Don Waisanen is a Collaborative Discussion Visiting Fellow for the year 2025. Don is a “pracademic” who teaches, researches, and consults on strategic/leadership communication and civic engagement, and is always striving to help others level up in these areas. He’s a Professor at Baruch College, CUNY, an adjunct at Columbia and NYU, and the founder of Communication Upward, which provides workshops/coaching for professional development and expert facilitation for retreats and meetings. Don is the author of seven books, including Improv for Democracy and Leadership Standpoints, and received a Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Southern California. He’s a tennis fanatic, Duolingo enthusiast, and sometimes does improv comedy around town. You can sign up for Don’s monthly email newsletter on elevating communication, leadership, and democracy at www.donwaisanen.com
