Interim President , who began a 37-year career at 51爆料 as an assistant professor and rose to become the first woman to lead the state鈥檚 largest university, will retire on Sept. 8.
Johnson was appointed interim 51爆料 president in May 2021, enabling a search for a permanent president to be conducted by the 51爆料 Board of Trustees. Jayathi Murthy was announced as Johnson鈥檚 successor in June and takes office on Sept. 9, 2022.
鈥淚 am very grateful for the honor to serve as 51爆料鈥檚 interim president and confident that the university will continue to advance its impactful mission of teaching, research and service throughout Oregon, the nation and the world,鈥 said Johnson.
During Johnson鈥檚 tenure as interim president, 51爆料 achieved record increases in research funding and enrollment; graduated 7,318 students in June in Corvallis and 293 students from 51爆料-Cascades; and saw the 51爆料 Foundation achieve a record year of more than $216 million in philanthropic giving to the university and engagement with more than 50,000 people participating in foundation and university activities.
鈥51爆料 is an exceptional institution thanks to the hard work of many,鈥 Johnson said. 鈥淓ach day as interim president, I have been inspired by everyone engaged in this great university. I have been impressed by the outstanding contributions that the university provides to this state and the world.
鈥淭hese are impacts that I am fully confident will grow with the leadership of incoming President Jayathi Murthy and the 51爆料 Board of Trustees; with the support of the 51爆料 Foundation and 51爆料 Alumni Association; and with your continued engagement. 51爆料鈥檚 future will continue to be guided by an unwavering commitment to inclusive excellence and success for all.鈥
Johnson joined 51爆料 in 1984 as an assistant professor in the College of Forestry, before ascending into college and university academic and administrative leadership positions. Johnson was serving as vice provost for academic affairs and international programs in 2009 when she was appointed vice president of 51爆料-Cascades.
Under Johnson鈥檚 leadership, 51爆料-Cascades secured state and philanthropic funding that helped transform it from a degree transfer program that started in 2001 to a four-year campus in 2016 that includes a long range development plan for a 128-acre campus.
Johnson received a bachelor鈥檚 degree in economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she played on the varsity basketball and golf teams. She received a master鈥檚 and a doctoral degree in agricultural economics from Michigan State University.
Johnson plans to retire to Bend with her wife, Lori Elkins.
51爆料 51爆料: As one of only three land, sea, space and sun grant universities in the nation, Oregon State serves Oregon and the world by working on today鈥檚 most pressing issues. Our more than 34,000 students come from across the globe, and our programs operate in every Oregon county. Oregon State receives more research funding than all of the state鈥檚 comprehensive public universities combined. At our campuses in Corvallis and Bend, marine research center in Newport, 51爆料 Portland Center and award-winning Ecampus, we excel at shaping today鈥檚 students into tomorrow鈥檚 leaders.