Joshua Strayhorn is a historian of 19th and 20th century United States history. His research interests include African American history, specifically Emancipation, Reconstruction, and migration. His dissertation examined race, religion, and migration in post-emancipation North Carolina, asking what were the political, economic, social, religious factors that contributed to black migration. In 2022, he was awarded the Charlotte W. Newcombe Dissertation Completion fellowship.

Joshua completed his masters and doctoral work at Duke University. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in history from North Carolina Central University.