Robert Danisch has a PhD in Communication from the University of Pittsburgh (2004) and a BA from the University of Virginia in History and Philosophy.  He is currently a Full Professor in the Department of Communication Arts at the University of Waterloo. His research interests concern rhetorical theory, persuasion, and public communication within democratic societies. 

 

He is the author of Rhetorical Democracy: How Communication Shapes Political Culture (Lexington Books, 2024), Radically Civil: How to Save Democracy One Conversation at a Time with W. Keith (Routledge, 2024), Beyond Civility: The Competing Obligations of Citizenship with W. Keith (Penn State Press, 2020), Pragmatism, Democracy, and the Necessity of Rhetoric (University of South Carolina Press, 2007), Building a Social Democracy: The Promise of Rhetorical Pragmatism (Lexington Books, 2015), andWhat Effect Have I Had? 100 Communication Practices to be a Better Partner, Teammate, Writer, Speaker, and Leader (KDP, 2018). 

 

Professor Danisch hosts a podcast called Now We’re Talking that focuses on communication skills,. His writing has appeared in The Conversation, Rhetoric Society Quarterly, Rhetoric Review, Rhetoric & Public Affairs, Social Epistemology, Public Understanding of Science, The Globe and Mail, and The National Post.  Rob teaches courses in Leadership, Communication Ethics, Speech Writing, Persuasion, Small Group Communication, and Theories of Communication. He also works as a communication consultant, specializing in workshops and coaching on persuasion and leadership. Rob has helped many clients improve their performance by teaching people to be more effective communicators.  

 

He joined the Faculty of Arts at the University of Waterloo in 2011.