Roundtable Debate Academy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to giving more people access to debate.
Meet RDA's Executive Team!
Strong debaters with proven experience, combining extensive competition exposure with the ability to think critically, construct persuasive arguments, and respond effectively under pressure.
Serena Zhang
CEO, President of RoundTable Debate
Hi, my name is Serena Zhang, and I’m a rising junior at Cate School. I am the CEO and President of Round Table Debate Academy. My journey in speech and debate started off with my participation in Model United Nations conferences such as Harvard Model Congress, NYU MUN, and UCLA MUN. I serve as a Co-Head of Cate’s Varsity Debate team, Ewe Speaks, and am a two-year semifinalist of the Southern California Ethics Bowl.
Josie Song
Vice-President of RoundTable Debate / Co-Mock Trial Head
Hi! My name is Josie Song and I am a rising junior at Cate School. Currently I serve as the Vice-President of RoundTable Debate and am a co-founder of RoundTable's mock trial curriculum. My experience with debate started in early middle school with British Parliamentary. Apart of Cate's Varsity Ethics Bowl Team we advanced as Southern Californian Semi-Finalists.
Kaia Yee
Webb Chapter President
Hi, my name is Kaia Yee! I am a rising junior at The Webb Schools. I am the Webb Chapter President for Round Table Debate Academy. I have been doing debate for 6 years, primarily competing in Parliamentary Debate. In addition to competing, I help my local middle school speech and debate program. I recently placed 2nd at the HSPDP tournament and earned 3rd place in Original Advocacy Speech at the Big Wave Dave Invitational.
Analise Gomez
Co-Mock Trial Head
Hi, my name is Analise Gomez, and I am a rising senior at Cate School. I am a teacher for RoundTable’s mock trial camp and a co-founder of the mock trial curriculum. I have participated in mock trial throughout high school and have been awarded the best attorney award in my two most recent trials. In addition to mock trial, I love representing my school in Model UN and have dedicated myself to creating a law review journal.
Meet RDA Founder Kathy Duan!
Read Kathy's Founder's Letter:
As a debater, I have experienced the merits that debate has offered me: critical thinking skills, public speaking skills, collaboration, and most importantly, my passion for politics and social justice. Unfortunately, these opportunities are not evenly distributed. With only 30% of schools offering debate and most debate camps being extremely expensive, debate is an exclusive activity. I wanted to do something to help.
Therefore, I founded Roundtable Debate Academy. We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to giving more people access to debate by offering free debate classes. I, as well as our team of teachers, hope to bring the joy of debate to more people.
If you believe in our mission, you have found the right place. I strongly believe that our work will contribute to addressing the issues of educational inequality.
Teachers.
Meet your debate specialists. Here for you.
Student instructors from California's top boarding schools are bringing debate education to you.
Debate Instructor
Libbi Ever-Hadani
Hi, my name is Libbi Ever-Hadani, and I am a rising sophomore at Cate School. I believe that teaching is the best way to learn, and strive to support students positively and provoke deep thinking. Some of my honors and experiences include:
- English tutor for 6th-7th graders
- Placed second in the Dunn Invitational Tournament
- Won Presidential Debate of Middle School
- Has conducted extensive research on SPAR debate and persuasive speech
Debate Instructor
Alpha Abulikemu
Hi! I'm Alpha, and I am a rising sophomore at Cate School. I have had extensive debate experience, with some of my accolades including formerly ranked top 2 in NHSDLC national rankings and am a 11-time NHSDLC Public Forum Champion.
Debate Instructor
Julie Zhu
Hi, my name is Julie Zhu, and I am a rising sophomore at the Webb Schools. Some of my honors and experiences include:
- 3 years MSPDP
- Volunteer at Foothill Country Day School's Debate Team
- Top 10 at Orange County Debate League and Inland Valley Debate League 2023-2025
-Debated at Claremont McKenna College with John Meany
Debate Instructor
Shirdon Nouh
Hi! My name is Shirdon Nouh and am a rising junior at Cate School. Aside from my work in the classroom, I have been involved with debate and public speaking since middle school. I have delved deeper into my passions for public speaking through my enrollment in Yale Young Global Scholars.
Debate Instructor
Yerim Suh
Hello, I am Yerim! I am a rising junior at The Webb Schools. Debate has always been one of my biggest interests as it challenges people to think deeply about ideas and learn from it. I was introduced to parliamentary debate in middle school and officially started to join competitions this year. Some of my awards include 6th place best team award and 15th place best speaker award in the Los Angeles Championship Claremont Colleges Debate.
Debate Instructor
Joshua Hong
Hi, my name is Joshua Hong and I am a rising junior at the Webb Schools. Some of my honors and accolades include:
- 3 years of MSPDP
- 1 year of HSPDP
- Volunteer at St. Jeanne de Lestonnac Middle School Debate Team
- IVDL Volunteer Judge
Debate Instructor
Brielle Stodghill
Hi, my name is Brielle Stodghill and I am a rising sophomore at the Webb Schools. Here are some of my honors and accolades:
- +4 years of Parliamentary Debate
- Volunteer at Foothill Country Day School
- Debater for the Webb Schools where I placed 2nd place overall at an NSDA tournament
- Placed top team and speaker in the Orange County Debate League and Inland Valley Debate League
- Taught Debate at the Webb Schools Junior Scholars Global Change-makers program
Debate Instructor
Gaille Stephens-Levy
Hi, my name is Gaille Stephens-Levy and I am a rising junior at the Webb Schools. I have had extensive debate experience, as I've done 3 years of 3-on-3 parliamentary debate.