Womens Debate Institute: Our Mission is to close the gender gap in debate by creating a robust community of girls and women who love debate

WDI students make the US Worlds Debate Team

Rae Lynn Schwartz-Dupre — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 04:01:14 +0000

Sonia Larbi will be representing the United States at the World Schools Debating Championship in South Africa. Two other WDI alumni, Catherine Cho and Miriam Pritchett, earned places on the developmental team and would be strong contenders for the top … Continue reading →

Thank You K-State!!!

Rae Lynn Schwartz-Dupre — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 18:15:29 +0000

K-State Debate is proud to sponsor a University Scholar at the WDI next month. Kansas State alums have always supported women in debate and alums Sarah Glaser and Beth Mendenhall who will both be working with at the WDI this … Continue reading →

Please welcome our newest staff member Brittany Williams!!

Rae Lynn Schwartz-Dupre — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 02:44:38 +0000

Brittany was a debater a North High School in Minneapolis as part of the UDL, works with UDL and other debaters at the MDAW (a local debate camp), and is a college student at the U of M. we are … Continue reading →

WDI will be a host of the US National Debate Team tryouts

Rae Lynn Schwartz-Dupre — Wed, 04 May 2011 16:57:24 +0000

We are very proud to be a site to host this years US National Debate Team tryouts. Any registered WDI student can try out for free.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Claremont McKenna College, through its Claremont Colleges Debate Union (CCDU) and high school debate outreach program – the High School Public Debate Program (HSPDP) – has been selected by the World Schools Debating Council as the official US representative to recruit, select, and train students for its international debate competitions.

John Meany is the Director of the Debate Union. Among other Debate Union educational outreach initiatives, he administers the Debate Union’s Public Debate Program, a comprehensive effort promoting national and international class and contest debating for secondary schools. The Public Debate Program is the largest and fastest growing debate outreach network in the United States and one of the largest in the world. It now operates in 40 states and 20 countries.

The Public Debate Program includes the international US – World Schools Debating Championship (USWSDC) program, the High School Public Debate Program (HSPDP), and the Middle School Public Debate Program (MSPDP). John Meany is the US representative on the World Schools Debating Council. Kate Shuster, the Co-Executive Director of the Middle School Public Debate Program, also assists administration of the USWSDC program, including conducting auditions, selecting Team USA participants, coordinating participation for international events, and coaching the teams. Meany and Shuster

Auditions for Team USA – 2011-2012 Participation

Students from throughout the US are welcome to audition for international debate teams. The first team qualifies to participate at the 2012 WSDC Championship, to be held in Capetown, South Africa. Additional teams are eligible to attend regional and individual country tournaments.

Feel free to contact WDI board member Kate Shuster for details kate.shuster@gmail.com

For more information about the US national team and tryouts see: http://uswsdc.org/auditions/

Congrats to WDI staff member Jenny Heidt!!!

Rae Lynn Schwartz-Dupre — Wed, 04 May 2011 16:44:19 +0000

Congratulations to WDI staff member Jenny Heidt and the Westminster team of Ellis Allen and Daniel Taylor for winning the 2011 TOC!

Welcome Beth Mendenhal to our staff!!!

Rae Lynn Schwartz-Dupre — Wed, 04 May 2011 16:43:02 +0000

This years CEDA nationals champion is joining our staff. We are so excited to have her. Stay tuned for a full bio and details.

Rae Lynn Schwartz-Dupre — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:20:11 +0000

The WDI congratulates Sonia Larbi, who has been selected as one of the 2011 WDI Policy Scholars.

The WDI welcomes Cate Palczewski

Rae Lynn Schwartz-Dupre — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 17:52:33 +0000

We are pleased to announce the 2011 keynote speaker is Cate Palczewski.

Cate is a professor of Communication Studies and Affiliate Faculty in Women’s and Gender Studies at the University of Northern Iowa, where she also served as the Director of Debate from 1994-2009. She received her Ph.D. from Northwestern University, where she was an assistant coach for the debate team. She competed in policy debate at Northwestern University and at Robert E. Lee High School in San Antonio, TX. In 1987, she was a member of the US team, and in 1999 she served as coach of the team, that participated in the Committee on International Discussion and Debate tour of Japan. She presently serves as editor for the American Forensic Association Journal Argumentation and Advocacy and has authored numerous articles about gender and public advocacy. She co-authored Communicating Gender Diversity, which was shortlisted for the International Gender and Language Book Prize in 2008.

Leah was named one of Womens eNews’ “21 leaders for the 21st century.

Rae Lynn Schwartz-Dupre — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 20:48:54 +0000

The list and summary of the winners is here:

http://womensenews.org/story/21-leaders-the-21st-century/101228/womens-enews-announces-21-leaders-the-21st-century-2011

Leah is the first one listed of the “7 Who Blaze New Pathways,” and a quick interview with/feature on Leah is here:

http://www.womensradio.com/articles/2011–Seven-Who-Blaze-New-Pathways/7994.html

So awesome. Couldn’t happen to someone more deserving. What a great way to start the Year That Goes to 11.

Welcome Danielle Wiese Leek to our 2011 Summer Staff!!!

Rae Lynn Schwartz-Dupre — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 03:57:25 +0000

Danielle Wiese Leek, PhD is an Associate Professor of Communications at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, MI. She is a member of the National Debate Tournament Board of Trustees, and works with high school debate programs in the Grand Rapids, MI area. Professor Leek began her debate at Kimball High School in Royal Oak, MI. She debated for four years in high school and along with her partner, Lauren Korn, won the 1991 Michigan State Championship tournament. Since that time, she has coached multiple state and national, high school & college, champions. Her previous positions include: Director of Debate at Florida State University, Co-director of the summer high school debate institutes at Northwestern University, and Curriculum Director for the Chicago Debate Summer Institute for urban debate league students. Dr. Leek is also proud to be the 2005 recipient of CEDA’s Galentine award recognizing outstanding contributions to women in the activity.