Letter from new NAUDL Executive Director, Scott Deatherage

Greetings friends,

As we survey our landscape in the spring of 2008 it quickly becomes apparent that this is an exciting time for the Urban Debate Network and a moment of tremendous opportunity for the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues.  

During the past year the NAUDL has worked in numerous cities to make substantial strides in establishing, strengthening, expanding and connecting Urban Debate Leagues.  Examples abound.  Together with the Dallas UDL Advisory Board, we launched the Dallas Urban Debate League this past fall.  We have secured school district commitments to do the same in Houston and Memphis, and to resuscitate the St. Louis UDL this fall.  We are working to launch additional UDL’s in the near future in the Bay Area, Denver, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.  Finally, we are also working closely with Boston and Detroit to secure school system support and further develop Advisory Boards.  

The NAUDL held a series of conferences for League Directors – new and old, rookies and veterans – where administrators shared ideas and informed the NAUDL's efforts to support local leagues.  

We are now fully engaged in our of preparations for the first ever national tournament, the Chase Urban Debate National Championship, fully sponsored by the JPMorgan Chase Foundation.  We are also hosting the inaugural NAUDL Annual Dinner on April 5.  

The NAUDL owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to Lenny Gail, who has served during this time both as the Interim Executive Director and Board of Directors Chair.  Lenny’s tireless leadership and bold vision for the organization have propelled the NAUDL ahead with conviction, and created an organization with tremendous potential to improve the lives of students across the country.  As we move forward, he will continue to serve our mission as the Board of Directors Chair.   

It is in this optimistic context and with this promising trajectory that I look forward to my new tenure as Executive Director of the NAUDL.

I passionately believe in the goals of this organization.  Academic debate was for me, as it has been for so many others, a life changing activity.  The prospect of devoting the entirety of my professional life to the NAUDL’s mission -- making debate opportunities available to more and more students nationwide -- is exhilarating.

I’m particularly looking forward to joining with new and old colleagues who have already devoted their careers to this noble pursuit, as coaches, mentors, league directors, and other supporters of urban debate.

The NAUDL Board has made clear that my job is to sustain and continue to accelerate the growth of urban debate opportunities nationwide. I look forward with great enthusiasm to that challenge.

Best,
Scott Deatherage
Executive Director
NAUDL