CDS Leadership

Meet the 2025-26 Board

  • Ale Perri

    Jonathan Chen — President

    Jonathan buys a Naked juice bottle for each debate weekend and labels them with their respective tournament as a keepsake!

    As President, Jonathan is responsible for directing meetings of the team and the Officer Board, acting as Liaison with the Student Activities Office and University of Chicago administrators and students. He maintains unity on our team and oversees the other board members.

    Email Jonathan
  • Feifei Mei

    Feifei Mei — VP External Affairs

    Feifei has a 683-day streak on Duolingo!

    Feifei is responsible for managing CDS’ relationship with other schools, acting as the CDS representative and voting member at intercollegiate debate association meetings, and managing CDS tournament bids.

    Email Feifei
  • Keshav Malik Kapoor

    Keshav Malik Kapoor — VP Finance

    Keshav helped curate an art exhibit that goes up in the fall at the Smart Museum!

    Keshav is responsible for paying team bills and collaborating with university administration to purchase tournament transporation, as well as managing the team ledger. Keshav also oversees financial aid reimbursement for CDS.

    Email Keshav
  • Julien Benchek

    Julien Benchek — VP Training

    Julien was born underwater!

    Julien is responsible for planning and facilitating varsity trainings, as well as scheduling special practices, and for collecting information necessary for those trainings from the team. He also oversees the annual Langfan Constitutional Tournament.

    Email Julien
  • Taryn Murphy

    Taryn Murphy — VP Novice Programming

    Taryn was in the top 0.005% of Eliot Smith listeners on Spotify!

    Taryn is responsible for team recruitment and for overseeing the training of new debaters (novices), and well as providing new debaters with access to team and national resources. She also runs the annual CDS Novice Tournament.

    Email Taryn
  • Vedesh Kodnani

    Vedesh Kodnani — VP Communications

    Vedesh was stalked by a mountain lion, circled by a bear, and almost bitten by a rattlesnake all on the same trip !

    Vedesh maintains a list of all members of CDS in the quarter, keeps accessible notes of board meetings (that can be shared with CDS). He also manages routine correspondences to the team and for keeping attendance at meetings and practices.

    Email Vedesh
  • Victoria Kurakata

    Victoria Kurakata — VP Outreach

    Victoria makes and solves crossword puzzles!

    Victoria is responsible for encouraging on-campus oratory and debate through public debates, collaborations and volunteering. She also oversees the Society's social media and online presence for publicizing events.

    Email Victoria

Meet the Officers

Equity & Financial Aid Officers

Equity and Financial Aid Officers primarily address confidential equity complaints and clashes, subject to the processes in the Best Practices, as well as hold office hours with team members to address equity complaints upon request. They also assist with organizing and presenting annual financial aid and equity briefing for novices, as well as review and approve confidential requests for financial aid, subject to the processes in the Best Practices.

  • billchung@uchicago.edu

  • soyliu@uchicago.edu

  • blairpeng@uchicago.edu

British Parliamentary (BP) Coordinator

BP Coordinators organize BP workshops and lectures for practice, creating a schedule of activities for both the school year and summer. They help identify BP tournaments to send competitors for.

Gender Minority (GM) Retention Coordinators

“Gender minority” includes anyone who doesn’t self-identify as a non-cis male. GM Retention Coordinators will host gender minority social events, check-ins, and help facilitate GM mentorship on the team.

  • tarynmurphy@uchicago.edu

  • helenwu@uchicago.edu

Housing Coordinator

The Housing Coordinator works with the VP External and other schools to ensure adequate housing for all CDS debaters at a given tournament beforehand, and to assist in arranging housing should issues arise.

Tournament Coordinators

Tournament Coordinators are responsible for overseeing the organization of CDS tournaments, including our annual Chicago APDA tournament. They manage tournament budgets, registrations, and logistics.

Social Chairs

Social Chairs assist with the planning and organization of regular team social events, group activities, and outings, as well as work with other officers/board members to promote greater inclusion and engagement on CDS.

Chancellor

The Chancellor serves as the team historians. They compile alumni databases for networking, career advice, and tournament assistance, as well as create resources and official communications for the University, parents, etc.

  • grante@uchicago.edu

  • samanthazaino@uchicago.edu

  • ahm@uchicago.edu

  • awolinska@uchicago.edu

  • gavinan@uchicago.edu

  • rohansachdev@uchicago.edu

  • tarynmurphy@uchicago.edu

  • rohansachdev@uchicago.edu