Camp Leadership
Jackie Poapst, Camp Director
Dr. Jackie Poapst is the Director of Debate at George Mason, and is entering her 13th year on the coaching staff. Jackie received her PhD in Communication from George Mason. She debated for Liberty University, where she graduated with Bachelor of Sciences in Criminal Justice and Psychology.
She is an experienced instructor with the George Mason Communication Department, teaching college courses in Argumentation and Public Policy, Argumentation Theory, Mass Communication, Basic Foundations of Debate, and Persuasion Theory. Jackie has been teaching at the George Mason Debate Institute for 12 years, and became Director in 2015. During her first year as Director, the institute became the largest debate institute in Virginia. Jackie has also taught elementary and middle school debate and public speaking at Ivy Christian College.
Ian Lowery, Assistant Camp Director
Ian Lowery is a full-time faculty member in the Communication Department & Assistant Director of the GMU Debate Team and the George Mason Debate Institute. This is Ian's second year as the Assistant Director.
Ian graduated from George Mason University in 2018 with a B.S. in Economics, while also competing on the debate team. In 2022, he received an M.A. in Communication Studies, with a concentration in Strategic Communication from James Madison University. As a graduate student, Ian coached the JMU Debate Team to its highest ever national ranking and was awarded the "Matthew Grindy Award for Excellence in Coaching" by the Cross-Examination Debate Association (CEDA).