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Faculty and Staff - 2026 Beehive Forensics Institute 

Duncan Stewart - Director 

duncan stewart

Duncan Stewart earned his PhD from the Department of Communication at the University of Utah. This year will be his 18th year involved in forensics. He has coached Utah state champions and NDT semifinalists, as well as top speakers at both speech and debate nationals. Currently, he directs the John R. Park Debate Society at the U and teaches courses as an assistant professor. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Megan Baus - Lab Leader 

megan baus

Megan (they/she) is a doctoral student originally from Salem, Oregon. Aspirant to work in river restoration, they graduated from Oregon State University in 2024 with a degree in Ecological Engineering. Their time spent on the river showed them the human side of ecosystem management and led them to pursue an interdisciplinary MA to study rhetoric and natural resource management. Megan chose to continue that education by studying environmental rhetoric and stakeholder interactions at the U because of the department's environmental communication research and grounded approach to rhetoric. They are excited to explore Salt Lake City and take advantage of the state's outdoor opportunities. Outside of academics, they spend their time on the river, rock climbing, and making zines. Megan also has a cumulative ten years of forensics experience, spending the last two as an assistant coach for Oregon State University. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Ashton Poindexter - Lab Leader

ashton poindexter

Ashton is a Ph.D. student and debate coach at the University of Utah. He believes firmly that some of the most enjoyable activities in life are ones where you are learning and improving. For Ashton, debate is important because of the way its competitive framework enables a key form of participatory education that is generative of critical thinking skills. 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. Outside of debate, Ashton enjoys going to the gym, playing video games, and listening to podcasts.

 

 

 

Myra Hicks - Lab Leader

myra hicks

Myra is a rising junior at the University of Utah studying political science, communication with an emphasis in journalism, and international studies. She has six years of competitive speech and debate experience, two of    which with the John R. Park Debate Society. As a collegiate competitor, Myra has competed in NPDA and CEDA  debate, and limited prep, interp, and platform speech events. She has competed in out rounds at the National     Forensics Association tournament, and received CEDA All-American recognition in 2026. Myra has taught original oratory labs at WSDA camps in China, PF and congress lectures for local high school students, and has taught speech and debate in elementary school classrooms. 

 

 

 

 

 

Juan Boscan - Lab Leader

juan boscan

Juan Boscan is a third-year member of the John R. Park Debate Society, where he has competed in CEDA, NPDA, IPDA, NFA-LD, and individual events. During his time with the team, Juan has competed at regional and national tournaments, earning recognition in multiple debate and speech events. He has qualified numerous individual events for the National Forensic Association national tournament. He also received an All-American distinction from CEDA in 2026. Juan has also contributed to the debate community through coaching and mentorship, including helping support the society's Refugee Debate League and teaching clinics. Juan is pursuing a triple major in Political Science, Economics, and International Studies at the University of Utah.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Averie Vockel - Lab Leader

averie vockel

Averie Vockel is the Assistant Director of the John R. Park Debate Society and Debate Across the Curriculum Program Manager for the University of Utah’s new Center for Civic Discourse and Debate. For the past ten years, Averie has been with the debate society in several capacities, including competitor, graduate assistant coach, outreach manager, and now assistant director. Averie has coached nearly all collegiate debate formats, including NFA-LD, NPDA, BP, CEDA, 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 at the National Forensics Association national tournament. Averie’s work with the team’s outreach programs includes facilitating public events, summer programming, clinics, establishing the Refugee Debate League, and more! Averie’s commitment to service and the forensics community also includes serving as the Speech Activities Coordinator for the Western States Communication Association and working at summer camps with WeSchool Speech and Debate in China. As a college competitor, Averie was an Academic All-American award recipient in NPDA parliamentary debate and a recipient of the University of Utah Malcolm L. Sillars award for excellence in forensics. 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. She will begin her doctoral program with the College of Education at the University of Utah this fall.

Last Updated: 7/20/26