Cindi Timmons brings over four decades of debate experience and program leadership to the Dallas Urban Debate Alliance. She is excited to share her love of lifelong learning and her extensive teacher and student training background with educators in DISD middle and high schools to help every student develop their voice, pursue their dreams, and contribute to their communities. 

During her decades of experience in public and private schools, she has coached dozens of national and state champions in ten different events (including four different debate formats) while winning numerous coaching and teaching awards. She has also served the speech and debate community in local, state, national, and international leadership positions; in professional development training; in contributing articles to professional publications, both domestic and international; and in summer institute work. As part of her advocacy work, she created a summer program for rising high school students to help overcome content and skill gaps and spent extensive time working to help gifted and talented students from lower-income areas get the assistance they needed to achieve at the highest levels possible

As Co-Head Coach and Team Manager of the national USA Debate program from 2013-23, she helped lead the team to its best record in over two decades, including winning the World Championship in 2023. She also led the national team in public debates at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California, the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College, and at the Republican Club in New York City for the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation. 

She is a member of both the National Speech & Debate Association Hall of Fame and the Texas Forensic Association Hall of Fame. She is actively engaged in promoting the cause of women and minorities in debate and has hosted four national tournaments for the National Speech & Debate Association, all in the Dallas metroplex. 

In her spare time, she loves reading, writing, and traveling. She is married to a debate coach and is the proud mother of two sons.

Evan began his debate journey at JBS Law Magnet in Dallas ISD before joining the debate team at the University of Texas at Dallas. He credits debate for "helping me become the person I am, and I'm proud to represent DUDA because I can help others grow and evolve through debate to be the best versions of themselves."

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Evan brings passion and energy to his work with students and teachers. He has presented programs at the Texas Speech Communication Association's annual convention on Using a Community Advocacy Approach to Teaching Policy Debate and on Middle School Debate Research. 

Evan is excited for his second year with the Dallas Urban Debate Alliance and looks forward to working to expand debate access across the city.

Ce'Ce More has worked with talented individuals large and small for many years. After college, she began working in public education and served in one of the few positions where she got to spend time with each of the 1000 students on her campus. As her team leader and champion for the arts, she supported the school performing arts productions and was the head of the yearbook committee.

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Her leadership skills and creative experiences have served her well as the Office Administrator for Ryan Law Partners.  She has worked with Dallas Urban Debate since 2018, and supports our programs by: managing tournament registration & event logistics for over 70 campuses, engaging volunteers, and overseeing data collection & reporting. 

In her free time, she enjoys pursuing her passions and helping others. She most enjoys painting, swing-dancing, and rescuing animals. She has helped many fur babies find wonderful homes, including a few that have found their homes with her.

Gabe began his debate career in middle school with DUDA. After graduating from JBS Law Magnet, Gabe attended the University of Texas at Dallas where he continued to debate. Gabe enjoys serving the students and coaches of the District through tournament administration. 

An alumna of Irma Rangel YWLS and DUDA, Esme holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and East Asia Studies from Austin College. Presently, she serves as a bilingual elementary teacher in DISD.   She has a passion for DUDA's mission of empowering students through debate.

Bianca was a DUDA debater for W.T. White HS, before attending and graduating from UTSA. Now working in the community, she gives current students some of the same opportunities she had by serving at workshops and tournament throughout the year. 

Rafael Sanchez debated policy for 4 years at the Law Magnet and debated for the policy debate team at UTD for 3 years. He is also an assistant debate coach for Coppell High School where he has coached multiple TFA state champions. He is currently majoring in math in hopes to become a teacher so he can bring the love of debate for more kids. 

A DUDA alum, Victor enjoys giving back to the students and coaches of DISD. 

Javier debated in the DUDA circuit during high school and continued his education at the University of Texas - San Antonio, majoring in Computer Science.

He skillfully combined his debating experience with his passion for technology, achieving notable success in both his professional and academic pursuits in software engineering. 

Javier attributes much of his standout performance in the field to his debate background. He also combines his love for the city of Dallas, his passion for debate, and his expertise in technology to empower DUDA's impact on future generations of debaters in the city.

Abbie Blaker - Tournament Team

Barrett Blaker - Curriculum Coordinator     

Alex Baez - Programming Team

Karla Lainez - Administrative Team

Jennifer Melin - Tournament Team - Tab Lead

Linh Pham - Tournament Team

Andrea Reed - Tournament Team 

A TAG Magnet graduate, Francesca Gilbard was named a 2022 Debater of the Year Finalist by NAUDL after $7,000 in debate scholarships, two qualifications for nationals, and six years with DUDA. As a junior in the Dual BA Program between Columbia University and Sciences Po Paris, she spent the first two years of her undergraduate studies in Reims, France, studying a comprehensive social science curriculum with an emphasis on transatlantic relations. Now, she’s in New York City for the last two years of her program to pursue a double major in political science and human rights. Upon completing the Dual BA, she will graduate with two bachelor’s degrees, one from each institution. Having studied and worked in five countries, she’s passionate about the intersection between foreign policy and media relations. Connect with her here.

Kason Kimberley - 2007-10

Nicole Wanzer-Serrano - 2010-14

Adam Powell - 2014-17

Renee Gadson - 2017-19

Derek Liles - 2019-21