YFD 2024 Executive Board
Connor Li
Co-President
Connor Li (he/him) is a junior in Columbia College studying Mathematics and Computer Science. In high school, Connor was an active member of his high school’s policy debate team. On the executive board, Connor currently serves as the Vice President of Finance for Youth for Debate. But outside the organization, Connor enjoys looking at the fish in aquariums, capybaras, and petting local dogs/cats.
Rose Li
Co-President
Rose (she/her) is a sophomore at Columbia College studying Economics-Political Science. She is originally from Michigan, where she did Public Forum and Lincoln Douglas debate during high school. Rose joined YFD to share fun and valuable debate experiences with others. Outside of YFD, she works with the Columbia Policy Institute as a Center Director. During her free time, Rose enjoys napping, playing Genshin, and going to the gym.
Kiki Kamakura
Vice President of Curriculum
Kiki Kamakura (she/her) is a sophomore at Barnard College and is majoring Environmental Science and minoring in Political Science. Kiki was an active member of her school’s speech and debate team from middle school throughout high school. She joined YFD because it encourages debate and it’s many communication and work skills, something she’s quite passionate about. Outside of YFD, Kiki is on the board for Columbia’s Asian American Alliance and the Ferris Reel Film Club; she also tutors students in mathematics. During her free time, Kiki enjoys creating art, going to museums, playing the violin, and reading new books.
Diya Nanavati
Vice President of Publicity
Diya Nanavati is a junior at Columbia College studying Financial Economics and Psychology. She grew up in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where she participated in various public speaking events, including Original Oratory, Debate (Asian parliamentary), and TED-Ed. Prior to being on the E-board as the VP of Publicity and VP of Internal Operations, she was a YFD coach for 3 semesters, and really enjoyed working with students to help them build their confidence and learn to advocate for themselves! Apart from YFD, Diya is involved with various pre-professional and cultural clubs on campus. In her free time, she likes painting, playing piano, binge-watching TV series, and listening to music at Riverside Park.
Sydni Faragalli
Vice President of Internal Operations
Sydni Faragalli (she/her) is a sophomore at Barnard College studying Political Science and History with a concentration in American Politics. Sydni was a four-year varsity member of her high school parliamentary debate team, and served as President her Junior and Senior years. She joined YFD in hopes of sharing her love of, passion for, and incredibly positive experiences with debate with the greater community around her and hopes to foster those feelings in other students. Outside of YFD, Sydni writes and edits for the Columbia Undergraduate Law Review, is a member of Columbia’s competitive debate society, and helps to run two nonprofits. In her free time, Sydni loves to run, explore New York, go thrifting, and hunting for new coffee shops in the city.
Ranger Kuang
Senior Advisor
Ranger Kuang (he/him) is a junior at Columbia Fu School of Engineering and Applied Science studying Computer Science. Ranger was a member of his high school debate team for all four years in Policy and Public Forum, competing on both a state and national level. He joined the YFD team because of his love for teaching students in activities he was highly active in, hoping to instill that passion in younger students. Outside of YFD, Ranger works with the Columbia Science Review to foster scientific interest in and around the local community. He also enjoys playing tennis, skiing, and finding cheap & delicious food spots in New York.
Anna Reis
Senior Advisor
Anna Reis (she/her) is a junior in Columbia College majoring in Computer Science and English. She is originally from Saint Louis, Missouri, where she was the captain of her high school's Lincoln-Douglas team and competed at the state and national level. Anna joined YFD because she believes in the transformative power of debate as a tool of self-advocacy and appreciates YFD's focus on marginalized communities. Outside of YFD, Anna is a member of the Columbia Debate Society, Spectator’s Engineering Team, and Columbia Undergraduate Law Review. In her free time, you can find her reading the classics, cheering on Erling Haaland of Manchester City, and listening to politics podcasts.