Joseph Graham Jr.

Joseph Graham Jr. is an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, specializing in the intersection of faith, mental health, and social equity. His research focuses on social mobility impacts on mental health, criminal justice system implications, and diversity/equity/inclusion frameworks. He holds an M.A. in Sociology from UNC Charlotte and a B.A. in Afrikana Studies with minors in Sociology and Religious Studies.

• Affiliations: National Small Business Council (NC representative), Small Business Majority

His work has been featured in prominent media including the N.Y. Times, Washington Post, and MSNBC. Key contributions include the U.S. Congress-funded documentary Grit and Grace: Fight for the American Dream (2022) and presentations at the Southern Sociological Society and Society for the Study of Social Problems. Graham advocates for mental health needs in small businesses and criminal justice reform through board engagements and public speaking.

His publications analyze systemic inequities in education, criminal justice, and faith communities. Recent works include Light Up: A Guide for How to Balance Faith and Mental Health (2022) and Race, Resegregation & the School to Prison Pipeline in Mecklenburg County (2016).