Jean Goodwin

Dr. Jean Goodwin is the SAS Institute Distinguished Professor of Rhetoric & Technical Communication at NC State University's Department of Communication, part of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. She specializes in science communication ethics, civil argumentation, and the rhetoric of controversial scientific topics such as climate change and GMOs. Her work bridges theory and practice, including NSF-funded initiatives like Teaching Responsible Communication of Science, which develops case studies for STEM graduate students. She also leads the Leadership in Public Science cluster through NC State's Chancellor’s Faculty Excellence Program.

Education: B.A. in Mathematics (University of Chicago, 1979), J.D. (University of Chicago, 1984), and Ph.D. in Communication/Rhetoric (University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1996). Her career includes over 25 years of teaching rhetoric and mentoring students across communication subfields.

Research focuses on how scientists communicate effectively with non-experts, leveraging discourse analysis and conceptual frameworks like speech act theory. Key themes include trust-building in contentious contexts, ethical advocacy roles for scientists, and historical rhetorical strategies from Cicero to modern policy debates. Her work often intersects with civic engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration, such as organizing conferences for science communication scholars and advising organizations like the AAAS.

Major publications explore ethical dimensions of science communication, including climate change advocacy, disinformation detection, and pandemic messaging. Awards include the EB Knight Journal Award (2007) and her distinguished professorship. Current initiatives emphasize translating scholarly insights into practical tools for scientists and fostering dialogue between scientific and public communities through funded research partnerships.