About

Joel Westheimer is Professor of Democracy & Education at the University of Ottawa and one of the leading voices on the role of education in democratic life. He is also an education columnist for CBC Radio. A former New York City public school teacher, his writing and public engagement focus on citizenship education, political polarization, democratic participation, authoritarianism, and the role of schools in preparing young people for public life. He is a member of the National Academy of Education, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and a Fellow of the American Educational Research Association.

Headshot of Joel Westheimer

A frequent commentator in print, radio, and television media, Westheimer’s work has appeared in newspapers, magazines, and scholarly journals, and he has been featured on CBC, NPR, C-SPAN, NBC News, TVO’s The Agenda, and numerous other programs. He has delivered more than 450 keynote addresses to educators, policymakers, and public audiences around the world.

Westheimer has received numerous honors for his contributions to education, including the Canadian Education Association’s Whitworth Award and a Knight Fellowship for Civic Engagement in Higher Education.

He lives in Ottawa where, in winter, he ice-skates to work.

You can contact him at joelwestheimer (at) mac (dot) com.