Don Waisanen

Don Waisanen is a Professor in the Baruch College, CUNY Marxe School of Public and International Affairs, Department of Public Affairs, where he has received the Presidential Awards for Distinguished Teaching and Distinguished Scholarship. He also serves as an adjunct lecturer at Columbia University and New York University. Waisanen teaches courses and workshops in public communication, including executive speech training, communication strategy, storytelling, conflict and negotiation, and leadership and improvisation.

Waisanen's educational background includes a Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Southern California, additional M.A. degrees in Communication from USC and Pepperdine University, and a B.A. in Political Science/Communication from Westmont College. Prior to academia, he worked in broadcast journalism, as a speechwriter, and on political campaigns. He is also an improvisational performer at theaters in Los Angeles and New York and the founder of Communication Upward.

Waisanen's research centers on how communication promotes or hinders democracy, with over 50 scholarly publications and seven authored books. His work spans political communication, voter ID laws, participatory budgeting, political comedy, and improvisation for democracy. His book States of Confusion: How Our Voter ID Laws Fail Democracy and What To Do About It addresses critical issues in voting rights, while Improv for Democracy: How to Bridge Differences and Develop the Communication and Leadership Skills Our World Needs explores the application of improvisation techniques to democratic discourse.

His recent publications demonstrate consistent scholarly productivity with significant contributions to understanding democratic processes, political communication, and innovative approaches to civic engagement. Waisanen's work shows a trajectory from theoretical explorations of political communication to practical applications for improving democratic processes.

Scientific Awards:

• Presidential Awards for Distinguished Teaching
• Presidential Awards for Distinguished Scholarship

Waisanen actively advises students and has developed numerous workshops and training programs. He has conducted extensive research on participatory budgeting in New York City and has been instrumental in developing communication strategies for organizations and governments to better engage with stakeholders. His work with the Interactivity Foundation focuses on collaborative discussion tools and creative approaches to communication.

As an improvisational performer and communication strategist, Waisanen bridges academic theory with practical application, creating innovative approaches to leadership communication and democratic engagement. His work with the Interactivity Foundation on the Collaborative Discussion Project demonstrates his commitment to developing practical tools for improving civic dialogue.