The 2025 Annual Dean’s Debate honored Dr. Heath Keller, Interim Dean of the Bauernfeind College of Business and his amazing staff for their continued support of the SDU. This year’s slate of VIP judges was comprised of Dr. Gary ZeRuth, Assocate Professor in the Biology Department, Mr. Mike Weatherford, host of The Mike Weatherford Show, and Professor Leigh Wright, Associate Professor in the Journalism and Mass Communications Department and advisor for The Murray State News.
Hailey Meshew (freshman marketing major) was the master of ceremonies, expertly moderating the debate and making sure the event ran smoothly.
Caleb McCurren (senior psychology major) kicked off the showcase with his Communication Analysis, examining the subjectivity of linguistics and how communication barriers are overcome in the movie Arrival.
Essabella Voss
This was followed by a debate between Coleton Boyd (freshman physics & math double major) and Essabella Voss (freshman criminal justice major) over the topic:
Resolved: childhood literacy should be the number one concern of K-12 education
Caleb McCurren
Coleton Boyd
Hailey Meshew
(from left to right, back to front) Essabella Voss, Hailey Meshew, Dr. Ryan Goke, Dr. Heath Keller, Caleb McCurren, Samuel Miller, Coleton Boyd, Samuel Harless, Dr. Gary ZeRuth, Mr. Mike Weatherford, Professor Leigh Wright