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
Erin Choi
Experience:​

5+ years in assistant and coordinator positions
Notetaker, Notetaking Solutions
Arts & Culture Editor, Motley Magazine

Education:​
M.A. Creative Writing, University College Cork
B.A. Communications, Portland State University
Mark Rush
Experience:​
  • Deputy Superintendent for Manhattan High Schools, NYC Dept of Education
  • Executive Director of Pipeline Strategy, NYC Dept of Education
  • Deputy Cluster Leader of Achievement & Leadership, NYC Dept of Education
  • Principal, Bushwick School for Social Justice
Education:​
  • Graduate School of Education, St. John’s University
  • ELA Teaching Certification, Brooklyn College Graduate School of Education
  • M.A. Catholic University of America
  • B.A. Radford University
Vida Chiri
Experience:

Assistant Debate Director, Liberty University

Cal National Debate Institute, Instructor

Newark Debate Academy, National Debate Team Coach 

Education:​

Master of Arts in Human Services, Liberty University

Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Liberty University

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

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

Kelly Esianor
Experience:​

Financial Account Manager for U.S. Network Distribution, Paramount
Account & Operations Manager, Nano Pet Products LLC
Payroll Specialist, Indeed 
Cash Management Intern, NYC Dept of Finance

Education:​

B.S. University of Connecticut

Languages:

Spanish, French, German

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
Marcia Sells
Education:​

B.A. Barnard College
J.D, Columbia University School of Law

Experience:​

Co-President, Russell Philanthropies

Chief Diversity Officer & Assistant General Manager, Metropolitan Opera

Associate Dean & Dean of Students, Harvard Law School

Associate Vice President for Community
Engagement & Associate Dean for Arts
Outreach, Columbia University

Dean of Students, Columbia School of Law

Vice President of Human Resources and Organizational Development, National Basketball Association

Assistant District Attorney, Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office

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
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

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

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