Edward William and Jane Marr Gutgsell Professor Emeritus

Research Interests

My primary research areas are philosophy of education; the ethics of communication; teaching through dialogue; and technology and education. 

Awards and Honors

Outstanding Faculty Mentorship Award, College of Education, University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign (2024).

David Zola Distinguished Teaching Career Award, College of Education, University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign (2021).

Outstanding Faculty Leadership Award, University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign (2015).

Fellow, International Academy of Education (2011).

Edward William and Jane Marr Gutgsell Professorship, University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign (2009-present).

James and Helen Merritt Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Philosophy of Education (2004).

Grayce Wicall Gauthier Professorship, College of Education, University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign (2002-2007).

Distinguished Senior College Scholar, College of Education, University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign (2001).

University Scholar, University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign (1998).

Selected as a “Young Leader of the Academy,” Change magazine (1998).

Distinguished College Scholar, College of Education, University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign (1992).

Additional Campus Affiliations

Edward William and Jane Marr Gutgsell Professor Emeritus, Education Policy, Organization and Leadership

Recent Publications

Burbules, N. C. (2025). Artificial Intelligence in Education: Use it, or Refuse it? Educational Theory, 75(4), 597-602. https://doi.org/10.1111/edth.70038

Burbules, N. C. (2025). The Communicative Dimensions of Social Epistemologies. Educational Theory, 75(2), 192-207. https://doi.org/10.1111/edth.70005

Hand, M., & Burbules, N. C. (2025). Symposium Introduction: Educating Responsible Believers. Educational Theory, 75(2), 188-191. https://doi.org/10.1111/edth.70011

Burbules, N. C. (2023). Critical Thinking and the Conditions of Democracy. Education Policy Analysis Archives, 31, Article 104. https://doi.org/10.14507/epaa.31.8062

Jackson, L., Davids, N., Thompson, W. C., Lussier, J., Burbules, N. C., Alston, K., Chatelier, S., Taganas, K. M. B., Mendoza, O. S., Cong, J. L., Frattura, A., & Webb, A. A. P. T. (2023). Feeling like a philosopher of education: A collective response to Jackson’s ‘The smiling philosopher’. Educational Philosophy and Theory, 55(9), 994-1005. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131857.2022.2063719

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