Faculty and Staff - Beehive Forensics Institute
Jeannie Hunt – Director
Jeannie Hunt is currently the director of forensics at the University of Utah. Prior to coming to the U, Jeannie was the director of forensics at Northwest College and Kelly Walsh High School in Wyoming, and the Director of Debate at Declo High school in Idaho. She also directed the Northwest Forensics Institute in Powell, Wyoming. As a high school coach, she has worked with students that had competitive success at the local, regional, and national levels in policy debate, LD, PFD, extemporaneous speaking, interpretation events, and congressional debate, including winning multiple state titles, and coaching the Top Speaker in Policy Debate and the Poetry Champion at NFL nationals. On the collegiate level, Jeannie has coached multiple teams to first-round NPTE bids, NFA-LD Debate championship qualifications, and late elimination round appearances at NPDA nationals and the NPTE, including the NPDA National Champion and the NPTE Top Speaker. As a college competitor, Jeannie was an Academic All-American award recipient in CEDA Policy debate and won several national awards in individual events. In addition to her success in forensics, she has also presented her original research in the fields of education, feminism studies, and ruralism nationally.
Averie Vockel - Assistant Director
Averie Vockel has been with the John R. Park Debate Society for the past nine years. In her time with the U, Averie has been an undergraduate competitor, graduate assistant coach, and now assistant director. Averie has coached NFA-LD, NPDA, BP, and all collegiate individual events. She has also coached multiple students to final round appearances at local and international tournaments in numerous events and out-round appearances in After Dinner Speaking at the National Forensics Association national tournament. As a college competitor, Averie was an Academic All-American award recipient in NPDA parliamentary debate, recipient of the University of Utah Malcolm L. Sillars award for excellence in forensics, and won several awards in individual and debate events. In addition to her success in forensics, she has also presented her original research on forensics and other topics at the Western Communication Association’s regional conference and the National Communication Association’s national conference. Averie holds an undergraduate degree in communication studies and a masters degree in communication.
Ashton Poindexter - Lab Leader
Ashton Poindexter has been a competitor and coach for the John R. Park Debate Society for the past seven years. Ashton has coached NPDA, NFA-LD, and all collegiate speech events. As a competitor, Ashton was a recipient of the University of Utah Malcolm L. Sillars award for excellence in forensics and won several awards in debate events. Ashton is perennially a BFI favorite instructor, receiving rave reviews in student evaluations for his engaging, supportive, and "kinda weird" educational approach. In addition to his success in forensics, Ashton has also presented his original research on labor activism in both national and regional communication conferences.
Emma Murdock - Lab Leader
Emma Murdock is an Assistant Coach with the John R. Park Debate Society. Prior to coming to the U, Emma was the head coach of the University of Montana’s speech and debate program, where she Coached NPDA, IPDA, and collegiate individual events. Emma has coached multiple students to final-round appearances at the Pi Kappa Delta National Tournament in IPDA. As a college competitor, Emma won several awards in individual and debate events. In addition to her success in forensics, she has also presented her original research on forensics and other topics at the National Communication Association’s national conference, as well as the Western Communication Association’s regional conference.
Christian Curtiss - Lab Leader
Christian Curtiss is an incoming masters student and assistant debate coach at the University of Utah. Prior to University of Utah, Christian worked as an assistant coach for College of Idaho’s debate team, coaching primarily British Parliamentary debate. During his time coaching, multiple teams made elimination round appearances at regional and national tournaments. As a college competitor, Christian won several awards in British Parliamentary debate, and helped his team win sweepstakes at the Pi Kappa Delta national tournament. In addition to forensics, Christian has a critical interest in criminology and pedagogy, and is working on research to be presented at upcoming conferences.
Courtney Hardie - Assistant Lab Leader
Courtney has competed in forensics for the past four years, three years in high school on multiple different circuits, and then for one year on the collegiate level. She was also captain of her program in high school and now assists high schoolers in various camps and outreach efforts. Courtney has experience in CX, LD, Congress, EXT, NPDA, IPDA, NFA LD, persuasive, and impromptu speaking. Courtney was a Texas 5a district champion on the UIL circuit for two years in a row for LD, and then one year for extemp. In college, she has seen great success in all of her events. Notably placing third in NPDA debate at the annual International Forensics Association tournament in Dublin, Ireland.
Caitlin Walrath - Lab Leader
Currently an assistant coach and graduate student at the University of Utah, Caitlin is known for being able to coach all types of arguments very well. As a debater she qualified for the National Debate Tournament in policy three times, elims twice, three time Indiana Tournament winner, two time TOC qualifier and 7 bids across her career. In addition to coaching NDT first round teams at Wake Forest and Kentucky, she has also coached multiple teams to qualify to the TOC and reach its elimination rounds, as well as succeed at other national tournaments. She has worked for Notre Dame High School, McQueen High School, Niles West High School, Debate Boutique, the University of Kentucky, Wake Forest University, Pace Academy, Northside College Prep, and now works for the University of Utah. She also has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Michigan and a Masters of Art in Communication from Wake Forest University.
Samantha Watrin - Assistant Lab Leader
Samantha has been competing in speech and debate for five years, with four years of High School and one year of college experience. She has coaching experience both as a captain and president for her High School Team and as a coach at a congressional debate camp. She has competed and found success in numerous events specializing in Congress, Lincoln Douglas, and Informative in High School and Parliamentary debate in college. In High School she found the most success in Congress, winning the Utah 4A state tournament and placing 5th at the National Speech and Debate Tournament. In college she was able to advance to Octafinals at the National Parliamentary Debate Tournament as well as winning the 7th place speaker award.