Hannah Morris: Shaping the Success of U of A’s Speech and Debate Society

When not coaching the Speech and Debate Society, Morris works as an academic advisor in the Cordia Harrington Center for Excellence (CORD) where she helps students find their path to academic and future career success.

All mentors leave a lasting impact through their leadership and guidance, but one University of Arkansas coach deserves Tournament of Champions-level accolades this year — Hannah Morris.

Morris, a full-time academic advisor and public speaking instructor in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, also serves as coach for the Speech and Debate Society, a registered student organization (RSO) that is focused on growing students’ skills in communication through competition and practice in competitive speech and debate.

Under her tutelage the team has achieved remarkable success: in the current 2024-2025 season, the team has collectively won 88 awards. Several members have also been ranked as overall champions in their categories, and the team was ranked as the first overall program in the state of Arkansas at its latest competition.

The Speech and Debate Society swept their competition held at the University of Southern Mississippi bringing home 56 titles, including the top program in the state of Arkansas.

Morris’ passion for speech and debate began while she was in college at Bossier Parish Community College. She was inspired by a mentor of her own, Bob Alexander, who encouraged her to join speech and debate after noting her potential in a public speaking class.

“He saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself and really helped to nurture that,” she said, adding that Alexander inspired her to not only become a debate coach, but to invest in the next generation to pay it forward and help others.

“Bob inspired me to become a debate coach, but even more, he inspired me to give back what I was given,” Morris said. “All I want for my students is to feel seen, heard, and appreciated for their work, and never feel as though they aren’t enough.”

This desire is not lost on her students. Morris’ dedication is evident and shines through her students who speak highly of her commitment to not only their development as speech and debate competitors, but also as students and young adults.

Morris takes time out of her personal life to travel with the Speech and Debate Society, spending nights away from home to create opportunities for her students. During their trip to Arkansas Tech last year, the team brought home several accolades bringing their 2024 grand total to 143 awards.

Sophomore communications major and team Forensics Captain Aubree Watkins said Morris’ dedication to the team is “unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”

“No other coach I’ve had has given as much of their time, energy, attention and love to debate,” Watkins said. “She makes sure everyone on the team feels welcomed, heard and connected to the rest of us. She helps us improve our skills in a constructive and personalized way. Without a doubt, Hannah pushes the rest of us to want to do our best and fosters an incredible sense of community.”

Beyond coaching, Morris often even covers travel and registration expenses for the team herself.

“I know people probably think I’m crazy for doing it, because I don’t get paid and I often times devote my own money to the cause, and a majority of my free time,” Morris said.

“I do it because I see the potential in all of these students, and in the university’s ability to support them, too. I find a lot of joy in knowing that they have somewhere to go where they feel comfortable being themselves, which is hard to come by on a campus as big as this,” she added.

At the U of A, the Speech and Debate Society’s roots go all the way back to 1896, marking almost 129 years of excellence. The existing iteration of the team that Morris coaches formed in 2021 and focuses on competition within the International Public Debate Association circuit, as well as competing in American Forensic Association Individual Events that include acting, public speaking and interpretation.

Under Morris’ leadership, the team of 30-plus members has grown exponentially. In their first season they won 31 tournament awards and 13 national and season-long awards. By the following 2023-24 season, those numbers had skyrocketed to 122 tournament awards and 31 national and season-long awards for a total of 153.

As the team continues to compete, Morris extends an open invitation to students from all colleges and majors to join.

“We truly are an interdisciplinary program, and it shows that any student, no matter the major, can benefit from having speech training,” Morris said, adding that students from all backgrounds and levels of experience are welcome, whether bringing years of training to the table, or no experience at all.

Outside of coaching, Morris enjoys playing music, reading, video games and board games. But for now, she remains dedicated to leading her team through another season of competition success because doing so also has a profound positive impact on her life, too.

“This group is the best and they truly make me a better educator … a better person, to be honest. I couldn’t imagine a better way to give my time than helping students be the best versions of themselves and getting it back in kind,” she said.

For more information about U of A’s Speech and Debate Society or to make a donation in support of the team, visit speechanddebatesocietyatua.com.