Professor Hollihan publishes in argumentation, media and politics, media diplomacy, political campaign communication, contemporary rhetorical criticism, and the impact of globalization on public deliberation. He is the author of several books including Diplomatic and Mediated Arguments in the North Korean Crisis: Engaging the Hermit Kingdom, The Dispute over the Diayou/Senkaku Islands: How Media Narratives Shape Public Opinions and Challenge the Global Order, Uncivil Wars: Political Campaigns in a Media Age, Arguments and Arguing: The Products and Process of Human Decision Making (with Kevin Baaske), and Argument at Century’s End: Reflecting on the Past and Envisioning the Future.

Professor Hollihan served as associate dean for academic affairs in the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism from 1997-2007. He currently chairs the Executive Committee of the USC US-China Institute. He also chaired the Board of Trustees of the National Debate Tournament (NDT), the National Communication Association (NCA) Doctoral Education Committee, the NCA Taskforce on Legislative Reform, the NCA Committee on International Discussion and Debate, and the NDT National Committee. He has served as president of the American Forensic Association and the Western Forensic Association.

Professor Hollihan has been a visiting scholar at Renmin University, the Communication University of China, and Meiji University. He is a faculty fellow in the USC Center for Public Diplomacy and the USC Center for Communication Leadership. He also teaches courses in the Communication Management and Public Diplomancy masters programs. Professor Hollihan has served as a consultant to political candidates, elected officials, business leaders, and leaders of NGOs. He teaches senior US Navy officers in strategic communication and teaches in the Annenberg World Bank Summer Institute. He formerly taught in an Executive Education Program for the China Development Research Foundation. He also served as a consultant to the International Atomic Energy Agency of the United Nations.

Awards and honors:

Daniel M. Rohrer Research Award for best original scholarship in the field of argumentation, American Forensic Association (1988).
Daniel M. Rohrer Research Award for best original scholarship in the field of argumentation, American Forensic Association (1995).
Outstanding Debate Coach Award, University of Utah (1987).