Faculty and Staff - Beehive Forensics Institute 

Averie Vockel - Assistant Director

Averie Vockel has been with the John R. Park Debate Society for the past ten 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 eight 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 a 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.