This is the second consecutive year Johnson has been named DEIA Visionary, joined in the honor by USC Race and Equity's Shaun Harper.
USC Rossier University Associate Professor and Pullias Center faculty member Royel Johnson has been named a 2024 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility (DEIA) Visionary by the Los Angeles Times B2B Publishing.
DEIA Visionaries were selected “based on submissions of hundreds of nominated DEIA professionals and experts” and consist of “the most prominent game changers and thought leaders in the business world today.” According to the Los Angeles Times, the visionaries’ work has inspired Southern California and beyond as they continue to provide guidance to their own organizations and the business community. The publication shared brief profiles for each honoree highlighting their careers and recent successes.
“As coordinated attacks aimed at stymieing progress on DEIA initiatives continue to mount across the nation, I am as determined as ever to continue working to advance DEIA efforts through my role as a researcher and educator,” said Johnson. “It is an honor to be recognized as a DEIA Visionary alongside my fellow honorees, all of whom are making significant strides in enhancing material workplace conditions for underrepresented groups. Together, we are working to advance an equity agenda that recognizes and respects all voices and backgrounds. I believe this work is fundamental to achieve a truly healthy and vibrant society.”
Dr. Johnson is a nationally-recognized expert on college access, student success, as well as campus climate and culture change for racial equity in higher education. Johnson is a productive scholar with over 50 publications, including articles in leading journals such as the Journal of Higher Education, Teachers College Record, and Peabody Journal of Education. He has also edited three books: Racial Equity on College Campuses: Connecting Research and Practice, Enacting Student Success: Critical and Alternative Perspectives for Practice, and Creating New Possibilities for the Future of HBCUs with Research. He has garnered more than $5.3 million in grants and contracts from federal, state, and private funders. A highly-sought after speaker and consultant, Johnson has delivered more than 100 invited talks for college campuses, companies, and other organizations. Dr. Johnson joined Rossier and the Pullias faculty in 2021.
In September, Harvard Education Press published Johnson’s and Harper’s newest book, The Big Lie About Race in America’s Schools.
Read the full article on the USC Rossier website, here.
