About
Mal Copeland
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Mal grew up in Kansas and debated for Shawnee Heights HS just outside of the capital city, Topeka. Mal graduated high school in 2014 and has been coaching speech and debate ever since. Mal has coached a debate team to the top 30 at NSDA Nationals and coached several speech students to top 60 and top 30 finishes. Their favorite part of debate is the intense research that goes into learning about a new topic. They’re passionate about providing a competitive and compassionate place to debate.
In their free time Mal likes to rollerskate and watch bad reality TV. They are currently on a journey to try every donut in the city.
Mallory@portlanddebate.org
Miriana Mason
Program Associate
Miriana is currently a junior at Lewis & Clark College where she studies Psychology and Philosophy. She also competes on the Lewis & Clark speech and debate team in a number of individual speech events and British Parliamentary Debate. Miriana is originally from Texas where she competed on the Whitehouse Highschool Debate team in Policy and Lincoln Douglas Debate. Miriana's favorite part of debate is creating well-formed arguments and learning new things. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, climbing, reading, and crocheting
Board of Directors
Jake Weigler
President
Jake grew up in Portland and debated for Lincoln High School. He later attended New York University, where he founded their policy debate team. Jake was also a coach in the New York Urban Debate League, and later served as the coach for George Washington University’s debate program.
In his professional life, Jake is a partner at Praxis Political. He previously worked in the offices of the Oregon Governor, Attorney General, and Superintendent of Public Instruction. He lives in Southeast Portland with his wife and two kids.
Russell Hanes
Secretary
Russell grew up in Nashville and debated for University School. He later attended Columbia University, where he was the president of the policy debate team, as well as the treasurer of the Model European Union team. Russell volunteered for the New York Urban Debate League, and he worked as a debate coach for Damien High School, California; Potomac School, Virginia; and Lakeridge High School, Oregon.
Russell is currently the mathematics department chairperson at Northwest Academy, a private arts-focused school for grades 6-12. He has written textbooks on debate and statistics and continues to publish articles on debate and teaching mathematics. Russell lives in Southeast Portland with his two daughters.
Amanda Haines
Board Member
Amanda came to Portland from Boise, Idaho, where she completed her undergraduate degree in Political Science. Prior to transferring to Boise State, Amanda was a proud member of the Wake Forest debate team (2010-14). During that time she attended a variety of regional tournaments, often receiving speaker awards and advancing to elimination rounds. Amanda graduated Lewis & Clark Law School in 2021 and currently works as the Anti-Displacement PDX Coalition Director at Unite Oregon. For fun, Amanda loves to explore Portland’s beautiful scenery with furry friends!
A. Sidhu
Board Member
A. is a student at Portland State University studying Sociology & Political Science. Currently, she is a McNair and URISE scholar conducting research on the impacts of criminalization on the sex trades in the state of Oregon. Her debate experience includes 4 years of policy debate in Kansas, as well as assistant coaching middle school and high school debate programs throughout college. Avneet has served on the board since 2020 and is most passionate about increasing accessibility in the debate space for historically underserved populations.
Jared Hager
Board Member
Jared is an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Oregon, representing the federal government’s interests in civil litigation in the state with an emphasis on enforcing civil rights law. He is a native of the Portland area, having grown up in Gresham. He joined the speech and policy debate team his junior year of high school at Sam Barlow. He received a speech and debate scholarship from Lewis & Clark College. After 4 years of intercollegiate competition (and one year of menial labor), Jared went to law school at the University of Minnesota where he graduated first in his class.
Hayley Hollis
Board Member
Hayley grew up in Texas and competed in policy debate at Frenship High School just outside Lubbock, Texas. Throughout undergrad, Hayley volunteered as a debate coach for local and state tournaments. In 2008, Hayley returned to the debate world as a speech and debate coach for Waller High School, just outside of Houston. One of the highlights of her coaching career included traveling to the Harvard Tournament and seeing how well her team performed at such a competitive event. Hayley shifted gears in 2016, moving to Portland to attend Lewis and Clark Law School. She is currently working as an attorney with a focus on insurance defense and coverage. Hayley is passionate about supporting student success and imparting the importance of debate and public speaking.
In her free time, Hayley enjoys traveling and attending concerts, even better when she can combine the two!
Kristi Skalman
Board Member
Kristi is a family law attorney in the Portland Metro area. She joined the PUDL board in September 2023 with the hopes that her extensive litigation and in court experience would be valuable for students. As a BIPOC attorney in this area, she understands the importance and need for representation in debate and policy, and is excited to contribute in any way that she can to further the efforts of PUDL in making these programs accessible to minority students.
Student Board
Bryson Camat
Centennial HS
I’m Bryson, and I have been doing debate since Sophomore year. I am a senior, interested in finance, business, and communications. I like that debate displays first hand critical thinking when under pressure, training your mental process to something when light is shining on you on the spot. It is also similar to chess in that there are many openings that you can do such as the topics, evidence, on-case/off-case, and the entire structure of debate; it gets you to expand your strategy and tactics. Simultaneously, you learn some basic skills that translates to life, such as being brave while talking in public, clearer communication skills, analyzing and interpreting, fast decision making, and humbleness.
Outside of debate I am captain of my tennis team; I have been a member of the varsity team since Freshman year and been playing tennis since I was four years old. I am also a tutor. I love to read, write, and hang out with friends.
Seryca Monroe
Reynolds HS
I am a junior at Reynolds High School, and I have been doing speech and debate for three years. These past two years I have been in leadership roles on my team including social media manager, as well as speech captain.
My favorite thing about speech is actually just the type of speech I prefer to do. I love doing ADS (After Dinner Speaking) and have done very well with my past speeches, including qualifying for the State Championship. ADS is a very creative form of speech that allows me to cross some lines, make a fool of myself, and be serious all at the same time. I've done things ranging from name dropping of my teachers, to making fun of myself, and even doing some pretty odd movements to add to the experience. My favorite thing about debate is the things I learn not only from my own research for cases, but also from my opponents. I have learned about how they think, how one can interpret topics, and more. Then of course it is also just a very fun environment with lots of people to meet and connect with, which is always an added bonus.
Besides speech and debate I love to read and write, as well as ride my skateboard.
Luke Susswood
Franklin HS
I'm Luke Susswood, a junior at Franklin High School and I've been competing in debate since the start of my sophomore year, although I'd argue I've been debating almost everything since the day I learned the word no. I love debate for the energy and empowerment I feel while competing, but I especially love the amazing community PUDL has built around policy debate in Portland. Outside of debate, I love writing and working on my school paper, The Franklin Post.
Sidrah Schramm
McDaniel HS
Hello! I am Sidrah Schramm from McDaniel High School. This is my second year doing debate. One of my favorite parts of debate is the community, everyone is very interesting and nice. On top of that I love how debate pushes me to think about problems from different angles, often ones I would not think to take. Outside of policy debate I love playing soccer and ultimate, and enjoy painting, reading, science, tutoring, volunteering, and gardening.
I’m a sophomore at Parkrose HS. This is my second year doing debate, and last year I qualified to State as a novice. I like learning/debating about real world issues and learning new vocabulary I also play high school & club soccer and am in band.
Niko Glenn
Parkrose HS
Alumni Board
Zane Emerson
Alum of McDaniel HS
I went to high school at Leodis V. McDaniel High School, and I attend college at Lewis & Clark College. I have been doing debate for 5 years and counting. Debate has helped me think more clearly and critically in all aspects of my life; plus, I love how I feel during a debate. When I'm not debating I like to play board games, discuss politics and philosophy, and walk around Portland with my friends.