Meet the Speaking Center Staff
Philip Choong (Speaking Center Director)
Philip Choong (he/him) is a faculty member in the Rhetoric and Language Department and has been the Speaking Center Director since 2024. At USF, he has taught courses in public speaking, writing, podcasting, and rhetorical criticism.
Email: pchoong@usfca.edu
Year: Junior
Major: Fine Arts
Languages: English
About: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque faucibus ex sapien vitae pellentesque sem placerat. In id cursus mi pretium tellus duis convallis. Tempus leo eu aenean sed diam urna tempor. Pulvinar vivamus fringilla lacus nec metus bibendum egestas. Iaculis massa nisl malesuada lacinia integer nunc posuere. Ut hendrerit semper vel class aptent taciti sociosqu. Ad litora torquent per conubia nostra inceptos himenaeos.
Year: Junior
Major: Computer Science
Languages: English
About: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque faucibus ex sapien vitae pellentesque sem placerat. In id cursus mi pretium tellus duis convallis. Tempus leo eu aenean sed diam urna tempor. Pulvinar vivamus fringilla lacus nec metus bibendum egestas. Iaculis massa nisl malesuada lacinia integer nunc posuere. Ut hendrerit semper vel class aptent taciti sociosqu. Ad litora torquent per conubia nostra inceptos himenaeos.
Year: Junior
Major: Finance
Languages: English
Bio: I’m a strong advocate for impromptu speaking when working with students, as I believe this powerful skill can truly transform a speech and build confidence. As a finance major, I also bring experience in public speaking within professional and business settings.
Year: Senior
Major: English Literature with a Concentration in Creative Writing
Languages: English, Portuguese, Spanish
Bio: Anita de Sousa is an English major with a concentration in Creative Writing and a minor in Legal Studies. Her approach to peer coaching stems from recognizing every student's humanity. She begins each of her sessions with the intention of getting to know each student, especially their motivations and goals for each assignment. Public speaking is important to her because it allows anyone to step out of their comfort zone and develop their skills as a speaker. While any student is welcome to book Anita, her greatest strengths lie in outlining, brainstorming, researching, visual aids, developing presentations, and presenting itself. Anita is fluent in Portuguese and has a basic understanding of Spanish.
Year: Junior
Major: Economics
Languages: English
Bio: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque faucibus ex sapien vitae pellentesque sem placerat. In id cursus mi pretium tellus duis convallis. Tempus leo eu aenean sed diam urna tempor. Pulvinar vivamus fringilla lacus nec metus bibendum egestas. Iaculis massa nisl malesuada lacinia integer nunc posuere. Ut hendrerit semper vel class aptent taciti sociosqu. Ad litora torquent per conubia nostra inceptos himenaeos.
Year: Junior
Majors: Computer Science and Economics
Languages: English, South Indian vernaculars, Hindi
Bio: Nissika “Nissi” Jim Rakesh is a junior at the University of San Francisco, double majoring in Computer Science and Economics. A lifelong debater and storyteller, Nissi sees public speaking as part art, part science, and entirely about human connection. With ten years of experience in speech and debate, she brings an energetic, feedback-driven approach to every session: filled with visuals, laughter, and real-world examples that make practice both meaningful and fun. Known for her approachable and jovial personality, she tailors her coaching to each speaker’s goals, helping students find their rhythm, confidence, and presence. Conversant in South Indian vernaculars and Hindi, Nissi especially enjoys working with multilingual and international students, guiding them to speak with clarity and authenticity. To her, communication isn’t about perfection: it’s about finding your voice and daring to use it.
Year: Junior
Major: Biology
Languages: English
About: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque faucibus ex sapien vitae pellentesque sem placerat. In id cursus mi pretium tellus duis convallis. Tempus leo eu aenean sed diam urna tempor. Pulvinar vivamus fringilla lacus nec metus bibendum egestas. Iaculis massa nisl malesuada lacinia integer nunc posuere. Ut hendrerit semper vel class aptent taciti sociosqu. Ad litora torquent per conubia nostra inceptos himenaeos.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque faucibus ex sapien vitae pellentesque sem placerat. In id cursus mi pretium tellus duis convallis. Tempus leo eu aenean sed diam urna tempor. Pulvinar vivamus fringilla lacus nec metus bibendum egestas. Iaculis massa nisl malesuada lacinia integer nunc posuere. Ut hendrerit semper vel class aptent taciti sociosqu. Ad litora torquent per conubia nostra inceptos himenaeos.