Our Staff

Amisha Mody Mehta
Education:​

B.S. Finance & International Business, Stern School of Business at NYU​
J.D., Columbia Law School​

Experience:​

Latham & Watkins/Dreier & Baritz/In House​
Public & Private securities transactions, M&A, Project Finance​
Debate Coach ​
Public schools volunteer ​
Full-Time Staff Member Since: 2019​

Languages/Other:​
Gujarati, French, Hindi
Eddie Fitzgerald
Education:​

M.A. Urban Education: Teaching & Learning in Urban Schools, New Jersey City University
B.S. Interdisciplinary Studies: Cognates in Philosophy, History, & Religion, Liberty University

Experience:​

Poly Prep Country Day School: Director of Speech and Debate
Poly Prep Country Day School: DEI Department Associate
Poly Prep Country Day School: Associate Director of Debate
Poly Prep Country Day School: Head Lincoln Douglas Coach
Timothy Christian School: History Teacher and Debate Coach

Other:​

NJ Standard Teacher Certificate: Teacher of Social Studies
Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity Seminar Leader

Education:​
Tommy Valtin-Erwin

B.A. in African Cultural Studies & Afro-Am Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Experience:​
Catalyst, Inc.
First Wave Scholarship
Posse Program

Full-Time Staff Member: Since 2025

Languages/Other:
Basic German
Basic Arabic
Darren Kessler
Education:​

B.A. History, SUNY Binghamton
M.S. Secondary Education, Mercy College​

Experience:​

Middle School Debate Coach with NYCUDL since 2018
33 years as a social studies teacher with NYC Public Schools
Full-Time Staff Member Since: 2024
Part-Time Staff Member Since: 2021

Other:​
Looks forward to helping new coaches bring this transformative activity to their students
Paul Ward
Education:​

B.A. History, Columbia University​

Experience:​

Fulbright Scholar, India (English Teaching Assistant)
Public Forum debater
NYCUDL Debate Club teacher and tournament staff
Full-Time Staff Member Since: 2024
Part-Time Staff Member Since: 2020

Max Kornfeld
Education:​

B.A. International Relations and Philosophy, New York University​

Experience:​

Competed in debate for eight years—four years in high school in Missouri and four years at NYU
Has received multiple collegiate-level awards in Parliamentary Debate and mock trial.
Full-Time Staff Member Since: 2023

Languages/Other:​
Conversant in Spanish and Mandarin​
Java Programming
Amelia Andujar
Education:​

B.A. Sociology and Film & Media Studies, Emory University
M.Litt, Global Social and Political Thought, University of St Andrews

Experience:​

Bobby Jones Scholar, University of St Andrews
Public Forum debater
NYCUDL Curriculum Translator and Debate Club Teacher
Part-Time Staff Member Since: 2020
Full-Time Staff Member Since: 2025

Languages:

Spanish

Emily Chiang
Education:​

B.S. Accounting, Lehman College​
M.S. Accounting, Brooklyn College​

Experience:​

After-school program assistant helping 4 through 16 year-old students build English and math skills
Full-Time Staff Member Since: 2019
Part-Time Staff Member Since: 2015

Languages/Other:​
Cantonese
Denizcan Ozdemir
Education:​

B.A. Political Science and Human Rights, Columbia University

Experience:​

NYCUDL Alum
Former New York Civil Liberties Union Intern
Double Discovery Center, College Access Coordinator
Freedom and Citizenship Program, Teaching Assistant

Full-Time Staff Member: Since 2025
Volunteer: Since 2018

Languages/Other:

Turkish

Passionate about education equity and access to higher education

Jaliah Smith
Education:​

B.A. Philosophy and Feminist, Gender & Sexuality Studies, Cornell University

Experience:​
2025 All-American, American Forensic League
Venephe A. Wilson Scholar; Cornell University
Parliamentary Debater
Telluride Scholar
Full-time Staff since 2025
Languages:

Conversant in American Sign Language

Connie Alderfer
Education:​

B.S. Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Towson University​

Experience:​

Corporate and non-profit sectors
Citicorp and American Red Cross
Fosters positive relationships and a balanced work environment
Part-Time Consultant Since: 2023

Jeffrey Barlow
Education:​

B.S.E. Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan​
M.B.A., Johnson Business School at Cornell University​

Experience:​

Management consultant
Chief Financial Officer for three diverse companies (for-profit, startup, and a nonprofit)
Deep understanding of complex financial systems, operational efficiency, and strategic planning
Part-Time Staff Member Since: 2023

Sarah Welbourn
Education:​

B.A. Communications, Northwestern University, 2009

Experience:​

Teaching artist at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, universities, corporate workshops, and NYC schools.

NYCUDL Debate Club Staff/Manager 2020-2023

NYCUDL Communications Manager Since: 2021
Paul Glenn
Education:​

B.Sc. Mathematical Physics from SUNY at Buffalo
M.Sc. Science Education from CUNY Lehman College

Experience:​

NYC Teaching Fellow
Part-Time Staff Member Since: 2017

Brandon Lu
Education:​

B.S. Chemistry, New York University, 2021
M.D. and Ph.D. Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, 2030 (Expected)

Experience:​

Part-Time Staff Member Since: 2019

Languages:
Mandarin Chinese, Spoken
Jesse Meyer
Education:​

B.A. History, University of Northern Iowa (Spring 2010)
Double major in Communication/Argumentation and Education, University of Northern Iowa (Spring 2013)

Experience:​

State Licensed Teacher, Iowa Disability Caucus Co-Chair, NSDA Office of Belonging and Inclusion National Federation of High Schools, Speech and Debate Certification
Full-Time Staff Member: Sept 2021-Dec 2022
Part-Time Staff Member: Dec 2022- Present

Languages/Other:​

English and German
Grades 5-12 US and World History
Grades 5-12 Speech/Argumentation/Theater
8th Degree NSDA Distinguished Service Award
2nd Diamond NSDA Coach
2-time winner, Iowa Forensics League Coach of the Year

Danny Cigale
Education:​

NYU Gallatin School of Individualized Study​

Experience:​

High School Public Forum Debater
2019 NSDA Public Forum Championship Winner
2019 TOC Finalist
9 Career Bids to the TOC
Stuyvesant Debate Coach
Full-Time Staff Member Since: Starting November 2024​

Languages/Other:​
French