DIRECTORS
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PETER POBER (Professor of Communication, Director of Forensics and Distinguished Service Professor) is proud to continue the legacy of GMU forensics started in 1971 by Margaret Duffner and propelled by Bruce Manchester and Sheryl Friedley. Entering his 41st year in the forensic arts, Peter has been privileged to coach more than 50 individual and team national champions at both the high school and college levels. He has been awarded the Texas Intercollegiate Forensic Association Coach of the Year, the Texas Speech Communication Educator of the Year, the American Forensic Association District III Distinguished Service Award, the L.E. Norton Forensic Educator Award, the AFA-NIET National Distinguished Service Award, and the American Forensic Association National Distinguished Service Award. He is the National Chair of the American Forensic Association National Individual Events Tournament. Just this past June, Peter became the first college coach in 25 years to be inducted into the National Speech and Debate Association's Hall of Fame. His students mean the world to him and he is honored to call so many of them across the world his dear friends.
JEREMY HODGSON (Assistant Director of Forensics) is humbled to be a part of the George Mason family as the Assistant Director of Forensics for his 7th year. Jeremy was recognized in 2011 as GMU’s Basic Course Instructor of the Year in Communication, the Center for Teaching and Faculty Excellence "Teacher of Distinction" 2014, and recipient of the Mason ACCESS program Faculty Excellence Award 2014. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Education at The University of Akron, OH and completed his Master’s degree at George Mason University in Communication. Jeremy feels so honored to be back and is looking forward to a 17th year of coaching and wonderful semester.
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COACHES
The job of a coach is to teach students to see vitality in themselves...." |
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LANDRY AYRES: Grad Assisstant | POI & PRO Coach
MILES BOONE: POE & POI Coach
JOSEPH DINEEN | EXT & CA Coach
ANDREW EILOLA | PERS & PRO coach
DEION HAWKINS | ADS & DUO coach
MOLLY HOKE | ADS & DI Coach
IAN HOPKINS | EXT & INFO coach
GEORGE KUEPPERS | INFO & POE Coach
AK KOMANDURI | PERS Coach
JON TYREE | DI Coach
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LANDRY AYRES is finishing his M.A. in Health Communication, and is excited for his final year of coaching GMU Forensics! An alum of the Legacy himself, he is excited for sixth competitive season as a Patriot. He coaches Prose and POI, and is interested in researching trauma, stories, and guacamole. He wants a dog, like REAL bad. He wants to thank his family and friends for staying by his side for many years of van rides, dry-cleaning, and funny voices.
MILES BOONE is a first year coach earning his BA in Theatre. A Hattiesburg, MS native, Miles found his home in Fairfax, VA after transfering from William Carey University. He is excited to continue on as part of the Legacy. In his free time, Miles spends his time reading POI and poetry cuttings, rehearsing for whatever his next project is, and learning Beyonce's choreography--just in case.
JOSEPH DINEEN earned his Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Saint Joseph's University. While studying for his Master's degree in Political Science at George Mason University (which he received in 2014), he spent two years working with the team. After a very long year away, Joe found that he missed this--all of this--too much. He will be coaching Extemp and Communication Analysis this year, and he is immensely privileged to be working and learning here once more.
ANDREW EILOLA is a third-year PhD student from Minnesota where he received his Bachelor's Degree in 2012 from Concordia College in Communication and Sociology. This is his 5th year coaching at GMU and he could not be more excited for the upcoming season! He is pursuing his PhD in Health Communication and will be coaching Persuasion and Prose this year.
DEION HAWKINS comes to George Mason from Indianapolis, Indiana. He is a first year doctoral student studying health communication with a concentration in interpersonal HIV communication. He completed his BA at The Ohio State University in 2012 where he was the Vice President and Debate Captain of Ohio State's student run forensics team. Additionally, he completed his MA at Marshall University. Deion is thrilled to be coaching ADS and Duo this year and is humbled by the opportunity to work with such an amazing program.
MOLLY HOKE hails from the majestic hills of wild and wonderful West Virginia! After being with this family for 4 wonderful years, Molly is now continuing her academic journey as a first year M.A. student in the Women and Gender Studies program at GMU. In her free time you'll probably find her jamming out to The Beatles or watching a fantastic film. Wanna strike up a conversation? Comment on a good movie (Pulp Fiction is a good place to start). Molly is ecstatic to be coaching the events that make you laugh and cry: After Dinner Speaking and Dramatic Interpretation.
IAN HOPKINS is starting his PhD in Communication Studies at George Mason, and could not be more excited to join the legacy! After 15 years in the activity, Ian finally feels at home here at Mason. In his free time Ian can be found out on the water kayaking, in the kitchen trying new recipes, or playing Mario Kart! He cannot wait to see what this year brings, and is thrilled to be here.
This is GEORGE KUEPPERS' first year on the team and first year in the Master of Arts Program in Communication. He graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN in 2015 with a BA in Political Science and Global Studies He is from Spicer, Minnesota. He is coaching After Dinner Speaking and Poetry Interpretation. His favorite TV shows include Breaking Bad, House of Cards and Game of Thrones. He likes sports, music and current events. He is an avid dog lover and sarcasm is his first language.
AK KOMANDURI is excited to be back for his senior year. He knows the team is in for a great year ahead. His hobbies include playing basketball, Netflix, binge watching shows he's late on, and in general, sleeping. JON TYREE is a former GMU competitor turned coach. After graduating in 2014, he took a year off from forensics, but is very excited to be returning to the team. When not coaching, you can find Jon working hard in Alexandria with the Association of Consulting Foresters or whipping up something crazy in the kitchen for his awesome roommate Genevieve!
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STUDENTS
"The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever to be able to do it." - J.M. Barrie
"Boys are Evil" - My dad
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"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." - Mahatma Gandhi
"You said don't ever take advice. That was great advice"- Aubrey 'Drake' Graham
"These pretzels are making me thirsty!"- Kramer
"Stranger things have happened, so everything is possible."-Anonymous
"Shut up Danny"- Nathan Leys
"Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing." - Pele
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"You must strive to find your own voice because the longer you wait to begin the less likely you are to find it at all."-
Robin Williams
"I'm a good person, I hope. But I'm never as good as I want to be, never as nice as I want to be, never as generous as I want to be." -David Tennant
"I pride myself on the fact that my work has no socially redeeming value." - John Waters
"While there's truth, it demands to be spoken." - Watsky
"Keep your nose out the sky, keep your heart to god, and keep your face to the raising sun."- Kanye West
"You're not wrong."- Allen Hester
"Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age, and dreams are forever."- Walt Disney
"I think I'm gonna like it here."- Annie
"Do more."- Casey Neistat
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"Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions." -the Dalai Lama
“We’re all stories, in the end. Just make it a good one, eh?” - The Doctor
"Once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand." -The Velveteen Rabbit
“Never let success get to your head and never let failure get to your heart.” -Drake
 "Florals? For spring? ...Groundbreaking."- Miranda Priestly 
"What's hard times without the people you love?"- J. Cole
"We don't make mistakes, just happy little accidents." -Bob Ross
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"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you."- Maya Angelou
“I just wanna rap good and not sell breadsticks” - Milo
“No such thing as a life that’s better than yours”- J Cole
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