General Staff
Alex Bae
Co-Director
Hi! I’m Alex (he/him) and I’m a rising senior at Flintridge Prep in California. I’ve competed in PF for 3 years and I’m a captain at my school’s debate team. I’ve qualified to NSDA Nationals thrice and the Tournament of Champions twice, earning 7 TOC bids while top speaking Yale and champing Jack Howe and CA State. I enjoy all styles of debate from heavy narrative lay rounds to fast-paced tech shenanigans and have experience as both a first and second speaker. Outside of debate, I love playing basketball, listening to music, and playing the guitar. Super excited to get to work with everyone this summer!
Claire Sim
Co-Director
Hi! I’m Claire (she/her) and I’m a rising senior at Bergen County Academies. I’ve competed in PF for 3 years, most notably qualifiying for the TOC 2 times (earning an auto-qualification my sophomore year), ranking as high as 6th nationally, champing Princeton, and finaling Penn. I love sharing my passion for debate with others and am currently BCA’s PF director and a mentor under Women in Debate. I have experience both first and second speaking and love all aspects of PF, whether it be technical argumentation, lay narrative, or even anthro framing. Besides debate, I enjoy running, listening to music, hanging out with friends, or all three at the same time! I’m excited to work with everyone this summer!!
Andrew Li
Co-Director
Hi! I’m Andrew (he/him) and I’m a rising senior at Germantown Friends School in Philly. I’m the founder of my school’s debate team and have been debating for 3 years. In my junior year, I champed Penn & the Harvard RR, finaled the Blue Key RR, and acquired a TOC bid at every tournament I attended. I switch around as both a first and second speaker with my partner depending on the round and I’m experienced in all types of argumentation, so I’m comfortable with almost every aspect of PF. Outside of debate, I enjoy being with friends (quakerism), listening to music, and rowing on my school’s crew team. I’m super excited to get to work with everyone!
2025 Counselors
Aahana Gupta
Hi! My name is Aahana and I’m a rising junior at Iowa City West. In my time debating, I’ve accumulated 3 bids to the TOC and have reached elimination rounds at multiple national circuit tournaments. I’ve also qualified to NSDA nationals twice and championed the Iowa State Tournament my sophomore year. I have experience mentoring many different debaters and enjoy lay/flay debate. When I’m not debating, I like to listen to music, go on long drives, and hang out with my friends. I’m super excited to meet everyone this summer!
Aanya Mohta
Hi, I’m Aanya! I’m a rising Junior at East Ridge High School in Minnesota. I’ve been debating on the national circuit for a year and a half, acquiring 7 career bids to the TOC (qualifying both years), and qualified for NSDA nationals my freshman and sophomore year. This season, I have reached elimination rounds at several National Circuit tournaments, notably quarterfinals at Yale and top seed at NYC, being ranked as high as 10th in the nation. I have also attended the Ivy Street round robin, and reached semifinals of the state tournament. Outside of debate I enjoy hanging out with friends, running, and playing game pigeon. I’m super excited to coach at Nova this summer!
Aarav Motivala
Hey, I’m Aarav! I’m a junior at Ridgewood High School in NJ, where I’m co-captain. In my Public Forum career, I’ve placed 1st at John Lewis, 5th at Stanford, and 5th at the TOC Digital, being consistently ranked in the nation’s top 20. This year, I helped grow my school’s team by 40%, brought it to its first national level tournament, and was the first debater in school history to qualify for the Gold TOC.
Aari Sabnani
Hi! I’m Aari (he/him), and I’m a rising junior at College Prep in the Bay. I’ve been doing PF for 3 years, during which I have acquired 3 bids to the TOC, second speaking at Alta, and semifinaling at UNLV. My favorite form of debate is a fast substance round, and I’m primarily a first speaker. Outside of debate, I enjoy playing tennis, playing the guitar, and hanging out with friends. I’m super excited to teach at NOVA this year!
Anita Wei
Hi! I’m Anita I’m a rising junior at Richard Montgomery. I enjoy all aspects of debate, including lay and tech. I’ve qualled for TOC with bids from tournaments such as Yale and Princeton. In my free time I like figure skating and going to the beach!
Annabel Gottlieb
Hi! I’m Annabel, a rising senior at Hunter. I’ve been debating for three years now and am so glad to be part of this community 🙂 Over the course of this year, I’ve semifinaled Milo and earned 3 TOC bids. Outside of debate, I love to cook, crochet, watch sitcoms, and play with my cats. I’m so excited to be teaching at NOVA again this year!
Anthony Luo
Hi! I’m Anthony (he/him) and I’m a rising senior at Saratoga High School with 5 years of experience in PF debate. I’ve earned a total of 5 gold and 2 silver bids to the TOC, qualified twice to both the TOC and NCFL Grand Nationals, made it to finals at Nano Nagle, and have gone undefeated in prelims at both Yale and ASU. I’ve taught my school’s novice debaters for two years, and I spent another two years teaching local middle schoolers introductions to debate, leveraging my strengths as a lay debater and experience with technical argumentation. Outside of debate, you can find me writing for my school’s newspaper, taking photos with my digicam, listening to music, or watching all kinds of movies and TV shows — I’m super excited to teach at NOVA this summer!
Ava Livermore
Hi! I’m Ava Livermore (she/her), a rising sophomore at Episcopal High School in Texas. This past season, I qualified for both Districts and TFA State in Extemp and Public Forum. I enjoy the challenge and creativity debate demands, whether it’s building out well-structured cases or finding new ways to adapt to different judges. I’d describe myself as a techy debater, and I love clean strategy and well-thought-out arguments that engage with the round. Outside of debate, you can find me playing lacrosse, reading, and listening to way too much music (I’m always looking for new recommendations!). I’m really excited to be coaching this summer, and I can’t wait to meet everyone!
Cady Wu
Hi! I’m Cady, and I’m a rising junior at Interlake, where I’m one of the Public Forum captains. I’ve debated PF for 4 years, since which I have reached outrounds at numerous national circuit tournaments. This year, I accumulated 4 TOC bids at tournaments like Glenbrooks, Arizona, UKSO, and University of Michigan, where I also got 8th speaker at. My favorite styles of debate are tech substance and Kritikal debate, but I enjoy everything from lay debate to theory. Outside of debate, you can find me trying to study for physics, playing piano, sewing a new dress, writing poetry, and baking. I’m excited to work with everyone at NOVA this summer!
Claire Croft
Hi! I’m Claire and I’m a rising junior at Bronx Science in New York. I have been doing PF since freshman year and I’m going to be a Novice Director next year. I’ve qualified to New York State Championships twice, and this year I octofinaled. I also coach parliamentary debate at my middle school. I’ve always loved tech debate but I like lay rounds as well. Outside of debate I love to hang out and go on walks with my friends, and swim competitively.
Connor Chun
Hey! I’m Connor and I am a rising senior at Langley High School in Virginia. So far, I have acquired 18 bids to the TOC and been ranked as a top 10 team in the nation. I have won NCFL Grand Nationals, Bronx, the Mid America Cup, Georgetown University Invitational, and reached deep elimination rounds at several others. I am the head captain for my school’s debate team and privately coach other teams. Outside of debate, I love rock climbing and playing the violin. This is my third year teaching at NOVA and I’m super excited to work with everyone!
Cooper Li
Hey, I’m Cooper, a rising senior at Montgomery Blair High School. This year, I ended the season as bid leader and ranked as high as 1st in the nation. Additionally, I champed Harvard RR, Ivy Street RR, Durham, FBK RR, and Bronx. I finalled Emory, UKSO, and Dowling Catholic. I’m excited to teach at NOVA this summer!
Dhanyashree Ramanathan
Heya! My name is Dhanya and I am a rising senior at Interlake High School. I mostly master in substance, especially lay and flay debate. I have reached out rounds in UKSO, Mid America, and Seattle U earning 3 bids to the TOC. Outside of debate, I really like listening to music especially Bruno Mars, finding new places to drink matcha, and binge watching TV shows. I’m very excited to get to know everyone at NOVA!!
Elizabeth Chung
Hi, I’m Elizabeth, a rising Junior at Richard Montgomery with 2 years of debate experience in PF. I’ve qualled for the TOC while being top seed at both Colombia, Penn as well as bidding to the TOC at tournaments such as Harvard, Sunvite, and UKSO. I was also 9th speaker at Penn and have aquired 8 bids so far. I have experience teaching debate to ESL students, as well as tutoring at Kumon for over 2 years. Outside of debate, I love my cats and shopping! Can’t wait to meet all of you.
Emily Park
Hi! I’m Emily and I’m a rising senior at the Horace Mann School, where I’m the President of our Public Forum team. I qualified both my sophomore and junior years to the Tournament of Champions (with 4 career bids), and to NSDA Nationals my junior year. I have experience as both a first and second speaker and love all aspects of PF, whether it be crafting a narrative for a lay judge or debating fast substance tech rounds. Outside of debate, I enjoy traveling, restaurant hopping in NYC, being with friends, and listening to music. I’m super excited to meet everyone this summer!
Faizaan Ahmad
Hey! I’m Faizaan and I’ll be a rising junior at Iowa City West High School. I have accumulated 6 TOC bids (qualified to TOC my sophomore year), have been ranked as high as #2 nationally, have qualified to NSDA nationals both years, and have made deep elimination rounds at various tournaments! Outside of debate, I love eating food, hanging out with my friends, traveling, and watching football.
Isaac Love
Hi! I’m Isaac (he/him) and I’m a rising senior at Flintridge Prep in Los Angeles. I’ve competed in LD for 1 year and I’m the LD captain at my school’s debate team. I qualified to the TOC this year, earning top speaker awards at Milo and New York and making it to semis of Columbia, quarters of DTA and octos of UKSO. My main debate interests include Kritiks, theory, and phil. I’ve gone for death good, Agathangelou, Da Silva, skep, Kant, must show up to round on time, spec a prioris, etc; really just any argument that isn’t policy so I’m perfect if you are trying to bring some LD into PF. My hobbies outside of debate include watching football (go birds), listening to music (ask me for my playlists) and buying clothes. Super excited to teach this summer!
Jet Tsang
Hi y’all! I’m Jet, and I’m a rising senior at Saratoga High in California. In my junior year, I accumulated 5 bids to the TOC, reaching late outrounds at tournaments like TOC DSDS 2, James Logan, and John Lewis. Additionally, I qualified for NCFL Grand Nats, Gold TOC, and NSDA Nats. Lay narrative debate is definitely one of my strongest suits, but I’m pretty comfortable anywhere on the lay-tech spectrum. Outside of debate, you can find me playing trumpet, bumbling through NYT games, or generally cohesing with Saratoga debate team members.
Kabir Iyengar
Hey! I’m Kabir from William Fremd High School in Palatine, IL. I’ve competed for 3 years in PF, and one on the national circuit specifically. I have competed mostly under National Debate Club IB, and have accumulated 5 bids to the TOC so far. I have reached deep out rounds at tournaments such as UMich, TOC Digital Series, Emory, Stanford and ASU. I enjoy both lay and technical debates, as well as theory rounds. In my free time, I enjoy hooping, listening to music and driving around with my friends. Excited to meet everyone and coach at NOVA this year!
Keerat K. Virdi
Hi! I’m Keerat, a rising junior at Eden Prairie High School in Minnesota. I’ve earned three bids to the TOC, including qualifying for the Gold TOC during my sophomore year, making me the first in my school’s history to achieve this. As the debate team captain, I’ve reached semifinals at TOC Digital #3, Octas at Peach State, and outrounds at tournaments such as Stanford, Apple Valley, Columbia, and more. Outside of debate, I enjoy cooking, hanging out with friends, and playing video games. I am excited to work with everyone this summer!
Kevin Cheng
Hi! I’m Kevin Cheng and a rising senior at the Horace Mann School, where I’m currently the President of the debate team. I’ve qualified to TOC as a Sophomore and Junior, as well as NSDA Nationals my Sophomore year and reached late outrounds at the Columbia Invitational, the Mid America Cup, the Lexington Winter Invitational and more. As a coach, I specialize in flay and tech substance debate, though I’ve had my fair share of theory rounds. Outside of debate, I enjoy playing the piano and hanging out with friends.
Leif Emery
Hi! My name is Leif Emery, and I am a rising senior at Bronx Science in New York City, and I have been on our team since freshman year. My tag name is Bronx Science AE and I have amassed 3 bids to the Tournament of Champions thus far, breaking at 6 this year such as Lex, Upenn, Blue key, and more. I have an affinity for flay rounds, but I have experience in all different types! Outside of debate, I love to play tennis, and hang out with friends! I am excited to teach this summer!
Leo Hao
Hi, I’m Leo, a rising senior at College Prep. This year, I’ve accumulated 5 bids to the TOC, and most notably semifinaled ASU and the Cal Round Robin. I enjoy most styles of debate, and have experience with both first and second speaker. Outside of debate, I enjoy playing my cello, doing chess puzzles and playing Pokemon. I’m excited to coach at NOVA this summer!
Luke Zhong
Hi, I’m Luke (he/him) and I’m a rising senior at Germantown Friends. I’m helped found of my school’s debate team and have been debating for 3 years. This year, I won Penn & the Harvard Round Robin, finaled the Blue Key Round Robin, and bid at every tournament I attended. I’m most experienced with substance debate, but I’ve run my fair share of theory and identity-based Ks. In my free time, I love photography and hanging out with friends!
Mac Hays
Hi, I’m a Fulbright Taiwan Debate Coach and the Lead Public Forum Coach for the Argument Institute. I recently graduated from Brown University, where I studied International Affairs and Chemistry. I began debating in 2016 and went on to win multiple tournaments and place 4th at NSDA Nationals in Public Forum. In college, I competed in American Parliamentary Debate and was recognized for having the most competitive career in my graduating class after three consecutive top-3 finishes at APDA Nationals and top speaking the tournament in 2023. Over the past five years, I’ve coached students to over 150 TOC bids in PF, championships at Harvard and Yale, and final rounds at TOC and NSDA Nationals. I’ve taught at ten summer programs and served as Assistant Public Forum Coach at American Heritage Broward. I’m excited to continue coaching PF for my third summer at NOVA!
Oliver Ji
Hi everyone! I’m Oliver, a rising junior at Fairmont Prep. Over 2 years I’ve accumulated 3 bids to the TOC and reached late outrounds at tournaments including Berkeley and TOC Digi #3. I enjoy a flow style debate and have experience as both a first and second speaker. Outside of debate, I’m interested in photography, playing basketball, and watching soccer (COYS). I’m excited to meet everyone at NOVA!
Owen Falk
Hey! I’m Owen (He/Him) and I’m a rising junior debating at College Prep. I’ve done debate for 3 years, competed in Public Forum for 2. I’ve also coached my old middle school team for 2 years. This year, I qualified to the Gold TOC and finaled Golden Desert at UNLV, as well as qualifying for CA States. I’ve been a top 5 speaker at 2 tournaments this year and am most comfortable with 2nd speaker and substance debates. Outside of debate, I do taekwondo, track, and enjoy listening to music. I can’t wait to teach at NOVA!
Raya Jung
Hi I’m Raya! I’m a rising senior this year and have been debating since freshman year. I’ve earned 5 bids to the TOC reaching late out rounds at Florida Bluekey, GMU, Harvard, NCFLs, and more. Outside of debate I love going for walks, trying new food, and hanging out with my friends!
Rishi Ramaswamy
Hi, I’m Rishi, a rising junior at Interlake High School in Washington. I’ve debated in Public Forum for 2 years, through which I have accumulated 4 gold TOC bids, including octofinalling berkeley and quarters at stanford, and reaching outrounds in many more national circuit tournaments. I enjoy teaching debate, whether it is in my school or the nonprofit I am a part of. My favorite parts of debate are K rounds – I find them really interesting. Outside of debate, I love playing table tennis and chess, and hanging out with my family. I’m excited to be teaching at NOVA this year!
Sachin Letchumanan
Hi! My name is Sachin Letchumanan, and I recently graduated from BASIS Independent McLean, where I competed in Public Forum Debate from 2021 to 2025. Over four years in the activity, I specialized in lay debate, developing a style grounded in clarity, strategy, and persuasion — while also gaining experience with national circuit norms like theory and kritiks. I was honored to be named the 2025 NCFL Grand National Champion in Public Forum Debate, and previously won 1st Place at the 2025 Virginia State Championship. Across my career, I’ve reached deep outrounds at both local and national tournaments, and mentored dozens of novices as my team’s Novice Coordinator for two years. In that role, I created detailed lectures covering everything from case construction to rhetoric and speech roles. Now, I’m excited to give back to the debate community by supporting the next generation of competitors and helping grow programs that make this activity more accessible and rewarding.
Sam Parsi
Hey! I’m Sam, a rising junior and the Public Forum Captain at Boston Latin. This year, I earned two bids to the TOC and reached deep elimination rounds at tournaments like TOC Digital 3, Cypress Bay, and the University of Seattle. I’ve also qualified to NCFL. Over the past two years, I’ve competed on both national and local circuits—ranging from lay debate to trix and K debate. Outside of debate, you can find me playing soccer, playing piano, traveling, or watching basketball.
Sherry Huang
Hi! I’m Sherry, and I debated for Dulles for four years and amassed 3 career bids, as well as qualified to TFA State 3x and NSDA Nationals. I’ve advanced to elimination rounds at 15 national-circuit tournaments, including Octafinals at Bellaire and the Longhorn Classic, Semifinals at the Cougar Classic, and Quarterfinals at Katy Taylor. With experience debating as both first and second speaker, I am experienced at lay and tech (especially K) debate and have coached at various levels for 5 years. When I’m not debating, you can find me writing poetry about my crashouts or destroying my eardrums with my Airpods. I’m super excited to meet everyone at NOVA this summer!
Simone Ginsberg
Hi! I’m Simone, I’m a rising senior at the Bronx High School of Science in NYC and I’ve been doing PF since Freshmen year. This year, I’ve accumulated 3X bids to TOC, reaching elims at Penn, Princeton, Villiger, and others, and recently octofinaled silver TOC! I will always love love a good lay round but have grown to also appreciate technical rounds. Outside of debate, I love shopping, traveling, journalism, and hanging out with my friends in NYC.
Sivapriya Marimuthu
Hi, I’m Sivapriya (she/her), a rising junior at Rutgers University! I debated at Acton Boxborough Regional High School in MA for four years as primarily a first speaker, but I dabbled slightly in second speaking. On both the local and national circuit, I earned several speaker awards, three gold bids, and one silver. I reached late out-rounds at tournaments like UPenn, Glenbrooks, Manch, and Pennsbury. I reached octofinals at UPenn and placed at Manch, UK, Yale, and Glenbrooks. I taught at NOVA for two years in high school, and I’m excited to be back! Outside of debate, I love pasta, Modern Family, and baking. I’m always open to book or movie recommendations, so feel free to send some over!
Sophia Xiong
What’s up! I’m Sophia, a rising senior from SoCal, and I debate under Northwood and NDC XS. I started PF in high school and just finished my first year on the national circuit, reaching outrounds at 9 tournaments and qualifying to TOC. When I’m not debating, I’m at the beach, in the pool, or making art. My favorite part about debate is meeting new people and having fun both in and out of round! Excited to meet everyone!
Stella Bie
Hi! I’m Stella (she/her), a rising senior at Interlake High School in WA. I competed in PF the past 3 years, earning 4 gold bids to the TOC this year. This season, I’ve reached deep elimination rounds at Stanford, Berkeley, and Mid America. My favorite argument is Wipeout, and my least favorite argument is Pandemics. Outside of debate, I like doing math, playing volleyball, and sending my friends cat reels. I’m excited to teach at Nova this summer!
Theo Kurland
Hi everyone! I’m Theo, a rising senior at the College Prep. Last season, I accumulated four bids, including top speaker and 2nd place at Golden Desert and outrounds at Berkeley, Nano Nagle, and Jack Howe. I’ve been debating for 3 years now, spending one and a half years in policy debate before switching to PF late in my sophomore year. I have experience in many types of debate, preferring a tech substance style, but I also have experience in kritikal and theory debate from my time in policy (as well as passingly in PF). I have debated as both a first and second speaker, though most recently I have debated first. Outside of debate, I enjoy theatre tech, coding, and hanging out with friends. I’m excited to be coaching at NOVA this summer!
Zayn Charania
Hey! I’m Zayn, and I’m a rising senior at American Heritage Broward. I primarily do PF (for two years now), but I’ve done a bit of all debate events, including LD, Worlds, and Policy (haven’t done congress yet, but it is on my bucket list :0). I love all styles of debate, however my favorites are super slow and stylish lay rounds and very technical theory debates. My favorite shell is ROTB spec, my top artist on Spotify was Arijit Singh, and my favorite debater on the circuit is Aaron Pinto! I’m practically vibrating with excitement at the thought of meeting all the eager minds at Nova this year—prepare for an electrifying season of argumentation magic!
Zijia Mo
Hello! I’m Zijia and I debate at Dreyfoos School of the Arts. I’ve broken at some national circuit tournaments and collected 3 bids. My favorite sauce is Canes Sauce and my favorite thing to dip are tortilla chips.
Join the team
Applications to instruct at NOVA 2025 are open!
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