During the last 17 years, I won a national debate championship, advanced to director of a top-ranked collegiate debate program, and taught students as a communication professor. Through these various roles, I developed the ability to complete exhaustive research, quickly process information, write precisely, and successfully communicate solutions that have resulted in:

• Hundreds of HS & College Invitational Tournament Awards
• 2X NFA-LD National Champion Team Member (Mizzou 2005, 2006)
• National Champion Debater (Southern Illinois, 2008)
• National Champion, Graduate Coach (Texas Tech 2010)
• National Top-Speaker, Coach (Texas Tech 2010)
• National Tournament Sweepstakes Championship (William Jewell 2012)
• National Championship, Coach (William Jewell 2016)

Here’s are the advantages that I’ll transfer from 20 years of experience with listening to complex arguments and making challenging decisions.

• I will always take the quickest and most accurate notes in the room, which means I’m an asset to any team.
• I'm used to working under time constraints, but thinking outside the box. Nothing can surprise me, and I’m not afraid of big ideas.
• I understand how to get the best out of every single person on the team. Not everyone needs to be a rock-star at all times, nor should we expect it.
• I listen actively and clarify miscommunication quickly. I have been trained in interpersonal engagement. I genuinely love talking to people.
• When I don’t understand something or don’t know the definition of a word or concept, I tell people immediately and honestly. I do this rather than nodding and going along to save face.
• I’m comfortable being honest about what I don’t know because I know that I can learn anything. On any given day, I’m not better than anyone else, but I’m as good as everyone else.
• I love working on a team of process-obsessed nerds. I value working with people who have different strengths. The best teams in debate (and business) are diverse. I take diversity, equity, access, and that everyone has a st at the table very seriously.
• I’m efficient. It’s understandable if you expect debaters to showcase perfect public speaking, but it’s not about that. It’s about communicating effectively while playing a hyper-technical game with rules. It’s about the technical art of critical thinking, which happens quickly, precisely, and without much regard for your feelings. It mirrors life.
• I’ve had thousands of opportunities to give and receive verbal and written feedback. I’m not precious; I know how to get feedback and adjust strategy.