Robert Boller

Robert R. Boller, Ed.D., is an Assistant Professor of Rhetoric and Director of Debate at the University of San Francisco. He has more than 25 years of experience as a debate coach and educator, with a focus on rhetoric, advocacy, civic dialogue, and social justice. At USF, he teaches courses in rhetoric, argumentation, written and oral communication, and debate, and directs a nationally recognized debate program. He also serves as Vice President of the Civic Debate Consortium, which reimagines debate through innovative formats, community-expert adjudication, and public dialogue designed to strengthen civic engagement. His research and work explores how new formats of rhetoric and public argument can foster critical thinking, meaningful dialogue, and engagement across political, cultural, and national borders.

• Argumentation and debate
• Advocacy and rhetoric
• Intercultural communication 

• Equity in inter-varsity debate
• Intercultural communication in forensics
• Expatriate social networks

• Director of Debate, (2020-present)
• Co-Chair, Adjunct Rhetoric Conference (2020-present)

• USF, EdD in Education, 2004
• University of Hawai'i, MA in Speech, 1998
•  UCSB, B.A. in Communications, 1995

• Adjuct Professor in Communications
• Adjunct Professor in Rhetoric and Language

• CAS Full Time Faculty Service Award 2026

• Iberri-Shea, G., Boller, R., Cleret, E., & Rief, J. J. (2026). The transatlantic dialogues: A model for listening and civil discourse in intercollegiate academic debate.