Tim Huffman

Tim Huffman is an Associate Professor and Interim Chair in the Department of Communication at Saint Louis University’s College of Arts and Sciences. His work bridges academic scholarship with community engagement, particularly in areas of social justice, homelessness, nonprofit organizing, and compassionate communication. He teaches courses such as Community-based Inquiry, Organizational Communication, and Qualitative Inquiry for Communication and Social Justice at both undergraduate and graduate levels.

• Ph.D., Hugh Downs School of Human Communication, Arizona State University
• Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership, Arizona State University
• M.A., Speech Communication, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville

Dr. Huffman's research centers on socially just communication practices, especially among marginalized populations like homeless youth. He employs community-based and participatory research methods grounded in pragmatic and relational epistemologies. His scholarship emphasizes compassion, relationality, and ethical inquiry in organizational and social contexts.

His recent publications reflect a strong trend in qualitative methodology, social justice communication, and the intersection of spirituality and ethics in public discourse. He has published in leading journals such as Qualitative Inquiry, Communication Monographs, and Journal of Applied Communication Research, and authored the textbook Qualitative Inquiry for Social Justice (2024).

• Outstanding Textbook Award (2024), National Communication Association
• Dr. Norman White Award for Engaged Scholarship and Service (2021)
• Fr. James Veltrie, S.J. Cura Personalis Faculty Excellence Award (2018)
• Spirit of the Billiken Awardee Mentor (2018)
• Multiple Top Paper Awards in activism, philosophy of communication, and spirituality

Dr. Huffman is deeply committed to community service and applied scholarship. He advises and mentors student initiatives such as Labre Ministries and the Leadership and Social Change Learning Community. He co-founded the Social Justice Communication Collaborative and founded the Community Action Lab. He has secured no explicit grants mentioned but demonstrates sustained engagement through partnerships with organizations including the St. Patrick Center, St. Louis Continuum of Care, and the Housing is Healthcare Program.

He is actively involved in local and national efforts to address homelessness, serving on the Board of Directors and co-chairing committees at the St. Patrick Center, participating in the St. Louis City Continuum of Care COVID-19 Task Force, and supporting the SLU Winter Emergency Shelter. These roles highlight his integration of academic expertise with direct community action.