Nov. 19, 2024
Ferris State speech and debate presenter, alum prepare for panel roles at prestigious National Communication Association convention
Two veteran competitors from Ferris State University’s Speech and Debate program will discuss intersectionality and inclusion in speech and debate at the prestigious National Communication Association Convention this month.
Pictured from left to right, is me (Aimee Miller), Holland Snyder, and Tyler Chase.
Holland Snyder of Montague is a senior in Environmental Biology and Communications, minoring in Public Advocacy. Snyder said the event, Nov. 19-24 in New Orleans, will be their third convention presentation.
“To be part of the presenters’ group at the National Communication Association convention is really amazing,” Snyder said. “I am excited all my hard work is paying off. This will be a definite boost to my intentions for graduate school. I would like to enter a career in scientific communication policy, with an end goal of working for the Environmental Protection Agency or similar entity.”
Rockford native Tyler Chase graduated from Ferris State in May 2024, and is headed to the convention with Holland. He said they were approached by Ryan Rigda of the Michigan Intercollegiate Speech League to consider being part of a presentation.
“It was my experience at regional competitions that presenters would often need to exploit themselves regarding intersectionality to succeed with the judges, where the more traumatizing their experience, the more likely they would have a successful presentation,” he said. “I believe we need to help our community grow in understanding and acceptance.”
Snyder said they have twice presented to Central States Communication Association Conference audiences but added that the New Orleans event is a step forward in experience.
“We will be in a discussion with a mix of graduate and undergraduate members of the speech and debate community,” Snyder said. “It will be a guided session on intersectionality and inclusion. Like Tyler, I hope we can help build new perspectives through participation in Pi Kappa Delta’s developmental pre-conference division.”
Chase said the event is an opportunity to contribute meaningfully and to foster broader consideration from competitive communicators and those who judge their work.
“I am really honored to have been asked to take part,” Tyler said. “I feel that having control of my presentation will allow me to help do justice to developing greater consideration regarding this subject.”
Aimee Miller, Ferris State’s Director of Speech and Debate, said it is a great step forward to have members of the program having this kind of presence at the NCA convention.
“These are two excellent, advanced students and the fact that a graduate and undergraduate of Ferris will be presenting on a discussion panel speaks highly of their skill set,” Miller said. “The NCA convention is known in the field as a competitive and difficult event to be accepted into.”
Visit the College of Arts, Sciences and Education for more information about the Speech and Debate Team.