Chris Demaske

Chris Demaske is a Professor in the Department of Culture, Arts and Communication at the University of Washington Tacoma's School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences (SIAS). He holds affiliate faculty status at the UW Seattle Jackson School of International Studies and has served in significant administrative roles including Associate Dean of Faculty Development and Academic Initiatives (2017-2018) and Associate Dean of Faculty and Student Affairs (2016-2017).

His academic credentials include:

• Ph.D. in Communication and Society, University of Oregon (2001)
• M.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Mississippi (1993)
• B.A. in Journalism, California University of Pennsylvania (1991)

Dr. Demaske's research critically interrogates the First Amendment's relationship with culturally disempowered groups, challenging the doctrine's reliance on the autonomous agent concept which perpetuates inequality by protecting hate speech and pornography under the guise of free expression. His interdisciplinary framework integrates feminist theory, critical race theory, legal theory, and social justice perspectives, as demonstrated in his books Free Speech and Hate Speech in the United States (2021) and Modern Power and Free Speech (2009). Current work expands this analysis to global free speech dynamics and the societal impacts of hateful political rhetoric.

His scholarly excellence is recognized through prestigious awards including a Fulbright Scholar Award (2005) for lecturing at Moscow State University and multiple competitive fellowships:

• COIL Fellowship (2014)
• Pacific Northwest Association of Journalism Educators Fellowship (2006)
• Internationalizing the UW Undergraduate Curriculum Grant (2005)
• Fulbright Scholar Award (2005)
• International Development and Global Citizenship Grant (2002)
• University of Oregon Best Dissertation Writing Award (2002)
• University of Oregon Doctoral Fellowship (2000-2001)

As Faculty Supervisor for the UW Tacoma/Moscow State University Newspaper Project since 2002, he has cultivated international journalism partnerships. His grant-funded initiatives demonstrate sustained commitment to globalizing curriculum and advancing humanitarian action through media education, including the International Development and Global Citizenship Grant (2002) that supported his Fulbright scholarship.