Campus Life

RESIDENCE HALLS

Students will be housed in Cougar Village 1 on the University of Houston Campus. Cougar Village is an ultra-modern, comfortable and safe dorm.

AMENITIES Include:

24-hour desk operation and security
Free laundry facilities
Computer Lab
Two kitchens on every floor, complete with community refrigerator, oven, stove, and microwave.
2 large study lounges per floor complete with dry erase boards and a community tv.
Two large social lounges per floor
Adjacent to the Moody Towers Dining Commons (dining hall)
Cougar Xpress market (convenience store)
Wired/Wireless Internet
Movable furniture in the rooms
Mini Fridge in the rooms
Bike Racks

Learn more about Cougar Village 1 at: https://uh.edu/housing/housing-options/cougar-village-1/

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Packing List

Clothes – cool, comfortable, casual attire (laundry rooms are available for students’ use). No formal attire required unless contacted directly by your Workshop Leader.
Comfortable shoes
Linens: extra-long twin size sheets, light blanket, pillow, towels & washcloth
Bathroom necessities
Notepads and multi-colored pens
Laptop and charger
Cash or re-loadable Visa card for souvenirs and miscellaneous spending
Compact umbrella for rainy days
Laundry bag
Sunscreen
Some type of alarm clock

RESIDENCE STAFF

RUBY PHAM-STUART, RESIDENTIAL DIRECTOR

Ruby Pham-Stuart (she/her/hers) is the director of speech and debate and a dual credit instructor at Stephen F. Austin High School and Houston Community College in Houston. This year marks her 26th as a speech and debate coach and her third year as head coach at Stephen F. Austin, where she has transformed the team into a comprehensive program. Under her leadership, the school has qualified its first policy and Lincoln-Douglas debaters to UIL, TFA and NSDA nationals. A Houston native, Pham-Stuart holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Houston and a master’s degree in English from the University of West Florida. She is currently a doctoral candidate in educational leadership and policy studies at the University of Houston’s College of Education.

As a high school competitor, Pham-Stuart excelled in cross-examination debate, original oratory, dramatic interpretation and U.S. extemporaneous speaking. As a coach, she has guided students to significant achievements, including this year’s third-place finisher in Lincoln-Douglas at the UIL state tournament, as well as numerous qualifications to NSDA nationals, UIL CX, UIL LD and a range of TFA events. Pham-Stuart is currently a summer fellow with the UCEA Center for Educational Leadership and Social Justice, where she is working to build partnerships with community-based spaces to promote equity for marginalized students and administrators. She recently completed her term as a UCEA Jackson Scholar and Fellow. She also serves on a Texas Education Association committee developing curriculum for the state’s pilot Asian American studies course.

Her research focuses on the intersection of gender and race in educational leadership, with a particular emphasis on Asian women in principalship roles within community-based spaces and secondary schools. Her work envisions an “Asian futurism” in education.

KARINA LOVAS, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Karina Lovas (she/her)is a government and history professor, faculty lead for the Government and Economics Department, and a faculty fellow for the Center for Success at Alvin Community College in Alvin, Texas. She is the 2024–25 recipient of the ACC League for Innovation Teaching Excellence Award. In addition to her role at ACC, Lovas teaches political science and history as an adjunct instructor at College of the Mainland, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi and Del Mar College. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and psychology and a master’s degree in political science, both from Texas State University, as well as a master’s degree in history from Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.

Lovas has extensive experience teaching dual credit classes in high schools across Texas. She has also worked in academic camp administration, including at SuperCamp programs hosted by Brown University and the University of California, Berkeley, as well as at a traditional summer camp in the Texas Hill Country. A self-described “mediocre but hard-working” policy debater and extemporaneous speaker in high school at A&M Consolidated in College Station, Lovas judged debate regularly for over a decade after graduation. Although she briefly retired from judging, she returned to the circuit after meeting, falling in love with, and marrying Dr. Ryan Nassif, coach at Clear Lake High School. She now occasionally judges and chaperones.

In her free time, Lovas enjoys crafting, reading, cooking (especially when her husband does the dishes), impulse online shopping, watching “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and other reality competition shows, and spending time with her Maltipoo, Oliver. She considers debate camp one of the most formative experiences of her youth and is thrilled to welcome students to the UH Honors Debate Workshop this summer.

ALEX ELLIS, RESIDENT ASSISTANT

Alex Ellis is currently a policy debater for the University of Houston Honors Policy Debate Team. As a college policy debater, Ellis has earned two top speaker awards and won the second-ever Spanish-language college policy debate tournament. Ellis brings high school experience in model debate and speech. Outside of debate, Ellis has a strong interest in politics and law and is an avid movie enthusiast.

PABLO GARCIA, RESIDENT ASSISTANT

Pablo Garcia (he/him) is a policy debater for the University of Houston Honors Policy Debate Team. In high school, he competed in extemporaneous speaking, congressional debate and Lincoln-Douglas debate at both the state level (UIL/TFA) and national level (NSDA, NIETOC). He previously attended the Mean Green Debate Camp at the University of Texas at Dallas and credits the experience with improving his skills and forming lasting friendships.
Outside of competition, Garcia regularly judges Texas Forensic Association tournaments in the Houston area, primarily in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
Beyond debate, he enjoys trying new foods, conducting research and spending time with friends and his dog, Toby. He is currently completing a degree in political science at the University of Houston and plans to pursue a J.D. after graduation.

Ramana Aqeel, Resident Assistant

Ramana Aqeel is a rising sophomore at the University of Houston, where they are pursuing a bachelor's in political science. They are an active member of the University of Houston Honors Policy Debate Team and were recently recognized with the team’s First Year Standout Award. Outside the classroom, Aqeel enjoys baking, photography and playing games with friends.

They are excited to meet everyone at the UH Honors Debate Workshop this summer.

Code of Conduct

THE UH HONORS DEBATE WORKSHOP STUDENT CONDUCT POLICY

The workshop should be a positive learning experience for all participants. Our aim is to provide an advanced academic program for mature high school students. All participants agree to respect the rights and feelings of other workshop students and staff. These rules do not pretend to be all-inclusive. It goes without saying that the workshop is not a “sanctuary” for conduct that violates state and/or federal law.

1. Attendance at all classes and organized functions is required. Absence from the campus for periods that include classes or functions must be approved by parents and workshop administration in advance.

2. Students agree to comply with all rules and regulations pertaining to living in UH dormitory housing. They must be in their assigned dormitory by 10 p.m., unless the hours have been specifically extended for a given night. The doors will be locked from 10 p.m. until the next morning. Absence from the residence hall during these times is not permitted without express written, parental consent approved by the Residence Director.

3. Students agree to refrain from overt public displays of affection for the entirety of the workshop. This includes sitting on laps, groping, cuddling, lengthy kissing or hugging, etc. At no time are students allowed to leave areas for “privacy.” Permitted affection includes holding hands, or a quick kiss and hug – less than 2 seconds.

4. Students are expected to dress in a manner appropriate for an educational setting in the academic building, as well as the dormitory common areas. Clothing will be deemed inappropriate if it is disturbing to other student/faculty or in any way interferes with the educational process. This includes, but is not limited to, bare midriffs, short shorts, exposed undergarments, low slung trousers or other clothing which is offensive and/or violates acceptable standards of dress. Students are prohibited from wearing clothing and accessories that: have slogans, comments or designs that are obscene, lewd or vulgar; advertise alcoholic beverages, tobacco products or illegal drugs; are directed against or intended to demean individuals based on sex, gender, sexual orientation, race, color, ancestry, national origin, ethnicity, religion, etc. Students wearing clothing deemed inappropriate will be asked to change.

5. Alcoholic beverages and narcotics or other controlled substances are not permitted except with valid prescriptions that have been noted on the accompanying prescription drug form. Students found to have bought, consumed, used, or possessed such items or who are found in possession thereof will be immediately dismissed from the program. Possession is defined as anyone who has actual physical contact of any kind with these substances OR if found to be knowledgeable of the possession of these substances by others does not immediately remove himself or herself from the situation and inform a staff member. The UH Honors Debate Workshop maintains a zero-tolerance policy in regards to illicit substances.

6. The possession or use of firearms, ammunition, BB guns, air rifles, firecrackers, explosives, sling-shots, knives (including pocket knives), or other weapons for any description, for any purpose is prohibited. Any violation of this rule will result in immediate dismissal from the workshop.

7. Students may not operate motor vehicles except to arrive at and depart from the workshop. Residents who drove themselves to the workshop with their own car, shall turn tbeir keys into the Resident Director to hang onto until departure. Under no circumstances may a student get into or on a moving vehicle, unless (a) the ride is part of an official, organized workshop group activity, or (b) the student has written parental permission approved by the residence hall administrator.

8. Students agree to remain on campus at all times. There are two exceptions to the geographical limits. (A) The student has written parental permission approved by the residence hall administrator to travel off campus. (B) On days when students are expressly allowed to venture off campus, they must comply with regulations regarding signing-out, checking-in with staff, and leaving contact information.