Assistant Professor of Communication
Pacific Lutheran University
Justin Eckstein (PhD) is a teacher-scholar who believes argument is the lifeblood of democracy because it supplies citizens with the power of reason to mediate disagreement. He teaches classes in argumentation and advocacy, communication inquiry and cultivating civic engagement. He's an award winning, internationally recognized researcher in argumentation, and has published an edited book and works appearing in numerous journals, book chapters and conference proceedings. For the importance of his scholarship, Eckstein won the National Communication Association’s 2020 Early Career Award.
He's an active member in the community, including the Jackson Foundation, where he focuses on depolarization efforts. He also works as the chair of operations for the Washington State Debate Coalition, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to enhancing deliberative opportunities for everyone in the state of Washington. Eckstein has a doctorate in rhetoric and communication ethics from the University of Denver.