Drawing upon nearly five decades of expertise in education and business, Dr. Edward Alden Johnson joined the University of North Florida in the latter stages of his career. Prior to being recognized as professor emeritus, he served as the dean of the College of Business and the interim vice president of university relations. Likewise, he served as the interim executive director of the University of North Florida Foundation before returning to his educational roots. He taught as a professor of management at the College of Business until his retirement.
Earlier in his career, Dr. Johnson began his vocation at West Virginia University, where he served as an assistant professor beginning in 1966. Remaining there for six years, he also served as an associate professor and the director of graduate programs in business. Following this tenure, he was the dean of the College of Business at the Rochester Institute of Technology from 1972 to 1979, the Neeley School of Business at Texas Christian University from 1979 to 1986, and the College of Business and Administration at the University of Colorado at Boulder from 1986 to 1989.
In the formative stages of his life, Dr. Johnson desired to enter the field of education, drawing upon influence from his high school chemistry teacher, who encouraged him to attend college. Subsequently, he graduated from Antioch College with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology in 1960, followed by a master’s degree in industrial and labor relations from Cornell University in 1962. While studying toward his master’s degree, he was a graduate assistant. Following these achievements, he earned a Doctor of Philosophy in management from Michigan State University in 1968.
Throughout his extensive career, Dr. Johnson remained abreast of developments in his field through participation in research and publishing journal articles. He also presented a myriad of papers at academic meetings across the world, including in Europe and Thailand. While serving the University of North Florida, Dr. Johnson was a visiting professor at the University of Provence in France and the Management Institute in Kingston, Jamaica. Furthermore, Dr. Johnson has sat on numerous nonprofit boards and government commissions and served as the chairman of the board of directors for Blue Cross in Rochester, New York, among many other appointments.
As a testament to his success, Dr. Johnson received numerous accolades, such as two national teaching awards, 10 awards for Outstanding Excellence as a Teacher from the University of North Florida College of Business, and was named among the Nation’s Most Outstanding Teachers. Looking forward, Dr. Johnson intends to publish a book titled “Reflections” by 2024.