David Register
Director, Bard Debate Union
David Register joined the Bard Debate Union in 2012. Since then, he has coached Bard debaters to the top levels of national and international competition, while also founding and coaching the now internationally recognized Bard Prison Initiative (BPI) Debate Union. Before coming to Bard, David worked at the University of Vermont where he coached both policy and parliamentary debate formats. He has also taught at debate workshops and institutes in the United States, Germany, Serbia, Slovenia, Hungary, Russia, and Colombia. David is also a faculty member in the Bard Learning Commons and the Bard Prison Initiative, where he teaches courses in Public Speaking and Argumentation. David holds a B.F.A. in Communication Studies from Emporia State University (2004) and an M.S. in Communication Studies from the University of North Texas (2006). Email: [email protected].
Ruth Zisman
Faculty Advisor, Bard Debate Union
Ruth Zisman founded the Bard Debate Union in 2004. Since then, she has overseen debate efforts at the college while also working to develop debate programming at middle and high schools in Bard’s surrounding school districts and on campuses throughout Bard’s national and international networks. Ruth is also the Associate Dean of Studies and a Senior Lecturer in Philosophy. She holds a BA in Literature from Vassar College (2004), an MA in Humanities and Social Thought from NYU (2008), and a PhD in German Studies from NYU (2015). Email: [email protected].