Phillip Samuels

Dr. Phillip Samuels is an Assistant Professor in the Elliott School of Communication at the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Wichita State University. He serves as the Director of Debate and teaches courses including Race and Media, communication analysis and theory, public speaking, and argumentation.

Dr. Samuels' educational background includes:

• Ph.D. from The University of Kansas (2019)
• M.A. from The University of Kansas (2007)
• B.A. from Emporia State University (2004)

His research focuses on the intersection of race, media, and rhetoric. Specifically, he examines the rhetorics of miscegenation, the embrace of racial ambiguity, and the function of ideographs in shaping perceptions of black masculinity. Additionally, his work extends to the rhetorics of sports and culture.

Dr. Samuels serves as the Director of the WSU debate program, where he has led the team to qualify for the National Debate Tournament and the Cross Examination Debate Association National Tournament in his first year. Previously, at the University of Texas Dallas and the University of Kansas, he coached teams to elimination rounds at major national tournaments.

He directs the Wichita State University debate program, which competes in national tournaments including the National Debate Tournament (NDT) and the Cross Examination Debate Association (CEDA) National Tournament.