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SACHIN JAIN
Executive Director and Founder
Sachin is the founder of Athens Debate. Sachin has 20 years of experience teaching Speech and Debate. His students have achieved champion-level success at the local, state, and national levels. He completed his undergraduate degree Summa Cum Laude from UC Berkeley and his Masters of Public Policy from the top ranked policy school in the country, UC Berkeley's Goldman School of Public Policy. Before starting Athens Debate, Sachin used his experience in Speech and Debate to find success in the real world. Sachin has worked in political and policy roles at the United States Senate, White House, San Jose City Council, the Governor of California, President of the UC System, and the Mayor of San Jose. He enjoys teaching students how to make debate come alive for them and be applicable to their future pursuits. Speech and debate changed his life and he hopes to do the same for all of his students.
Executive Director and Founder
Sachin is the founder of Athens Debate. Sachin has 20 years of experience teaching Speech and Debate. His students have achieved champion-level success at the local, state, and national levels. He completed his undergraduate degree Summa Cum Laude from UC Berkeley and his Masters of Public Policy from the top ranked policy school in the country, UC Berkeley's Goldman School of Public Policy. Before starting Athens Debate, Sachin used his experience in Speech and Debate to find success in the real world. Sachin has worked in political and policy roles at the United States Senate, White House, San Jose City Council, the Governor of California, President of the UC System, and the Mayor of San Jose. He enjoys teaching students how to make debate come alive for them and be applicable to their future pursuits. Speech and debate changed his life and he hopes to do the same for all of his students.
MICHAEL EPLEY
Vice President
Mike Epley has taught with Athens Debate for nearly four years and is one of those instructors that students talk about with reverence for years. Mr. Epley has coached speech and debate since 2013. Mike has a degree in Communication Studies with an emphasis on Rhetoric at University of San Francisco, where he earned a scholarship to captain the debate team. A successful competitor, Mike earned gold medal at state and national tournaments in Parliamentary, Lincoln-Douglas, and Parliamentary-LD debate, and was voted 2013 Northern California Forensics Association Debater of the Year.
Mike joined speech and debate for the love of competition, but the activity has given him so much more than just trophies. Thanks to speech and debate, Mike is a skilled communicator and a confident, vocal advocate. The passion for effective, confident advocacy that Mike developed as a competitor is what drove him to become an educator, with the belief that the study of speech and debate transforms the way we engage with the world, making strong critical thinkers and better communicators. There’s no subject he’d rather teach.
Vice President
Mike Epley has taught with Athens Debate for nearly four years and is one of those instructors that students talk about with reverence for years. Mr. Epley has coached speech and debate since 2013. Mike has a degree in Communication Studies with an emphasis on Rhetoric at University of San Francisco, where he earned a scholarship to captain the debate team. A successful competitor, Mike earned gold medal at state and national tournaments in Parliamentary, Lincoln-Douglas, and Parliamentary-LD debate, and was voted 2013 Northern California Forensics Association Debater of the Year.
Mike joined speech and debate for the love of competition, but the activity has given him so much more than just trophies. Thanks to speech and debate, Mike is a skilled communicator and a confident, vocal advocate. The passion for effective, confident advocacy that Mike developed as a competitor is what drove him to become an educator, with the belief that the study of speech and debate transforms the way we engage with the world, making strong critical thinkers and better communicators. There’s no subject he’d rather teach.
ZAHRA ALAMIRE
Instructor
Zahra Alamire is a graduate of UC Berkeley and holds a Law Degree (Juris Doctorate) from UC Hastings School of Law. She currently clerks for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Zahra has over 7 years of debate teaching experience. She has taught at numerous academies and is highly sought after. As a debater, Zahra was a U.S. National Champion in debate, a California State Champion in college through the College Forensics Association, and won 1st Place in Parliamentary Debate at the National Parliamentary Debate Association tournament. We are very excited to have Zahra on the teaching team!
Instructor
Zahra Alamire is a graduate of UC Berkeley and holds a Law Degree (Juris Doctorate) from UC Hastings School of Law. She currently clerks for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Zahra has over 7 years of debate teaching experience. She has taught at numerous academies and is highly sought after. As a debater, Zahra was a U.S. National Champion in debate, a California State Champion in college through the College Forensics Association, and won 1st Place in Parliamentary Debate at the National Parliamentary Debate Association tournament. We are very excited to have Zahra on the teaching team!
BEN UNANAOWO
Instructor
Mr. Unanaowo is a seasoned Forensics Speech Coach with 20 years of experience. He had the pleasure of competing for two of the most storied programs in the history of Speech and Debate. The James Logan High School Forensics team and the Western Kentucky University Forensics team. His pedigree afforded him a wealth of knowledge due to the Hall of Fame and championship coaches who mentored him. Mr. Unanaowo specializes in finding diverse and challenging performance material. However, Mr. Unanaowo's true passion is writing. Creative writing, persuasive and informative is his specialty. Competitively, Mr. Unanaowo was the CHSSA State Champion in Original Oratory, the Emory University Barkley Forum Champion in Original Oratory, NSDA National Finalist in Oratory, and is a 6-time College Forensics Finalist. Mr. Unanaowo has coached champions of the Kentucky TOC Informative Speaking Champion (2020), NSDA National Finalist Program Oral Interpretation (2019), National Champion in Dramatic Interpretation NIETOC (2018), and the CHASSA State Champion in Dramatic Interpretation (2017). Mr. Unanaowo holds Bachelors of Arts in History w/ Minor in Broadcasting. Mr. Unanaowo will lead the Athens Speech program for the upcoming year.
Instructor
Mr. Unanaowo is a seasoned Forensics Speech Coach with 20 years of experience. He had the pleasure of competing for two of the most storied programs in the history of Speech and Debate. The James Logan High School Forensics team and the Western Kentucky University Forensics team. His pedigree afforded him a wealth of knowledge due to the Hall of Fame and championship coaches who mentored him. Mr. Unanaowo specializes in finding diverse and challenging performance material. However, Mr. Unanaowo's true passion is writing. Creative writing, persuasive and informative is his specialty. Competitively, Mr. Unanaowo was the CHSSA State Champion in Original Oratory, the Emory University Barkley Forum Champion in Original Oratory, NSDA National Finalist in Oratory, and is a 6-time College Forensics Finalist. Mr. Unanaowo has coached champions of the Kentucky TOC Informative Speaking Champion (2020), NSDA National Finalist Program Oral Interpretation (2019), National Champion in Dramatic Interpretation NIETOC (2018), and the CHASSA State Champion in Dramatic Interpretation (2017). Mr. Unanaowo holds Bachelors of Arts in History w/ Minor in Broadcasting. Mr. Unanaowo will lead the Athens Speech program for the upcoming year.
ADAM TOMASI
Instructor
Adams Tomsai was a high-school Lincoln-Douglas debater, He was a three-time elimination round participant at the Tournament of Champions (TOC). He reached the Quarterfinals of TOC his sophomore and senior years, and Octafinals his junior year. His senior year, Adam was the #1 seed at the TOC after prelims. Throughout his LD career, Adam was invited to multiple round robins at Harvard University, the Bronx High School of Science, West Des Moines Valley High School, and Presentation High School. Adam was a two-time Massachusetts State Debate Champion - his sophomore and senior years, and championed the Wake Forest invitational as well. Adam has displayed versatility in traditional LD, Policy arguments, Kritiks, and theory debate. As a college Policy debater, Adam reached elimination rounds at multiple national tournaments and was considered for a second-round bid to the National Debate Tournament (NDT) in my sophomore, junior, and senior years. His senior year, Adam and his partner were the Second Alternate team at the NDT. He was also a two-time ACC debate champion and three-time finalist.Adam has also been a briefs writer for Champion Briefs since 2015. Adam earned his Bachelors in History and Communication from Wake Forest University and is now pursuing his PhD in World History at Northeastern University.
Instructor
Adams Tomsai was a high-school Lincoln-Douglas debater, He was a three-time elimination round participant at the Tournament of Champions (TOC). He reached the Quarterfinals of TOC his sophomore and senior years, and Octafinals his junior year. His senior year, Adam was the #1 seed at the TOC after prelims. Throughout his LD career, Adam was invited to multiple round robins at Harvard University, the Bronx High School of Science, West Des Moines Valley High School, and Presentation High School. Adam was a two-time Massachusetts State Debate Champion - his sophomore and senior years, and championed the Wake Forest invitational as well. Adam has displayed versatility in traditional LD, Policy arguments, Kritiks, and theory debate. As a college Policy debater, Adam reached elimination rounds at multiple national tournaments and was considered for a second-round bid to the National Debate Tournament (NDT) in my sophomore, junior, and senior years. His senior year, Adam and his partner were the Second Alternate team at the NDT. He was also a two-time ACC debate champion and three-time finalist.Adam has also been a briefs writer for Champion Briefs since 2015. Adam earned his Bachelors in History and Communication from Wake Forest University and is now pursuing his PhD in World History at Northeastern University.
SARA ABDELHAMID
Instructor
Sara attends Stanford University, where she studies Public Policy and International Relations. Sara loves to teach and is highly sought after by her students. With her years of experience teaching speech and debate, Sara makes the classroom come alive with her lively approach to teaching and knack for understanding how to connect with students. In addition to teaching, Sara brings years of substantive policy and advocacy experience from her time working at places like the ACLU, March for Our Lives, and the Council on Islamic Relations. Sara is a fantastic role model for students. Sara's work ethic led her to be Valedictorian of her graduating class and, of course, acceptance to Stanford University.
Instructor
Sara attends Stanford University, where she studies Public Policy and International Relations. Sara loves to teach and is highly sought after by her students. With her years of experience teaching speech and debate, Sara makes the classroom come alive with her lively approach to teaching and knack for understanding how to connect with students. In addition to teaching, Sara brings years of substantive policy and advocacy experience from her time working at places like the ACLU, March for Our Lives, and the Council on Islamic Relations. Sara is a fantastic role model for students. Sara's work ethic led her to be Valedictorian of her graduating class and, of course, acceptance to Stanford University.
YESH RAO
Instructor
Yesh Rao is an expert in Lincoln-Douglas debate and universally considered one of the most successful debaters in the history of the activity. When Yesh was a sophomore, he accumulated 13 bids to the Tournament of Championships (most students never acquire even a single bid in their debate careers - the nation's very best average about 2 to 3 in their careers), the most by any sophomore in history and was ranked as a top debater in the nation. Previously, Yesh was a Middle School State Championship in California, and championed numerous national Tournament of Champions Bid tournaments such as the Columbia Invitational and the Lexington Invitational. Within his career, he has valued the importance of using ethos in order to convince judges, a skill learned from competing in numerous traditional tournaments. Yesh works with our Advanced Debate students and is a key driver of our Advanced Debate curriculum.
Instructor
Yesh Rao is an expert in Lincoln-Douglas debate and universally considered one of the most successful debaters in the history of the activity. When Yesh was a sophomore, he accumulated 13 bids to the Tournament of Championships (most students never acquire even a single bid in their debate careers - the nation's very best average about 2 to 3 in their careers), the most by any sophomore in history and was ranked as a top debater in the nation. Previously, Yesh was a Middle School State Championship in California, and championed numerous national Tournament of Champions Bid tournaments such as the Columbia Invitational and the Lexington Invitational. Within his career, he has valued the importance of using ethos in order to convince judges, a skill learned from competing in numerous traditional tournaments. Yesh works with our Advanced Debate students and is a key driver of our Advanced Debate curriculum.
NINA RAMCHANDANI
Instructor
Nina attends Stanford University and has been teaching with Athens Debate for nearly four years. She competed in a wide array of Speech and Debate events in high school, including Policy debate, LD debate and Expository speaking. Nina was most notably known for kritikal type argumentation in high school, and reached elimination rounds at tournaments like Long Beach and Alta. In addition to her competition on the national circuit, Nina competed in the Coast Forensic League for Presentation High School. She also received wildcards at multiple CFLs in Policy. Nina credits debate as the spark of her intellectual curiosity and drive to enhance communication among people, both in policy and at an individual level. She has taken these skills from debate into the real-world by interning for the Vice-Mayor of Mountain View, serving as a Teaching Assistant in school, and writing Public Policy memos to send to legislators. Nina loves working with others, learning, and sharing her knowledge - teaching our beginner students is a joy for her!
Instructor
Nina attends Stanford University and has been teaching with Athens Debate for nearly four years. She competed in a wide array of Speech and Debate events in high school, including Policy debate, LD debate and Expository speaking. Nina was most notably known for kritikal type argumentation in high school, and reached elimination rounds at tournaments like Long Beach and Alta. In addition to her competition on the national circuit, Nina competed in the Coast Forensic League for Presentation High School. She also received wildcards at multiple CFLs in Policy. Nina credits debate as the spark of her intellectual curiosity and drive to enhance communication among people, both in policy and at an individual level. She has taken these skills from debate into the real-world by interning for the Vice-Mayor of Mountain View, serving as a Teaching Assistant in school, and writing Public Policy memos to send to legislators. Nina loves working with others, learning, and sharing her knowledge - teaching our beginner students is a joy for her!
ANAND SUNDARAM
Tournament Manager and Supplemental Instructor
Anand comes to Athens from UCLA where he studied Applied Math. Anand's was a nationally renowned debater in high school, reaching semifinals at UC Berkeley twice, late elimination rounds at Stanford, and qualifying for the State Championships and the Tournament of Champions. Anand has several years of teaching experience and has coached at prestigious programs like the Monta Vista High School debate program.
Tournament Manager and Supplemental Instructor
Anand comes to Athens from UCLA where he studied Applied Math. Anand's was a nationally renowned debater in high school, reaching semifinals at UC Berkeley twice, late elimination rounds at Stanford, and qualifying for the State Championships and the Tournament of Champions. Anand has several years of teaching experience and has coached at prestigious programs like the Monta Vista High School debate program.
VANESSA NGUYEN
Instructor
Vanessa Nguyen is a student at the University of Southern California. In high school, she competed in Policy debate and LD debate, where she won multiple speaker awards and tournaments. Vanessa is a Kansas State Debate Champion, reached late elimination rounds at national circuit tournaments such as Blake, Berkeley, KCKCC, Blue Valley Southwest, and the JW Patterson Invitational. In addition to her success at debate tournaments, she took on the additional role of being a coach for younger debaters where she created the curriculum for and facilitated team practices throughout the season.Vanessa’s debate experience has given her a real sense of leadership and continues to help her grow, intellectually and socially. The importance of strategic argumentation, communication, and advocacy extends outside of tournaments. These skills have proven to be invaluable in her work experience at immigration and healthcare firms, as a policy analyst at think-tanks, and in her consulting clubs at college. Vanessa is thrilled to be a part of Athens Debate and work with students to help them reach their goals!
Instructor
Vanessa Nguyen is a student at the University of Southern California. In high school, she competed in Policy debate and LD debate, where she won multiple speaker awards and tournaments. Vanessa is a Kansas State Debate Champion, reached late elimination rounds at national circuit tournaments such as Blake, Berkeley, KCKCC, Blue Valley Southwest, and the JW Patterson Invitational. In addition to her success at debate tournaments, she took on the additional role of being a coach for younger debaters where she created the curriculum for and facilitated team practices throughout the season.Vanessa’s debate experience has given her a real sense of leadership and continues to help her grow, intellectually and socially. The importance of strategic argumentation, communication, and advocacy extends outside of tournaments. These skills have proven to be invaluable in her work experience at immigration and healthcare firms, as a policy analyst at think-tanks, and in her consulting clubs at college. Vanessa is thrilled to be a part of Athens Debate and work with students to help them reach their goals!