed 7th at the NSDA National Tournament, and 2nd at the NCFL tournament. In college, he has cleared at major tournaments such as Kentucky, Wake Forest, and Gonzaga.
Margaret Hecht - Lab Assistant
Coach at the Westminster Schools
Margaret Hecht is a rising Junior at Emory University, in her third year of collegiate debate. She debated at New Trier high school from 2017-2021, and currently coaches high school debate at the Westminster Schools.
Margaret Hecht is a rising Junior at Emory University, in her third year of collegiate debate. She debated at New Trier high school from 2017-2021, and currently coaches high school debate at the Westminster Schools.
Jacon Mayer - Program Coordinator
DDI Program Coordinator
Jacon Mayer was a policy debater in high school and at the University of Vermont, before transferring to Wesleyan, where he earned a degree in government. He is a professional coach, having spent nearly fifteen years coaching high-school sailing and debate teams. He is an alumnus of the DDI, and this is his fourth season returning as a coach.
Jacon Mayer was a policy debater in high school and at the University of Vermont, before transferring to Wesleyan, where he earned a degree in government. He is a professional coach, having spent nearly fifteen years coaching high-school sailing and debate teams. He is an alumnus of the DDI, and this is his fourth season returning as a coach.
Leeann Solice - Residence Hall Director
Leeann Solice has over 30 years of experience as a Debate Coach, Residence Director, Debate Parent and public school educator. Her philosophy as Residence Director is to provide students with support they need to maximize the learning opportunities at DDI, encourage skills that will help campers make the transition to college life, and offer an enjoyable social experience in the dorms. She has been associated with DDI since her daughter attended in 2010.
Joe Kieklak - Residence Hall Director
Assistant Director of Debate and Forensics at Little Rock Central
Joe believes in serving enthusiastically to ensure that all students are supported to exceed their own expectations and thrive at DDI. He believes students should develop their academic and personal selves, and enjoy life at institute. He is the 2022 recipient of the Thomas S. Foley Ambassador’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to Forensics Education. This is Joe’s first year at DDI.
Joe believes in serving enthusiastically to ensure that all students are supported to exceed their own expectations and thrive at DDI. He believes students should develop their academic and personal selves, and enjoy life at institute. He is the 2022 recipient of the Thomas S. Foley Ambassador’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to Forensics Education. This is Joe’s first year at DDI.
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