Joel Thurman earned his Bachelor's in History from the University of Nebraska-Kearney and a Masters in US History from Adams State University. His research interests involve comic books in print and film adaptations and their changes as a lens through which to study American pop culture history. He is currently interested in the representation of youth in foster care depicted in DC Comics and how that representation influences public perception of foster care.
Prior to entering CU’s Media Studies program, Joel was a middle and high school history teacher in Texas and Colorado. He has also taught adjunct history courses for Bellevue University in his home state of Nebraska.