The Board of Directors

Garrett West is a lifelong advocate for speech, debate, and mock trial in Oregon. A graduate of North Medford High School, Garrett competed in debate before continuing his forensics journey at the University of Oregon, where he served as President of the Clark Honors College Student Association and captained the UO Mock Trial Team. In recognition of his leadership, the team created the Garrett West Professionalism Award, presented annually at the David Frohnmayer Invitational.

Garrett earned his law degree at Georgetown University Law Center, where he was a member of the Moot Court Team and served as Executive Editor of the Georgetown Environmental Law Review. Today, he continues to mentor students as a coach of the University of Oregon Law School Moot Court Team, guiding the next generation of advocates.

In his professional life, Garrett is a land use and real estate attorney and partner at O’Connor West, LLC. He also serves as a City Councilor in Medford, Oregon, sits on the Oregon Wildfire Programs Advisory Council, and is a member of the Board of the Oregon Home Builders Association. Previously, he served six years on the Board of Directors of Dogs for Better Lives, a national nonprofit.

As President of the Oregon Forensics Foundation, Garrett brings his passion for forensics, combined with deep experience in law, governance, and community leadership, to ensure that speech, debate, and mock trial remain accessible and thriving across Oregon.

Kyla Schmitt currently serves as the Director of Debate at the University of Oregon and the Head Speech & Debate Coach at South Eugene High School, where she mentors undergraduate and high school students in developing their skills in public speaking, argumentation, and civic engagement. As a collegiate debate competitor (2021–2025), she distinguished herself nationally as a finalist and top speaker, and she has carried that passion forward into leadership and teaching.

Beyond forensics, Kyla’s academic career reflects her dedication to research and education. A graduate of the University of Oregon’s Clark Honors College, she earned dual degrees in Environmental Science and Humanities, with minors in Biology, English, and Economics. She has published peer-reviewed research, presented at conferences, and was awarded the Aaron Novick Award for distinguished undergraduate research.

Kyla brings to the Foundation both her forensics expertise and her experience guiding student development. As Vice President, she helps lead OFF’s mission to ensure students across Oregon have access to the transformative opportunities of speech, debate, and mock trial.

Michael Sugar is a lifelong educator and forensics supporter who brings both classroom and leadership experience to the Foundation. He currently coaches the West Linn High School Speech & Debate program, where he mentors students in the same activity that shaped his own education.

An active University of Oregon alumnus, Michael graduated magna cum laude with a double major in Theatre Arts and History, plus a minor in Religious Studies. During his time on campus, he served as President of the Clark Honors College Student Association, leading a team of student officers, managing a significant budget, and organizing dozens of academic and community events. He was also selected as the Clark Honors College Commencement Speaker, recognizing his contributions to the university community.

After UO, Michael earned a Master’s in Education from Johns Hopkins University through Teach For America’s National Program. He has taught at schools in Maryland, South Carolina, and now back in Oregon, always focused on helping students strengthen their communication, critical thinking, and civic skills.

As Secretary of the Oregon Forensics Foundation, Michael ensures that the Foundation’s work is transparent, well-documented, and aligned with its mission to support speech, debate, and mock trial across the state.

Joe Gantt is Director of Forensics and an Instructor in the Rhetoric & Media Studies Department at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon. In his dual faculty and administrative role, Joe teaches courses in argumentation, rhetorical theory, and political communication while leading Lewis & Clark’s nationally recognized speech and debate program, which has earned recent national championships in both debate and individual speaking events.

Joe’s academic work centers on argumentation theory and political rhetoric, with a focus on how persuasion shapes public discourse and civic life. His teaching and coaching are closely connected; he brings the strategic insights of competitive debate into the classroom while helping students translate rhetorical theory into practical advocacy and public communication skills.

Before joining Lewis & Clark, Joe served as Director of Forensics at Rocky Mountain College and later taught at his alma mater, Texas Tech University, where he earned both his B.A. and M.A. in Communication Studies. 

Throughout his career, he has remained deeply engaged in the national forensics community, serving in leadership roles with several major organizations, including Past President of the National Parliamentary Debate Association, President of the American Forensic Association, and Executive Secretary of the Northwest Forensics Conference.

Joe’s research and scholarship focus on speech and debate pedagogy, particularly issues of assessment and equity in competitive forensics. His work reflects a commitment to expanding opportunities for students and strengthening debate as a pathway to civic engagement and critical thinking.

As a member of the Oregon Forensics Foundation Board of Directors, Joe brings extensive experience in collegiate forensics leadership, national governance in debate organizations, and a lifelong commitment to helping students develop their voices through argument, advocacy, and public discourse.