Our Staff

Amisha Mody Mehta
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​

Education:​

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

Languages/Other:​
Gujarati, French, Hindi
Roisin Connolly
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

Ashlyn Koga
Experience:​

Science and special education teacher with NYC Public Schools
Debate Coach
Policy Debater

Education:​
B.A. Sociology and B.A. Biology, Brown University
M.A. Adolescent Biology Education, Hunter College
M.A. Special Education, Relay Graduate School of Education
Chelsea Hodgson
Experience:​

Cross Ex and Public Forum Debate CoachCore Debate Files Consultant with Chicago DebatesPolicy DebaterProject Based Learning Assistant with Infinity Educational Programs

Education:​

B.A. Computer Science, New York University

Katharina Ruckelshausen-Oni
Experience:​

10+ years in brand, marketing, program, and project management across agency, corporate, and nonprofit environments.
Former Events & Program Director, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce
NYCUDL tournament judge and Bronx middle school debate team coaching volunteer

Education:​

M.A. Cultural Studies, University of Passau, Germany

Languages/Other:​

German/Spanish

Darren Kessler
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

Education:​

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

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

Education:​

B.A. History, Columbia University​

Sarah Rahman
Experience:​

NYCUDL, Communications Intern
Central Park Conservancy, Editorial Intern
I’RAISE Girls and Boys International, Marketing Intern

Education:​

B.A. Communication and Culture, Fordham University

Languages/Other:​

Spanish

Jeffrey Barlow
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

Education:​

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

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
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

Education:​

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

Languages/Other:​
Cantonese
Marcia Sells
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

Education:​

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

Sarah Grace Welbourn
Experience:​

Improv Teacher & Corporate Trainer,  Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, universities, corporate workshops, and NYC schools.

Office Manager & Executive Assistant, The Araca Group

NYCUDL Debate Club Staff/Manager 

NYCUDL Communications Manager since 2021

Education:​

B.A. Communications, Northwestern University

Jesse Meyer
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

Education:​

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

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