Dr. Leah White, Director of Forensics, received her BA degree in Communication from Concordia College, her MA in Speech from Kansas State University, and her Ph.D. in Communication from Arizona State University. As an undergraduate competitor she was an AFA national finalist in Communication Analysis and quarter-finalist in Impromptu Speaking. As a coach she has been honored to work with several national champions. Leah’s academic interests include performance studies, feminist theory and autobiography.
Professor Jim Dimock, Assistant Director of Forensics, received his BA degree in Speech Communication and History from Black Hills State University in South Dakota, his MA in Communication Studies from the University of South Dakota and his MFA in Forensics from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Jim began his forensic career competing for Rapid City Stevens High School and continued while an undergraduate at Black Hills State. He actively competed in extemporaneous speaking, impromptu, persuasion and debate. He was not so successful at duo and prose. His academic interests include ethics and rhetoric.
David Brennan, Graduate Assistant Coach, received his B.S. in Speech Communication from MSU, Mankato in 2007, where he was also a 4-year competitor on the forensic team. Formerly a coach and competitor for both the Speech and Debate teams at Mankato East High School, David has been involved with Minnesota forensics for over a decade. David was a 2006 State Champion in After-Dinner Speaking and had multiple events qualify for national tournaments. Currently working towards his MFA in Forensic Coaching, David continues his passion for the activity through coaching.
Megan Orcholski, Graduate Assistant Coach, received her BA degree in Speech Communication and Theatre Arts from North Central College in Naperville, IL. Her competitive success, community service commitments and strong academic standing resulted in her membership on the 2005 AFA-NIET All-American Team. She was a national quarterfinalist in poetry interpretation at the NFA National Tournament that same year.
Alyssa Reid, Graduate Assistant Coach, received her BA degree from California State University, Long Beach in Communication; Culture and Public Affairs. She has been an active forensic participant since 1999. She has advanced to elimination rounds at the AFA and NFA national tournaments over 10 times. Most notably, at the 2008 AFA-NIET she placed 3rd in Prose Interpretation, 5th in Duo Interpretation and was 6th in Individual Sweepstakes. In the same year at the NFA National Tournament she placed 5th in Prose Interpretation and 14th in Pentathlon. She is currently pursuing an MFA degree in Forensics.
Amara Thomas, Graduate Assistant Coach, received her BS in Communication Studies from Illinois State University in Normal, IL. She competed in forensics during all four years of high school and college. Amara has competed in all 11 events, and has performed in national out-rounds of Public Address, Limited Preparation, and Oral Interpretation. She believes in forensics, creativity is just as important as hard work.
Ben Walker, Graduate Assistant Coach, earned his BA in Secondary Education-English/Speech from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He worked as the Assistant Coach to UW-Whitewater’s forensics team for the 08-09 season. During his undergraduate forensic career he competed in Prose, DI, POI, Poetry, Duo, Informative, and Impromptu, and enjoyed every minute of it. He was fortunate enough to be a finalist in Informative Speaking and a semi-finalist in Prose Interpretation at the Pi Kappa Delta National Championship his senior year. At the same tournament, he also placed 7th in Individual Sweepstakes.
