Susan D. Johnson, Ph.D., is director of grants administration at Lumina Foundation, a private foundation in Indianapolis that is committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all.
Throughout her career in higher education, Johnson has acquired deep knowledge of policies and practices affecting student success, student engagement, and institutional accountability. She joined Lumina in 2008 and has served as a strategy officer, director of equity and inclusion, and as director of impact and research.
Johnson holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and two master’s degrees—one in social psychology, the other in education—from the University of Florida. She also has a doctorate in higher education from Indiana University.
And my equity journey continues. Four years ago, I wrote a column about sending my son off to college and my fears for him as a young Black man finding his way as a student and citizen. Today, I’m the proud mom of a college graduate. Though the world shut down during my son’s freshman year, and he spent […]
That’s the question people ask about my travels to icy Antarctica. A decade ago, before it was popular to put on your bucket list, I decided to visit all seven continents before I turned 50. Of course, COVID put a damper on that, but the chance to go to Antarctica came quickly and out of the blue, I decided this was the time to do something most people would never have the chance to do.
Lumina Foundation decided about seven years ago to put racial equity at the heart of our work. This had always been important to us, but now it takes center stage. It is our mission as we help all Americans get a fair shot at learning, earning, and contributing their talents.
I am unapologetic in my beliefs, my thoughts, and my work. Yes, it took some time to get there. It took a commitment to pushing boundaries for racial equality and inclusion. It took remaining steadfast in lifting up the voices of those who aren’t always heard.
Last semester, I sent my son off to college. People who know me will tell you that since my son was small, he's known that in 2019, he would leave home and start the next phase of his life. My job would be to equip him with the skills he needed to be successful—as a student, as an adult, and as a citizen.
Lumina Foundation has worked to increase its commitment to racial equity, primarily by helping its staff understand systemic racism better, according to a newly-released case study by Grantmakers for Education.
