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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.
Johnnie Stupek - Lab Leader
Head Debate Coach at the University of Georgia
Johnnie Stupek is the Head Debate Coach of the Georgia Debate Union. Johnnie previously coached at Dartmouth College and Emory University, where he earned a Juris Doctor degree. In his time coaching, he has coached several First-Round-At-Large teams to the National Debate Tournament. As a student debating at UGA, he was a finalist at the 2019 National Debate Tournament and received two First-Round-At-Large Bids to the National Debate Tournament.
Johnnie Stupek is the Head Debate Coach of the Georgia Debate Union. Johnnie previously coached at Dartmouth College and Emory University, where he earned a Juris Doctor degree. In his time coaching, he has coached several First-Round-At-Large teams to the National Debate Tournament. As a student debating at UGA, he was a finalist at the 2019 National Debate Tournament and received two First-Round-At-Large Bids to the National Debate Tournament.
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.
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.
Anthony Trufanov - Adjunct 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.
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.
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