The SOUTHERN BELL FORUM National Extemporaneous Speaking Round Robin an annual invitation-only event that brings together the best in the country for unequaled competition. 

In 2013, the MBA community mourned the sudden passing of MBA Director of Forensics and former NSDA Board President, Billy Tate. We have named Southern Bell Forum in his honor and welcome the opportunity to continue this tradition that Billy created! As such, it is our simultaneous desire to honor his legacy with this event and to celebrate elite-level extemporaneous speaking. In the Spring of 2025, we mourned the passing of Assistant Round Robin Director, Sandip Gupta. Sandip helped me administer the tournament for a decade and was a wonderful friend. We improved our use of technology tremendously during this time; and Sandip was deeply committed to putting on an excellent event. He was 38 years when he passed away on February 20, 2025 - I miss him every day. We have named the Extemp Round Robin in his honor. 

The tournament organizing committee has worked painstakingly to prepare for this event. On Saturday, January 9, and Sunday, January 10, 2027, sixteen of the nation’s top extemporaneous speakers will gather on the MBA campus to compete. We believe this tournament also attracts the finest judges—those with a deep affinity for extemporaneous speaking, whether as former competitors, distinguished coaches, or individuals who have shaped the trajectory of this event.

This is an in-person tournament, held on the beautiful MBA campus, where we’ll once again enjoy the Southern hospitality that defines this event. As always, the Forum is a not-for-profit endeavor, designed to provide a highly educational and inspiring environment for some of the brightest minds in our favorite event.

Adam A. Johnson 

MBA ’00, Round Robin Director 

Rhonda Smith 

Round Robin Committee 

Jason Warren 

Round Robin Committee