The Emory community is invited to a reception honoring Melissa Maxcy Wade on Thursday, Oct. 29, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room of the Few residence hall.

Wade is retiring after 43 years at Emory, most as executive director of forensics of the Barkley Forum Center for Debate Education. Her official retirement date is Oct. 30.

Wade is a principle founder of the Atlanta Urban Debate League, which sparked the urban debate league movement that now exists in more than 20 major U.S. cities. The league was founded in 1985 as a partnership between the Barkley Forum and Atlanta Public Schools.

She has coached Emory to over 30 national college championships, and has received every major college coaching and service award in her field. She has worked with international debate outreach in South Korea, Jamaica and Columbia, and has been a visiting faculty member in the graduate division of international studies at Ewha University in Seoul.

The Melissa Maxcy Wade Social Justice Award is named in her honor.

Following her retirement, Wade will remain involved in the debate community as the president of the Glenn Pelham Foundation for Debate Education.

Visit thanksmelissa.com to send best wishes to her.  For more information, contact Kara Grant at 404-727-7178.