TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Indiana State University officials have hired an exceptional leader as associate vice president for inclusive excellence and strategic initiatives.
Rana
Johnson, Ph.D., comes to Indiana State from Unity College in Maine, where she
has served the past two years as the institution’s chief diversity and
inclusion officer.
In
her new role at Indiana State, Johnson will provide leadership for efforts to
develop a campus environment that appreciates diversity in all its forms and
will enhance existing initiatives and implement new efforts to fulfill the
university’s strategic plan.
“We’re
proud to have the most diverse student body of any university in Indiana, and
we look forward to Dr. Johnson working to establish us as a model of inclusive
excellence in the Midwest and beyond,” said Mike Licari, provost and vice
president for Academic Affairs at Indiana State.
Johnson
will start on Sept. 1.
I am honored to be a part of the Indiana State University leadership team, and I look forward to collaborating with President Deborah Curtis and Provost Mike Licari to promote diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice across the campus community.”
Rana Johnson, Ph.D.
In
her role at Unity College, Johnson collaborated with the institution’s senior
leadership to promote diversity, equity and inclusion. She also provided
expertise in policy development and encouraged accountability for the
institution’s diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice initiatives.
Prior
to Unity College, Johnson worked at the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary
Education (CPE) from 1999 to 2017 in a variety of roles, ending as the senior
associate for diversity outreach and special projects. In that capacity, she
managed the coordination of the Committee on Equal Opportunities and organized
campus visits that included planning and assessment of the Statewide Diversity
Policy, student programming and best practices.
Johnson
has earned numerous awards for her work and has presented at dozens of
diversity and inclusion events. She is a graduate of the Southern Regional
Education Board (SREB) Doctoral Scholars Program and volunteers each year to
oversee the Compact for Faculty Diversity’s faculty recruitment fair.
“I
am thrilled Dr. Johnson is joining us at ISU after this very competitive search
process. Given her long, varied and successful career in higher education and
the field of inclusive excellence, I am confident that she will be a great
asset to the campus and the community,” said Chris Olsen, dean of the College
of Arts and Sciences and chair of the search committee. “Also, I was
particularly grateful for, and impressed by, the members of our diverse and
dedicated search committee, who represented a wide range of constituencies on
campus.”
Johnson
earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Kentucky, a
master’s degree in speech communication from Eastern New Mexico University and
a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Spalding University.
A
native of Louisville, Ky., Johnson enjoys running and cycling.
