The Great Debate – Author, Jonathan Wolfson

Jonathan Wolfson is an attorney and former speech and debate competitor. He has been a forensics competitor and coach since 1999. Beginning as a debater and eventually learning the joys of speech, Jonathan qualified for nationals in debate in 2001 and for both IEs and debate in 2002. Jonathan won 9th place Impromptu, 2nd place Duo Interpretation, and 2nd place Team Policy Debate at the 2002 NCFCA National Tournament. Jonathan helped found Chicago CHARGE in 2001 which has since grown to one of the largest clubs in the nation. He was captain of Chicago CHARGE Speech and Debate Club for the 2001-2002 season. During his time as captain, Jonathan assisted in teaching the novice class, led the Varsity team, and assisted coaching speech events.

Jonathan continued his forensics success at the college level. Competing for the College of DuPage in 2002-2003, Jonathan was the State runner-up in Extemporaneous Speaking and Communication Analysis, and the State Champion in Impromptu Speaking and Parliamentary Debate. At Phi Rho Pi Nationals that year he won a Bronze medal in Impromptu, Silver in Parliamentary Debate, Gold in Extemporaneous Speaking, and he and his partner were awarded the prestigious Bossard-Twohy Parliamentary Debate Award as the most exemplary parliamentary debaters in the nation. Competing at Washington University in St. Louis in 2003-2004 Jonathan and his partner won the Parliamentary Debate National Invitational Tournament where he was also the top speaker.

Jonathan graduated magna cum laude from Washington University in St. Louis in 2005 with a degree in Economics. Following graduation, Jonathan worked at the White House Council of Economic Advisers for over two years before entering law school at the University of Virginia School of Law. While at Virginia, he was the Chief Justice of the Moot Court Board and also won awards in moot court competition. Jonathan graduated from UVA Law in 2010 and was awarded the Olin Prize in Law & Economics for his paper on married women's labor participation.

Jonathan continues to pass on his expertise as the head coach for the New Orleans SciAcademy LD team, an adjunct coach for the Chicago CHARGE Speech and Debate Club, an advisor to debate clubs, and through teaching at the Lifelong Communicators' Summer Debate Institute.

In his spare time, Jonathan enjoys camping, playing piano, reading, cheering for the Chicago Cubs, and playing sports. Jonathan’s goal is to equip students with the skills of communication to be excellent in all they do.

Jonathan and his wife currently live in New Orleans.

Jonathan Krive contributed to The Great Debate. He was a successful speech and debate competitor from California during high school setting an NCFCA record for three national championships in Original Oratory. He now resides in the Washington, DC suburbs and works for the Federal Governement.