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UF’s Director of Forensics and Instructional Professor Kellie Roberts has been named the 2022 recipient of the Delta Sigma Rho-Tau Kappa Alpha Lifetime Achievement Award. Roberts, a champion for students’ voices in her role for the past 35 years, has been involved in competitive speech and debate most of her life.

Roberts joins the ranks with respected leaders and power-house college coaches in forensics — many of whom, she notes, have dedicated the greater parts of their lives to the activity and the students they’ve coached. “When I found out about the award, I was surprised and immediately humbled — to be recognized but also to have my name added to a list with some of the most respected individuals in the world of intercollegiate speech and debate,” she said.

Delta Sigma Rho-Kappa Alpha, one of the oldest national intercollegiate speech and debate honorary organizations, supports academic excellence by promoting public speaking, also referred to as ‘forensics’. Competitive speech and debate gives students a chance to stretch their analytical and critical thinking muscles. Behind the scenes, a dedicated coaching staff of communication experts, including Roberts, assists in the development of the student’s skill sets.

Roberts continues to foster the UF Speech and Debate Team’s longstanding legacy of success at state and national competitions. This year, under her tutelage, students claimed titles in events spanning prose interpretation to persuasive speaking. Still, Roberts says, bringing home the trophies isn’t the driving factor in her efforts. “It’s about seeing my students take the skills, both professional and personal that they learn through the activity, and use them to succeed in their careers or to shape their lives or help others,” she said. The connections forged with so many former students, Robert notes, is one of the most rewarding aspects of her work — alumni continue to keep the spirit of UF Speech and Debate alive by promoting and celebrating the impact the activity has had on their lives.

A triple-Gator, Roberts earned her Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration in 2013. She recently stepped down from her role as Director of the William & Grace Dial Center for Written and Oral Communication, a position she held for over 17 years. In 2020, the Florida Intercollegiate Forensics Association named the State Sweepstakes Championship Award in Roberts’ honor. Among other notable accolades in teaching and service, Roberts holds a Distinguished Service Award from the American Forensics Association (2017), UF Student Affairs’ Morton Wolfson Faculty Award for Outstanding Service to UF Students (2007), and the Florida Communication Association’s Teacher of the Year (1996).

As Roberts looks forward to retirement next year, she views the Delta Sigma Rho-Tau Kappa Alpha Lifetime Achievement Award as a culmination of her career. “It acknowledges that my peers have noticed and appreciate my service through the years and the many different roles I have held,” she said.

Learn more about UF’s Speech and Debate Team here.