Joel is an Assistant Professor at the University of Memphis, teaching various courses relating to branding, advertising, and creative strategy.
Joel began his professional career in advertising and marketing in the promotions department of WMC-TV5. After writing and producing several promotional spots, Joel moved on to work in advertising, marketing, & PR at a local advertising agency and for the World Basketball League’s Memphis Rockers. In 1991, Joel went to work for a global medical device company, where he served in various marketing, communications, and advertising capacities in over 20-years with the company. Joel established his own company in 2006 called LifeSpeak, Inc. which provides marketing and branding consulting and public speaking development services to anyone who is interested in enhancing their presentation and communication skills. Along with wife Elizabeth, Joel also founded the Renewal Center, a non-profit organization designed to provide public speaking training, graphic design skills, and professional skills training to under-served students. Joel holds a BA in Advertising and Communications from the University of Memphis, and an MBA from Union University. Celebrating 27 years of marriage, Joel and Elizabeth Nichols are parents to two children; Jennifer - a 2019 Magna Cum Laude graduate of the Advertising Program at the UofM, who was also named an AAF Most Promising Multi-Cultural Student, and Charles - a student athlete and current Creative Mass Media major at the University of Memphis. |