Russell Peterson earned his PhD from the University of Iowa, having returned to school after a career in graphics and a brief and unprofitable foray into stand-up comedy. He adapted his dissertation into the book, Strange Bedfellows: How Late-Night Comedy Turns Democracy Into a Joke, published by Rutgers University Press (2008). Upon completing his doctorate, he taught Understanding American Cultures for several semesters as a Visiting Assistant Professor. He also developed the American Political Humor course which he continues to teach as a Guided Independent Study (GIS) course.

Research interests

• American politics
• Political humor