Ben Johnson, PhD

Ben Johnson, PhD

Ben Johnson (PhD, 2013)

Ben Johnson received his Ph.D. at Ohio State in 2013 and is an Associate Professor in the Department of Student Leadership and Success Studies at Utah Valley University (the largest university in Utah). His dissertation, “Fundraising and Endowment Building at a Land Grant University During the Critical Period, 1910-1940” (Committee: Dr. Bruce A. Kimball, Dr. Bryan R. Warnick, Dr. Ann Allen, and Dr. Robert F. Lawson), earned the Loadman Dissertation Prize and became a finalist for a Spencer Dissertation Fellowship. In 2019, Ben received his college’s Faculty Excellence Award, having previously received the Dean’s Award of Excellence for Faculty Scholarship (2017). Since 2016 Ben has served as the founding Senior Editor of The Journal of Student Leadership.

Concerning his experience in the program Ben is “deeply grateful for the education I received at Ohio State University. Not only was I genuinely challenged by the courses and teaching opportunities, I significantly enhanced my academic skills by learning how to apply for and utilize several grants and scholarships. The culture of the program was exceptional, and I was mentored by generous faculty, staff, and peers. Working with engaging faculty who were deeply concerned about their students was one of the main highlights of my OSU experience. I co-authored articles with faculty that were published in top-ranked journals, and I developed and enhanced my professional network that persists through today. The exceptional experiences I had at OSU have made me a better teacher, mentor, and scholar, which will continue to benefit my students.”