College of Education
Northern Illinois University
Graham Hall
DeKalb, IL 60115
Phone: (815) 753-1948
Fax: (815) 753-2100
cedu@niu.edu
It’s been nearly three years since the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Yet it was that national tragedy that put in motion Barbara Johnson’s journey to Northern Illinois University. Johnson, who was recently tapped as the new chair of Counseling, Adult and Higher Education (CAHE), was living and working in New Orleans at the time of the disaster. Having moved up through the ranks from visiting professor to associate professor to assistant department chair at the University of New Orleans (UNO), she was in the process of being groomed to head her department. However, the hurricane made her reevaluate her life—both personal and professional—and the following year, she left Louisiana to accept an associate professorship at Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi.
Johnson continually developed her interest in student development by teaching courses in student services to both administrators and faculty. A highlight of one of her classes came in the form of a one-day workshop suggested and coordinated by her students. In collaboration with local high schools, her students put together a variety of sessions designed to help local high students successfully navigate the college selection process.
“I believe a lot of attrition and transfers are the result of students not making the correct choice of university in the first place,” the North Carolina native explained. Even though Johnson enjoyed teaching, she found herself increasingly drawn to the managerial aspects of higher education. Having earned an MBA from Ohio State University, this came as no surprise to her.
“I’ve always gravitated toward administration,” she said, “even as a faculty member.” Johnson was prepared to take on more responsibility when the opening in the College’s CAHE department was posted. Intrigued by NIU’s impressive reputation, she thought the small-town setting and its close proximity to Chicago would be a good fit after attending such schools as Winston-Salem State University (undergraduate), OSU (MBA), and Vanderbilt (Ph.D).
“DeKalb definitely has a certain charm to it,” she enthused. “Everyone has been exceptionally nice, helpful, and supportive.” It’s this spirit of collaboration that she looks forward to developing as she “continues to build on the tradition of excellence in the two programs in CAHE.” When Johnson speaks about teamwork and partnership, it’s more than mere lip service. Her research agenda focuses on faculty socialization (particularly at historically black colleges and universities), so she’s keenly aware of how faculty learn what is needed to obtain promotion and tenure.
“One of the biggest challenges facing our department is making prospective students aware of the many career options for which CAHE degrees can be used,” she said. “I look forward to working with faculty on a shared vision that meets the needs of students in the new millennium.”