Personal Stories
Shaping My Career Beyond UO: David Ross
Forensics became a vital part of my career trajectory. Computer science is a quickly growing field, but communication & organization is a vastly 'undersung' skill within it. By practicing the many skills I worked on through UO Forensics, I was able to carve a unique path for myself which let me stand out in a crowded field.
Building My Academic and Intellectual Core: David Ross
Forensics & all the associated skills that came with it was vital for my academic success. I've gone on to organize multiple community groups, & the communication training I received in my time with UO Forensics was crucial for this.
How I Found My Way to UO Forensics: David Ross
I started in forensics in high school at Willamette High School, & the UO high school forensics invitational was always the highlight of the year. It was a hub of engagement & excitement for the community across the region, & it played a significant role in my plan to attend & graduate UO.
What Forensics Has Meant to Me: Whitney Wilson
The University of Oregon Debate Team is critical to attracting high-achieving students, equipping them with the tools to succeed, and fostering a sense of community that inspires them to give back.
Today, I serve as General Manager for DoorDash, overseeing our U.S. marketplace business for the West Coast. I am also a Harvard MBA (Class of 2021), a former Presidential Scholar, and a graduate of the Clark Honors College (2012). The UO Debate Team played a defining role in that journey. In fact, it was the deciding factor in my choice to attend UO, as I wanted to continue speech and debate after high school.
My experience on the team not only shaped me personally but also motivated me to give back. For example, while at Deloitte Consulting, I established a direct recruiting pipeline from UO to Deloitte, enabling more graduates to launch successful careers. I firmly believe this instinct to invest in others came from the supportive, ambitious community I found in debate.
I attribute much of my accomplishments today to the Debate Team. It gave me critical reasoning, problem-solving, and communication skills that I use every day. More importantly, it provided the support system I didn’t otherwise have growing up. Forensics gave me both a family and a foundation - and without it, I would not be where I am today.
For me, the UO Debate Team is not just another program. It is deeply personal. It represents opportunity, growth, and community.. the very things that make a university education transformative. Cutting it would take away one of the most powerful engines for student success that UO has to offer.
Forensics and My Path to Leadership: Tommy Douglass
Forensics broadened my worldview and sharpened my understanding of systemic inequality in the United States through continuous research and debate. Educational inequity was a recurring focus during my four years at UO, and the work I did on that topic directly inspired me to pursue a career in teaching. That research not only led me to join Teach For America but also motivated me to dedicate the past three years to teaching exclusively at Title I schools, where I work every day to address the very issues I first confronted through debate.
Shaping My Career Beyond UO: Tommy Douglass
Forensics has undoubtedly made me a stronger educator. It served as the cornerstone of my résumé and played a key role in my acceptance into the Teach For America program. I now use the same style of argumentation in the classroom, but instead of convincing a judge to vote for my side, I am persuading seventh graders to believe in their ability to do math. Debate also prepared me to lead professional meetings, facilitate parent-school conferences, and analyze student data trends through the evaluative skills I developed while competing.
How I Found My Way to UO Forensics: Tommy Douglass
Forensics was transformative in my life. It shaped my love of learning, expanded my career aspirations, and provided me with a community that became like family. Beyond connecting me with lifelong friends, debate was essential to my academic success. It pushed me to consider new perspectives, investigate issues outside my immediate worldview, and refine the skills of research, writing, and advocacy. I learned how to engage meaningfully with people of differing viewpoints on issues of civic importance, an experience that continues to inform both my professional and personal life.
I can say with certainty that I would not have graduated from the Honors College, defended my thesis, or been accepted into Teach For America without the skills I honed through debate. Today, as a seventh-grade math teacher at a Title I school, I use the same persuasive strategies that once helped me win tournaments to inspire my students to believe in their ability to succeed. Debate did not just make me a stronger competitor; it made me a more effective communicator, educator, and advocate.
Equally important, UO Forensics made higher education accessible to me. Growing up in rural Oregon in a middle-class family, I was able to attend the University of Oregon because of the scholarship support that debate provided. My coach guided me as a thesis advisor, wrote recommendations for my post-college plans, and gave me opportunities to travel across the country. Competing at world-class tournaments allowed me to experience firsthand the issues we researched and debated.
After four years in high school debate and four years competing at UO, I have seen what strong, successful programs look like, and UO has always been at the forefront. Debate was the reason I chose the University of Oregon, and I will remain forever grateful for the skills, opportunities, and community it gave me.
How Forensics Elevated the University of Oregon: Brad Krupicka
Competing and successfully competing in forensics prepared me for both law school and for law schools.
Forensics and My Path to Leadership: Brad Krupicka
I was a captain on the debate team for multiple years. It was a great foundation for me in my career as I am now the managing partner for a local office of a large national law firm.
Shaping My Career Beyond UO: Brad Krupicka
I owe everything to my speech and debate career and success in law school, the legal profession, and trial experience.
How I Found My Way to UO Forensics: Brad Krupicka
I attended the UO Summer Debate Camp during high school and was enamored with the team, collegiality, and excellence of the program. After taking Fifth in the Nation in the high school nationals and winning the UO tournament I joined the team.
Shaping My Career Beyond UO: Shelby Malstrom
I credit my strong speaking and presentation skills to forensics. In my position I’m often communicating with executives, board members and private equity firms to gain investment in companies.
How I Found My Way to UO Forensics: Shelby Malstrom
I was born and raised in Oregon and participated in speech and debate all 4 years of high school. My requirement for a college was a strong forensics program and UO had that. I met the (legendary) Matt Gander at a tournament and knew UO was where I had to go. I attended the Bower Aly tournament at UO each year.
How Forensics Elevated the University of Oregon: Danielle Morris
The forensics program was instrumental in recruiting stellar students from high school programs including my 3rd year debate partner Rob Taylor-Manning. We have several national qualifiers and even semi-finalists (possibly finalists in various events). One season (with Mr. Taylor-Manning), we were the top team in the PNW (a 12-2 record) We received many trophies and awards. We were invited to conferences as undergraduates (I was back in 1983). We had fun and shared life growing up. Debate is a recruiting tool and a retention tool (in my case 100% responsible for my staying with the University).
Forensics and My Path to Leadership: Danielle Morris
I have used my skills inside professional organizations (CaCPA as a leader, president, governing board), AICPA (as part of their grass roots leadership), NGLCC as part of other TGX initiatives, National Treasurer (and board/executive committee) of A4TE (Advocates for Transgender Equality), along with receiving a City of San Jose community leadership award. I have founded professional and equity enterprises. I am constantly in demand for my opinions and values and these benefits are all directly connected with my time with Forensics.
Shaping My Career Beyond UO: Danielle Morris
Without reservation, forensics is a cornerstone of our common discourse. Forensics taught me how to frame discussions to achieve optimal outcomes. Forensics helped me (indirectly yet importantly) be accepted by post graduate programs at Harvard's Kennedy School, Dartmouth's Tuck, and a UK program via the London Law University that was held at Oxford. My ability to communicate across cultures, language, religions, and politics is all because I learned to apply the lessons of classical "Oregon" style debate. Note - I established a fund for Forensics, a first. This is how important forensics has been for me and my career.
Building My Academic and Intellectual Core: Danielle Morris
Forensics taught me so many skills that it will be difficult to describe. First it taught me to research, think, write, communicate, speak fluently, and most importantly to recognize the value of the source of any information used in communications and persuasive activities. Applying these skills, along with my liberal arts (RHCM) education, my career has been highly influenced by the skills learned via competitive forensics. I learned how to debate all sides of complex issues. I learned how to project and persuade. I learned skills and gained friendships. I met my first wife on the team (she was a 2x national semi-finalist in individual and duo interpretation). I applied my skills first in technical skills associated with being a CPA. Customers understood I had communication and thinking skills far beyond the stereotypes. I expanded into writing (courses, seminars and in 2025 my first book). I have presented at over 500 seminars and speaking events on wide ranging topics from ethics to international tax structures. I have been interviewed by every major traditional media (print, radio, and television). _ I have helped guide some of the most innovative entrepreneurs. All, IMHO, because of the combination of a quality education and most importantly, the skills learned by competitive debate.
How I Found My Way to UO Forensics: Danielle Morris
While forensics was not the reason I arrived/chose U of O, it is the sole reason I remained at the University. Prior to my spring term of my freshman year, I had already accepted a transfer to OSU. However a RHCM graduate fellow/GTF saw something special in me, and asked me to consider forensics (debate) and introduced me to Paul Gasket (then the Director). He offered me a position and I continued at Oregon and forever have been changed because forensics was open to accepting me.
Forensics and My Path to Leadership: Brooke Kuhn
The UO Forensics program helped me find a community that had been unmatched throughout my time on campus. As a group, we worked together and helped each other beyond the needs of Debate and Mock Trial. I have continued to help at team meets post-graduation and judge for the team as an independent contractor with the university because I value the department so highly. Outside of UO, I've been able to help at other events in the Eugene area due to my experience, always trying to grow the program through that exposure.
Shaping My Career Beyond UO: Brooke Kuhn
I graduated from UO just over a year ago, and I was immediately able to find work at a Eugene local credit union thanks to the speaking and advocacy skills I garnered in the program. I've had quick movement over that year, being appointed to leadership teams, branding teams, and have been promoted to the credit union's lead Mortgage Processor. I've been told by my peers and supervisors that my ability to curate talking points and make on the cuff arguments has made me a very valuable person in my workplace.
Here’s How You Can Support the Legacy.
Oregon Forensics has always been more than competition — it’s community, confidence, and lifelong connection.
Here’s how you can help keep that momentum going.