Kathy Johnson

Dr. Kathy Johnson grew up in Massachusetts. She is married, having met her husband in high school, and is the proud mother of four children.

She came to Indiana for her first “real” job as an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at IUPUI. Dr. Johnson has always been intrigued by the way people think and how these abilities change over time as we develop. Today, she serves as executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer of IUPUI. Prior to accepting the role, Dr. Johnson served as associate vice chancellor for undergraduate education and dean of University College.

Dr. Johnson believes University College serves as the epicenter of the completion agenda—serving as a nexus for programs and initiatives that help to ensure access to higher education in Indiana.

University College helps to make sure all college students have an easy transition to IUPUI. It offers specialized programs to scholars from traditionally underrepresented groups, provides intensive academic advising, and coordinates on-campus jobs for student employees. Dr. Johnson believes that University College plays a pivotal role in helping to provide a foundation for academic success for all undergraduate students.

As the executive vice chancellor, Dr. Johnson loves the challenge of detecting where there are gaps in what IUPUI does and articulating a vision for how to become more effective for our students. Her background in psychology prepared her to apply data to see if something is working or not working. She believes that education can change the way students view themselves and their roles in the world. Dr. Johnson believes a perfect scholarship is one that would provide funding for tuition and textbooks while also requiring the recipient to participate in some form of on-campus employment.