Kiran Dhillon joined the USC faculty as a lecturer of communication at USC Annenberg in 2016. Dhillon studies a broad range of topics generally concerned with argumentation, political communication, cultural discourses, gendered discourses, and racial discourses.

She was formerly the director of debate and forensics for USC’s nationally recognized Trojan Debate Squad in 2017. The Trojan Debate Squad includes intercollegiate competitions, community debate programming and initiatives, and facilitating public and civic debates. Under her direction, the team grew to 70 active members. Dhillon coaches USC’s debaters in the nationally competitive formats of British Parliamentary and Policy Debate. Under her leadership, students achieved the echelons of competitive debate, including the first USC debater to be ranked top speaker at the Cross-Examination Debate Association Nationals in the tournament’s 47-year history. In addition, Dhillon facilitated public and civic debates in the Sheindlin Forum which provides an opportunity to encourage the civil exchange of ideas through well-informed and substantial dialogue and debate. Dhillon also facilitates the squad’s partnership with the Los Angeles Metropolitan Debate League (LAMDL) which helps to expand debate in Los Angeles public schools. Today, the Trojan Debate Squad continues to support hundreds of Los Angeles youth.