Talladega College President Dr. Gregory Vincent has appointed Dr. Barbara J. Johnson as the institution’s executive vice president and provost effective July 19, 2022. Dr. Johnson will also hold the rank of tenured professor.
She comes to Talladega from Arkansas Tech University (ATU) in Russellville, Arkansas, where she served as vice president for academic affairs. As a senior cabinet member and a tenured professor, she collaborated with faculty and staff to establish and execute priorities for academic programs and activities; ensure academic quality and inclusive excellence; and promote success and retention planning for over 10,000 students.
During her tenure at ATU, Dr. Johnson was the principal investigator for a $1.2 million grant from the United States Department of Education to provide student support services for teacher education majors and she facilitated 28 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) for academic programs and exchange opportunities at domestic and international post-secondary institutions.
Additionally, she developed and implemented new academic offerings for degrees and certificates and created innovative strategies for addressing professional development and student retention, including an academic coaching initiative and summer bridge experience utilizing a co-requisite math model. Her broad array of accomplishments included facilitating an academic college restructuring process in one semester and partnering with the institution’s director of information systems to advance internet security.
"Dr. Johnson’s proven ability to plan strategically, lead effectively and foster a culture of collaboration within diverse communities will make her a great asset to our institution,” Dr. Vincent said. “With over 20 years of progressive leadership experience, she is exceptionally well equipped to provide the assessment and guidance needed to ensure the success of Talladega College’s academic programs and aid our students and faculty in reaching their full potential.”
Prior to joining ATU, Dr. Johnson served as vice president for accreditation relations for the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), one of six regional institutional accreditors serving over 1000 institutions in 19 states. Before joining HLC, she distinguished herself as a senior vice president and tenured professor at Meharry Medical College and as a department chair and tenured professor at Northern Illinois University. Dr. Johnson also taught full-time at the University of New Orleans and Jackson State University before transitioning to academic administration.
Throughout her career, Dr. Johnson has engaged in service to her profession. As director of the Leadership and Mentoring Institute for the American Association of Blacks in Higher Education, she facilitates the career aspirations of others who aspire to senior level leadership positions in academe.
“It is an honor to serve as the provost and executive vice president for Talladega College. I look forward to working with President Vincent and all members of the Talladega College family to advance the institution’s mission,” she stated. “It will be essential to collaborate with faculty and staff to ensure our academic offerings are preparing students for global success. I am truly excited about the opportunity to be a part of Talladega’s historical legacy.”
Dr. Johnson holds a PhD in education and human development from Vanderbilt University; a Master of Business Administration (marketing focus) from The Ohio State University; and a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Winston-Salem State University, where she graduated magna cum laude.
