Lincoln Douglas Instructors | The Honors College

Lincoln Douglas

Fahim Jahingir, Instructor

My name is Fahim Jahingir, and I am a rising freshman at the University of Texas at Austin. Previously, I competed at Jordan High School primarily in LD, and eventually served as president of the team my senior year. Competitively, I garnered three career bids to the TOC, received multiple round robin invitations, and reached late elimination rounds consistently at tournaments across the country. Outside of debate, I enjoy playing pickleball and basketball with my friends, as well as watching anime. I’m excited to be working with the incredible staff at the LD program of the UH Honors Debate Workshop!

Bryce Sheffield, Instructor

Bryce Sheffield is a rising senior at the University of Houston and a member of the Houston Honors Debate Team. In his competitive career, Bryce has reached the elimination rounds of CEDA and regional tournaments. He has reached the NDT and won the ADA JV division his freshman year. As a coach Bryce has coached students to winning tournaments such as the Glenbrooks, Texas, and Peninsula, finals and late elimination rounds of the TOC, and students Bryce coached numerous students to bids at tournaments such as Greenhill, Grapevine, and Harvard Westlake.

Eric Schwerdtfeger, instructor

Eric Schwerdtfeger holds a bachelor's in english and a master's in curriculum development and instruction from Texas A&M University. He is currently the director of debate at Dulles High School, having previously coached at Westside and Magnolia high schools.

His students have reached late elimination rounds at the Tournament of Champions, the National Speech & Debate Association National Tournament, Texas Forensic Association State Tournament, University Interscholastic League State Tournament, and the Houston Urban Debate League City Championship, among others. Eric frequently judges at local tournaments in Houston and on the national circuit. He enjoys coaching and evaluating a wide range of debate styles, from policy arguments to philosophical and critical scholarship. He has a passion for debate theory and studying the history of the issues that shape the activity today.

Outside of debate, Eric enjoys reading, hiking, playing board games, exercising, cooking, and spending time with his family.