JUDL Staff

Brent Farrand - Director

Brent Farrand founded the Jersey Urban Debate League in 2001 and has served as its director since then. He is employed full time by the Newark Public Schools as a Mathematics Resource Teacher/Coordinator.

Mr. Farrand has coached high school debate since 1979, heading a coaching staff that has compiled 20 consecutive state championships. His efforts have been recognized with the 1981 Northeast Debate Coach of the Year (University of Massachusetts), Key Coach Award from Emory University, Diamond Coach Award from the National Forensic League and a 2001 recognition from Emory University for promoting diversity in high school debate.

Brent Farrand has also received wide recognition for his contributions to the craft of classroom teaching. He received the Star Ledger Award for Excellence in Teaching in both 1985 and 1987. Princeton University honored him at their 1995 commencement exercise as Distinguished Teacher of the Year. In 1996 Mr. Farrand was declared Essex County Teacher of the Year.

Mr. Farrand has served as Vice President of Debate for the New Jersey Forensic League and New Jersey District Chair for the National Forensic League. He was consultant to the New York Urban Debate League from 1999 to 2000 and has served as the Coordinator of the Newark Speech and Debate League since 1985.

Brent Farrand is married to Vernell Farrand and has two daughters Erica and Whitney. He is a resident of South Orange, New Jersey where he produced the cable show "In the Village" and has served as the chairperson of the University Relations Committee, responsible for collaboration between Seton Hall University and South Orange Village.

Sandra DeLeon - Program Administrator

From administrative duties to tournament preparation, Sandra is aware of every aspect and operation of the JUDL. Her dedication and vigilence keeps the league running as smoothly as possible.

Kurt Shelton - Education Director

A former Policy Debater in Texas for Newman Smith High School and debated in college for the University of North Texas. Since his years in college debate, he has coached for over 10 years for several schools in Texas and New York. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz, Kurt is currently a Mortgage Planner in New York for MortgageIT.

Diana Dunker - Judge and Volunteer Director

Diana is a staff attorney with Essex-Newark Legal Services (ENLS) directing the Education Representation Project and the judging coordinator with the Jersey Urban Debate League. Diana's worked with debate since graduating from Science High School's debate program; prior to joining the JUDL staff Diana was an assistant coach of the Science High School debate team and hired judge for the Urban Debate League.

Yanira Rivera - Outreach Director

Yanira graduated Science High School in 1997 having been a member of the Science High Debate team from 1993-1996. In 2001, Yanira graduated from Montclair State University with a BS in Applied Mathematics and is currently a Market Research CPG Industry Business Analyst. Today she supports the JUDL outreach and partnership initiatives.

Christian Oshiro - Webmaster

A former Science High School policy debate state champion, Christian graduated in 1992 and continued working with the debate team for 5 years as an assistant coach. Christian attended and graduated from NJIT and followed a career in computer sciences. Today he provides the JUDL it's techincal guidance and manages all aspects of JUDL.org.