Joe Salazar is a former member of the Colorado House of Representatives, as well as a civil rights attorney and political activist. He served in the Colorado House from 2013-2019 and ran for Attorney General in 2018. Since then, Professor Salazar became the director for anti-fracking group Colorado Rising. He has extensive experience in civil rights and environmental political work and brings his real-world political and legislative expertise to the classroom.

Professor Salazar received his bachelor's degree from the University of Colorado Boulder and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Denver.