Mercy College Announces Brian L. Johnson as the New Vice President of the Manhattan Campus
Mercy College has appointed Brian L. Johnson, Ph.D. as Vice President of the Mercy College Manhattan Campus. He will join the College on September 24 and will oversee the College’s Herald Square Campus.
With more than 18 years of experience in higher education, Johnson was selected by Mercy College following a comprehensive search that produced a highly qualified pool of applicants. In making the announcement, President Timothy L. Hall said, “I am excited that Dr. Johnson will join the Mercy College senior team. His dedication, experience and his outcomes-oriented approach are exactly what Mercy needs as we enhance the Mercy Manhattan experience for our students.”
“I was impressed by Mercy College’s spirit and deep commitment of providing higher education to a diverse, driven student population,” said Johnson. “I am looking forward to using my student-centric leadership, knowledge and expertise in this position and to capitalize on the opportunity Mercy Manhattan provides at its prime location in the heart of mid-town.”
Dr. Johnson, who served as president of Tuskegee University, was instrumental in achieving academic excellence, establishing a strategic enrollment plan, which resulted in the university’s highest enrollment in the 2016-2017 fiscal year, and implementing academic innovation through enhanced infrastructure and technology including the introduction of a new online degree. Johnson increased fundraising initiatives which saw alumni giving increase from 9 percent to 10.45 percent and was instrumental in growing the visibility of the University through media outreach and world-renowned commencement speakers such as First Lady Michelle Obama and world-renowned producer, director and actor Tyler Perry.
Johnson earned an undergraduate degree from Johnson C. Smith University, a master’s degree in English from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Ph.D. in American literature from the University of South Carolina in 2003. He also serves as a member of the board of trustees for The Trinity Forum and served on the (UNCF) United Negro College Fund Institutional Board of Directors. Dr. Johnson also served as a 2012-2013 A.C.E. Fellow at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis within the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. This partnership led to a major convening of foundation and corporate partners in 2016 held at the NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Prior to Tuskegee University, Johnson served as the Vice President of Strategic Planning and Institutional Effectiveness and Assistant Provost for Academic Affairs/Chief Diversity Officer at Austin Peay State University. While at Austin Peay Johnson was part of the team that increased performance-based funding by 12.9 percent based upon retention and graduation rates and increased enrollment from 5,000 to 10,000 students through a combination of new academic programming.
The Manhattan Campus of Mercy College, located in the heart of New York City in Herald Square, is a convenient location for those who live or work in New York City. Mercy College has plans to enhance programming, increase enrollment and provide valuable resources for community partnerships.