Joel Harder

Joel Harder is a dedicated scholar and seasoned professional with a rich background spanning multiple sectors. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of North Texas and a Master’s degree in Social Work from Baylor University. Joel’s academic journey continued with a Doctorate of Education from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

With over a decade of experience in public, private, government, and faith-based roles, Joel has served in diverse capacities, primarily in Washington, D.C. In 2017, he moved to Oklahoma City and founded Oklahoma Capitol Culture, a nonprofit organization that addresses incivility and declining public trust in politics through innovative approaches. In 2018, Joel was appointed Chaplain of the Oklahoma House of Representatives by Speaker Charles McCall. Two years later, Governor Kevin Stitt appointed him to the Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Social Work, with confirmation by the Oklahoma State Senate.

In law school, Joel has received the CALI award for excellence in Mergers & Acquisitions, is a member of the Oklahoma City University Law Review, and is an Academic Fellow for Property. In his final semester as a law student, Joel will intern with Vice-Chief Justice Dana Kuehn of the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

Following his second year of law school, Joel served as a summer associate with Steptoe & Johnson PLLC, a national law firm, where he gained transactional experience supporting clients in mergers and acquisitions and securities regulatory compliance. He concluded the summer with Otteson Shapiro in Denver, Colorado, where he worked with the banking, lending, and financial institutions practice group. In that role, he assisted community and regional banks in navigating emerging federal regulatory frameworks related to stablecoin and digital currency compliance.

Joel previously interned at First Liberty Institute in Dallas, Texas, where he conducted appellate research on circuit splits. His work contributed to a Petition for Certiorari submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court in 2024. He also gained experience in litigation by drafting motions for federal district courts.

Outside of his professional life, Joel and his wife, Donelle, are devoted to supporting their daughters, Philece (age 12) and Farrow (age 10), as they explore and develop their unique gifts and talents.