Policy Instructors

Policy

Latoya Green, Instructor

LaToya Green's captivating and authentic style engrosses audiences, introducing them to tips and techniques that cultivate a stronger foundation of purpose. With a belief that "inspired people, inspire people," she seamlessly weaves this notion throughout all her lectures and presentations. As the founder of Higher Definition Leadership & Empowerment Coaching, LaToya brings over 14 years of experience in community and academic organizational leadership, coupled with 19 years of competitive debate and argumentation experience. Proficient in persuasion, advocacy, strategic planning, and leadership development, she embodies a wealth of knowledge.

LaToya has delivered presentations at esteemed institutions such as Columbia University, Morgan State University, the University of Kansas, the University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Kentucky. Holding a bachelor's in Communication-Public Relations and a master's in Communication-Rhetoric, she currently serves as a professor and director of Debate at California State University, Fullerton. LaToya is celebrated as one of the foremost performance debate scholars and judges in the activity.

Eric Lanning, Instructor

Eric Lanning currently serves as an assistant coach for the UH Honors Debate program. Prior to his role, Eric held positions as the program coordinator for the University of Texas and academic director of the National Speech and Debate Association of China.

As a competitor, Eric boasts remarkable achievements, including winning the National Debate Tournament and achieving the second individual speaker and second overall seed twice. He is a two-time recipient of a first-round at-large bid to the NDT and ranked third in the Copeland award for season-long excellence. Throughout the regular season, Eric clinched victories at the prestigious Kentucky Open tournament and round robin, while also securing top speaker awards at both events.

Beyond his competitive success, Eric brings decades of coaching experience at the highest levels of policy debate. He has played a pivotal role in coaching numerous national champions, including consecutive winners of the Tournament of Champions and recipients of the Baker Award for season-long excellence. Eric's students have attained victory at nearly every major national tournament, including Greenhill, the Glenbrooks, Emory, and Harvard tournaments. Additionally, at the college level, Eric has coached multiple first-round teams, NDT semifinalists, and CEDA national champions.

For nearly 20 years, Eric has been a dedicated instructor at various summer debate institutes, including the Houston Urban Debate League, University of Texas, Michigan State University, Stanford, and Gonzaga. His former students have achieved success at both the Tournament of Champions and the National Debate Tournament.

Michael Wimsatt, Instructor

Michael Wimsatt has had a distinguished career as both a debater and coach at UC Berkeley. He advanced to the semifinals of the National Debate Tournament and secured victories in several tournaments. As a coach, he replicated this success, guiding his teams to multiple tournament championships and leading a team to claim the prestigious Copeland Award. Currently, Wimsatt serves as an assistant coach at the University of Houston while also managing political campaigns in California.

Curtis Ortega, Instructor

Curtis Ortega is a policy debater for the California State University of Long Beach. He has received two first round at large bids to the NDT, along with numerous top 10 speaker awards at major tournaments. Ortega's debate journey began in the Los Angeles Urban Debate League (LAMDL), where he competed throughout his four years of high school. He has shared his expertise as a teacher at the Wyoming Debate Institute and the Los Angeles Metropolitan Debate Summer Camp. Committed to giving back to the debate community, Ortega finds joy in inspiring and instructing emerging debaters while coaching various debate activities. Outside of debate, he indulges his passion for horticulture by tending to plants and enjoys leisurely visits to parks. Ortega eagerly anticipates meeting everyone this summer!

Jaysyn Green

Jaysyn Green began her competitive career in 2011 through participating in World School Debate and mock trial, this sparked a love for the activity. In 2016 Jaysyn began college at California State University, Long Beach where she competed in both speech and debate. Through her college career Jaysyn qualified for AFA twice in speech. As a debater she competed in Parliamentary, IPDA, and policy debate where she primarily ran kritical arguments associated with anti-Blackness, colonialism, and radical feminism. She ended her college debate career as 2x CEDA All-American Debater and qualified for the 2020 National Debate Tournament. Jaysyn has continued to be involved in speech and debate by coaching for Cal State Long Beach, the Harker School, and working with the Los Angeles Metropolitan Debate League.

Shannon Howley

Shannon Howley is currently a coach for the UH Honors Debate program. Previously, Shannon was a an assistant coach at Wake Forest University while a graduate student in Communications. She has coached high school students and taught at various summer debate institutes.

Shannon debated in high school for four years in various debate activities. She continued to debate in college at George Mason University where she had competitive success at multiple national tournaments.

Outside of debate, Shannon is a doctorate student and research assistant at the University of Rhode Island studying Marine Affairs. She loves the beach, going for hikes, and climbing.

Jeremiah Rimpson

Jeremiah Rimpson just finished his first year of college debate at the University of Kentucky where he was the top seed at CEDA Nationals and a quarterfinalist at ADA Nationals. Jeremiah loves debate and has researched a variety of arguments and positions regarding all flavors, including researching and winning a variety of different arguments, including T, Disads, Counterplans, Framework and Kritiques. Jeremiah's favorite topic inclues arguments on black studies and much more.