In an effort to honor the African-American faculty and staff members from each of the nine schools affiliated with the America East, the conference is putting together a nine-part video series featuring one prominent African-American from each school. These features will highlight the connection each of these individuals have on campus as well as the surrounding communities.

As a leader and advisor to the President, Dr. Tonjanita Johnson has been responsible for all strategic planning and operations for the university. Prior to joining the Seawolf family, Dr. Johnson was the Associate Vice President for Marketing and Communication at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Since then, she has made an impeccable statement on Stony Brook’s campus through her community work and leadership on campus. When asked what a Seawolf is, Dr. Johnson proudly responds “I’m a Seawolf”. The students and faculty, along with the appeal of Stony Brook’s campus (also known as “Swaggerbrook”) drives and motivates Dr. Johnson every day at work.

Dr. Johnson started her career at University of Alabama earning her bachelor’s and master’s, both in mass communications. In 2006, she earned a Ph.D. in Urban Higher Education from Jackson State University, where she served as an Ayers Fellow in the Jake Ayers Institute for Urban Research.

As an individual whose leadership is portrayed through her work on campus, Dr. Tonjantia Johnson is an ideal representative from Stony Brook University for Black History Month.