Dr. Joe P. Cornelius is a principal at the Joseph Brown Elementary School in Maury County, Tennessee. He received his B.S. degree in biology, his Masters in Education and his Doctorate in Education from Tennessee State University. He has previously written "The History of African American Education in Maury County, Tennessee from Slavery to 1998".  Dr. Cornelius has taught Anatomy and Physiology at Columbia State Community College and Biology at Columbia Central High School. 

He has performed his one man skits "Hats", "The Devil and Leroy Jones" and "Alexander" and many other dramatic presentations before organizations such as the National Urban League, NAACP, The World Baptist Convention, The National Education Association, Boy and Girls Clubs of America, Inroads, 4H, Tony Brown's Journal as well as dozens of school, churches and diverse civic organizations.

Dr. Cornelius is also a published author and playwright with articles appearing in the National Education Journal. Some of his original plays include: "Daddy's Black Bible", "The Seventh One", "It's Gonna Rain", "Gingerbread" and "The Prayer".