NSDA has hired a new Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Dr. Paul Porter.
Dr. Paul Porter joined the national office in 2022. He holds a B.S. in Communication Studies from Ball State University, an M.A. in Communication and Rhetorical Studies at Eastern Michigan University, as well as a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Indiana State University. Paul has worked on the development of programs and initiatives designed to help create inclusive environments for diverse student populations, as well as diversity strategic plans and program assessments. Paul has presented on topics such as multicultural competence and unconscious bias across the state of Indiana and nationwide.
Paul’s involvement in speech and debate began at Ben Davis High School where he was a two-time NSDA national finalist in 1997. Paul was also a national finalist at the 2000 National Forensic Association tournament and has coached at both the high school and college levels. In 2017, Paul coached a national finalist in Original Oratory at Ben Davis and most recently served as an assistant coach at Bishop Dwenger High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Paul is already putting together so many ready-to-use resources for district committees including the work he is doing to transform the Equity Office to a new resource called the Belonging and Inclusion Advocacy Station (BIAS) for use during district tournaments and the National Tournament. The BIAS facilitates a more streamlined process for intake and course of action for incidents involving harassment and discrimination.
