About Shawn

20+ years coaching speakers of all abilities and levels

 

My core philosophy

  • Everyone can be an effective public speaker

  • Public speaking is a learned skill

  • Becoming an effective speaker is a continuous process

  • Effective communication is a both an art and a science

  • There is no single, right approach to public speaking

 
Public Speaking Coach and Consultant Shawn Briscoe. Successful author and writer of numerous communication textbooks.

Public Speaking Coach Shawn Briscoe

 
Communication professor and public speaking coach Shawn Briscoe.

Public Speaking Class with Shawn Briscoe

 

Who Am I?

I grew up as a strange kid who was both an introvert and someone who loved standing in front of people performing. Sure, I experienced nerves and anxiety, especially in more informal settings, but I particularly loved performing on a stage.

In fact, I entered high school with a deep passion for theatre, but joining the performing arts in my high school was an exclusive club. As a freshman, I wasn’t invited into the fold of theatre and (performance of) interpretation of literature. I was invited to be a member of the debate team. That experience was transformative, and I eventually added the dimensions of public speaking and theatre to my journey.

I attribute much of my success in academics to those pursuits, and I immersed myself in debate and public speaking in college, as well. Near the end of my sophomore year at the United States Air Force Academy, I took over as a student leader who was responsible for training, teaching, and coaching the younger members of the team… a role I maintained until graduation.

As an officer in the Air Force, I soon realized that my time on the college speech & debate team had an immeasurable impact on my leadership style, management approach, and success. So, I began volunteering with local high school speech & debate programs while serving on active duty. Eventually, I made a decision to pursue a different path: in education.

Over the years, I have worked with middle school students, high school students, college students, and adult learners (in continuing education, education, and the military). Regardless of the specific content being explored, we seem to always return to effective communication skills.

It is with those thoughts in mind that I serve my students to ensure they get the most out their studies and achieve their goals throughout life.

My Consulting Services

I began offering limited consulting services in 2005. In 2022, I decided to expand the scope and variety of services for my clients. To that end, I formed My Speech Resource, LLC.

I provide private coaching and teaching services in the areas of public speaking, interpersonal communication, small group communication, argumentation, interviewing, argumentation, education, and (academic, competitive) speech & debate.

I am happy to work one-on-one with individual clients, host small group sessions or classes, or conduct workshops/seminars for organizations, corporations, nonprofits, speech & debate teams, etc. I am also willing to fulfill long-term services for organizations with on-going projects.

I tailor the form and content of the services to your needs.

My Experience

Education

  • B.S. in Political Science (national security studies), United States Air Force Academy

  • M.A. (interdisciplinary) in International Relations (international politics & government; international culture & communication; international area studies), University of Oklahoma

  • M.A. in Teaching, University of Alaska Anchorage

Work Experience

  • 6 years active duty in the U.S. Air Force

  • 5 years senior leadership in an education nonprofit organization (Saint Louis Urban Debate League)

  • 8 years classroom experience (high school and college)

  • 20+ years coaching high school students in competitive speech & debate. I have coached 25 individual state champions (Alaska & Florida) and 5 team state championships. I have also coached students to elimination rounds and speaker awards at the National Catholic Forensic League Grand National Championship, the National Association for Urban Debate League’s Urban Debate Championship, the Tournament of Champions, and the National Speech & Debate Association’s National Championship Tournament.

  • 5+ years coaching college students in competitive speech & debate. I have coached three debate teams to elimination rounds at the World Universities Debating Championships, along with 13 debate teams to elimination rounds at the U.S. Universities Debating Championships and 10 individuals to speaker awards at the USUDC (including a 1st-4th place sweep in 2010). Over a 5-year span, I helped lead the University of Alaska Anchorage from a #67 ranking in the world up to a #9 world ranking, trailing only Yale among U.S. institutions.

Conferences & Workshops

  • Led 5 workshops at national-level conferences (National Association for Urban Debate Leagues; National Speech & Debate Association)

  • One of five lead trainers at the 2010 FLTRP Cup Spring Training in Beijing for more than 200 undergraduate students and 100 collegiate educators from China

  • Led 10+ workshops at state-level conferences (Arizona; Missouri)

  • Led numerous professional development workshops in public school districts or college faculty organizations

  • Led numerous training sessions for community volunteers or volunteer groups

  • Led 10+ leadership development and communication workshops for noncommissioned officers, senior noncommissioned officers, and company grade officers in the U.S. Air Force

 
First day back teaching public speaking in person at Glendale Community College in Arizona following the Covid-19 outbreak

First day back to in-person teaching after the pandemic

 
NSDA Rostrum Cover with Public Speaking Coach Shawn Briscoe on the cover.

Rostrum Cover with Shawn Briscoe pictured

 

My Awards & Certifications

Certifications

  • Professional Forensic (Speech & Debate) Coach, National Speech & Debate Association since 2009

  • Advanced Professional Forensic (Speech & Debate) Coach, National Speech & Debate Association since 2011.

Awards

  • Coach of the Year, Eastern Missouri District, NSDA, 2018.

  • Alaska Drama, Debate, & Forensics Coach of the Year, 2010.

  • Regional Coach of the Year, Floria Forensic League, 2005.

  • All-American Debater, Cross Examination Debate Association, 1998.

Selected Publications

You can follow this link to my Author Page on Amazon.

Feel free to click on the images below if you would like to go directly to that book’s sales page OR to read some of my selected journal articles.

Beck, Molly K., Shawn F. Briscoe, & Amy J. Johnson. Companion Guide for Speech & Debate Coaches. Edited by Shawn F. Briscoe. IL: My Debate Resources, 2017. Textbook for speech & debate coaches or forensics coaches.
Briscoe, Shawn F., "Intellectual Combat: My Journey in Competitive Forensics," Education Next. (Winter 2009): 88.
Briscoe, Shawn F., Policy Debate: A Guide for High School and College Debaters, Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 2017. Communication textbook for argumentation and debate classes.
Briscoe, Shawn F., "Forensics: A Socio-Emotional Learning Space," Rostrum. (December 2008): 57-58.
Briscoe, Shawn F., Why Debate: Transformed by Academic Discourse. Edited by Shawn F. Briscoe. IL: My Debate Resources, 2016. Communication, argumentation, or debate book.
Briscoe, Shawn F., "Forensics: Enhancing Civic Literacy and Democracy," Principal Leadership. (May 2009): 44-49.
Briscoe, Shawn F., Transcending the Game: Debate, Education, and Society. Edited by Shawn F. Briscoe. Southern Illinois University Press, 2023. Communication and education text that explores the intersection of competitive, academic debate with the e