Dale Herbeck, Ph.D.

Dale A. Herbeck (Ph.D., University of Iowa, 1988) is a professor in the Communication Department at Boston College, where he teaches courses on argumentation, communication law, cyberlaw, and freedom of expression. From 1985 through 1994, he served as Director of Boston College's nationally ranked Fulton Debating Society.  He was chair of the Communication Department from 1998 until 2007.

Professor Herbeck is co-author of Freedom of Speech in the United States (Strata, 2001/2005/2009), he has contributed 30 book chapters and scholarly articles to leading communication journals, and he has presented more than 100 scholarly papers before learned societies. His scholarship has been recognized with the Frankly S. Haiman Award from the National Communication Association (2006), the McGuffey Award from the Textbook and Academic Author’s Association (2002), the James Madison Award from the Southern States Communication Association (2001), the Past President's Award from the Eastern Communication Association (1995), and the Robert M. O'Neill Award from the Commission on Freedom of Expression (1993). Professor Herbeck also received the Rev. John A. Trzaszka, S.J., Award for Student Development (1989), the Teaching Award from the Boston College chapter of Phi Beta Kappa (2000) in recognition of his excellence in the classroom, and the Distinguished Service Award from the American Forensic Association (2004).

Professor Herbeck is active in a variety of professional associations. Past and present service includes President and National Council of the American Forensic Association; President and Board of Directors of the American Communication Association; Chair of the National Communication Association's Commission on Freedom of Expression; and Editor of both Argumentation and Advocacy (2001-2004) and the Free Speech Yearbook (1993-1995).