Dr. Andra Johnson Appointed School of AREAS Assistant Director of Research
Johnson
The Alcorn State University School of Agriculture, Research, Extension and Applied Sciences (AREAS) appointed its new Assistant Director of Research, Dr. Andra Johnson, effective September 1, 2015.
“I am extremely excited and grateful for the opportunity to join Alcorn's School of AREAS as its assistant director of research,” said Dr. Johnson. “My first task will be to spend time with each research faculty, getting to know them and becoming familiar with the research that they are conducting.”
He added, “I also want to begin to address some of the needs that currently exist. One of which is in the area of small ruminant research. I am looking forward to joining the AREAS family and helping to continue the legacy of serving the citizens of Mississippi.”
Johnson received his master’s and Ph.D. degrees in Forest Resources and Environmental Science from the Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania. He also received a bachelor’s degree in Urban Forest Management from Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
For the past 13 years, Johnson has conducted research and taught classes at Southern University in the Department of Urban Forestry. During this time he also served as faculty researcher in the area of natural resources and urban forestry.
Johnson has produced numerous scholarly publications that were used to enhance programming in the areas of urban forest sustainability and natural resource management. These served as methods for disseminating research results through educational programming efforts statewide. Nationally, he produced abstracts that were presented at conferences and then published to educate and update scientists, municipalities, and landowners of the new trends and ongoing research in the areas of urban forestry.
In addition, scholarly research and extension programs and projects were conducted to further disseminate research results through educational programming efforts. His current research projects deal with urban wetlands, carbon management in urban areas, and the complex issues in the rural and urban interface.
During his tenure, Johnson has demonstrated the qualities of an effective faculty research scientist in the field of urban forestry. He has served on committees and embraced the concepts of program development and evaluation, accountability, and the integration and engagement of extension, research, and education.
Johnson was a highly effective recruiter in the College of Agriculture, Family and Consumer Sciences where he coordinated and co-coordinated the College of Agriculture, Family and Consumer Sciences (CAFCS) Beginning Agriculture Youth Opportunities Unlimited (BAYOU) summer program for over seven years. Since taking over this program, the college saw a dramatic increase in the number of participants enrolling into Southern University’s (CAFCS) academic programs. In addition to coordinating BAYOU program, he served as the principal investigator and co-principal investigator on several funded grants designed to increase the participation of minority students in research and encourage their continued matriculation beyond the bachelor’s degree.
In addition to his research and teaching assignments, Johnson was very active in his community. He provided participation and input in national, regional and local professional organizations; national, regional and local committees; and community service entities that include, but not limited to Volunteers in Public Schools (VIPS) and the Baton Rouge Walk of Fame (BRWOF). He also served tirelessly on college committees such as the Proposal Review and Evaluation Committee and the university’s scholarship committee, amongst others.
Dr. Johnson is a graduate of LEAD 21 Class X: Leadership for the 21st Century. He was, also, recently selected as a member of the White House HBCU Alumni Association Advisory Board.
Dr. Johnson, is married to the former Rhonda Neal and they are the parents to a six-year-old son named, Amaris.
Please stop by and welcome Dr. Johnson to the School of AREAS family. He is located in the Extension and Research Building, Room 201U, 2nd Floor. He may, also, be contacted at 601-877-6537 or [email protected].
