Joshua B. Nelson

Joshua B. Nelson, an Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma's Department of English, is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and native Oklahoman. He is affiliated with Film & Media Studies, Native American Studies, and Women's & Gender Studies, focusing on American Indian literature and film. His research dismantles assimilated/traditional dichotomies in Indigenous literary criticism through adaptive strategies.

Education

• Ph.D., Cornell University, 2010

Research Interests

Nelson explores American Indian literature and film through tribalist, postcolonial, anarchistic, feminist, and pragmatic frameworks. His work addresses cultural identity, historical dilemmas, and the empowering potential of traditional practices. Current projects include a documentary on Indigenous Medal of Honor recipients and a book on Indigenous film body representations.

Scientific Awards

• President's Associates Presidential Professor

Advising & Projects

Teaching courses on American Indian literature, literary criticism, and film, Nelson also serves as Co-Producer, narrator, and interviewer for the PBS documentary Searching for Sequoyah. He leads the Native Crossroads Film Festival and Symposium, emphasizing Indigenous storytelling and cultural preservation.