About Me

I am an associate professor in the School of Education at Saint Louis University (SLU) in St. Louis, MO and an affiliate faculty researcher with the SLU PRiME Center. My work lies at the intersection of the history of education, civil rights, and public policy—with an emphasis on how power, political governance, and institutional strategies shape schooling and democracy.

Research Focus

I study how white political elites and communities employed legal, institutional, and political governance strategies to preserve racial hierarchy and segregation as well as limit democratic accountability in education after the Brown decision. My research examines school desegregation and integration, democratic evasion through institutional migration, and the remaking of American education post-Brown. I’m especially interested in the politics of white backlash and its effects on schooling, policy, and civil life.

Writing and Public Engagement

I write for a range of audiences—from peer-reviewed scholarship to public-facing work. My writing includes academic journal articles, policy reports for the SLU PRiME Center, contributions to the Missouri Encyclopedia, and essays on the history of segregation and integration in education and its relationship to democracy on my Substack, Yesterday’s Classrooms. This body of work reflects my commitment to both advancing scholarly conversations and engaging broader publics in critical discussions about education, power, and social change.

My research has informed public conversations beyond the academy. My work on Brooks v. Moberly was reported on by the Columbia Missourian and featured in newspapers across Missouri. My SLU PRiME report on the displacement of Black teachers in Missouri post-Brown was highlighted by St. Louis Public Radio. This engagement reflects my commitment to connecting historical research in education to contemporary policy debates and public understanding.

Scholarly Identity

I believe that education and schooling are deeply political. Schools reflect and shape social, cultural, and historical forces. As such, they can expand or constrain democratic possibilities. I explore questions such as: Who is a good citizen? How do school cultivate citizenship? How do political elites and the communities they serve use schools as civic instruments (e.g., tools for the creation and maintenance of visions of society)? And how do political structures and behaviors channel or restrict educational equity?

Academic Background

I hold a Ph.D. in Social Studies Education with a Graduate Certificate in Qualitative Studies and Research from the Univeristy of Georgia, an M.A. in Public Affairs from Georgia College and State University, and a B.B.A. in Management from Mercer University.

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I regularly speak with educators, journalists, and policy audiences about the history and politics of American Education.

For invitations, collaborations, or inquires related to my research and public work, I can be reached at

joseph.nichols@slu.edu

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