Our Staff

Gary Harmon, Camp Director
Gary has coached debate in Kansas for over 25 years. He was recently the coach at Salina Central High School and was named to the National Forensic League Hall of Fame. He has served as a Camp Director in Kansas for 23 years, and now brings the camp to the campus of Kansas Wesleyan University.

Steve Wood, Assistant Camp Director
Steve is the coach at Lawrence High School and Free State High School. He debated in college and has coached for many years in Kansas.

Ken Troyer, 1-Week Lab Leader
Ken is the coach at Lyons High School, and he debated at Bethel College.

Brooklyn Lippelmann, 2-Week Lab Leader
Brooklyn was an assistant coach at Lyons High School, and she debated at Kansas State University.

Melissa Newton, 2-Week Lab Leader
Melissa is an assistant coach at Arizona State University. She debated at Kansas State University, where she advanced to quarterfinals at the CEDA national tournament.

Rachel Cross, 2-Week Lab Leader
Rachel debated in high school in Missouri and in college at Kansas Wesleyan University.

Rod Wren, 2-Week Lab Leader
Rod debated at Moundridge High School and now debates in college at Kansas Wesleyan University.

Nathan Walker, Director of Research and 1-week Lab Leader
Nathan was the coach at Hays High School for one year, and assistant coach at Hutchinson High School for two years.

Our institute also features Chris Riffer from Blue Valley High School, and Vickie Fellers from Wichita East High School, both of whom lecture on the debate topic.
We also proudly feature Adam Astley and his Debate Addict electronic evidence database system.