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

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
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
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:​

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

NYCUDL Debate Club Staff/Manager 

NYCUDL Communications Manager since 2011

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