Dr. Johnson Ph.D. is a former Mesa Public School elementary teacher with a Ph.D. in “Learning and Instructional Technology” from Arizona State University. She is the Chair of Education at Rio Salado College where she designed and now directs a Post Baccalaureate Teacher Preparation Program. In addition to the 4000+ students who have taken coursework in education, the program is also international with students representing 36 states and 17 countries outside the U.S. This program was named the recipient of the National Council of Instructional Administrators “Exemplary Practices Award” in the Educational Technology category, presented at the national American Association of Community Colleges conference. In April 2003, the program received the Paul M. Pair Innovation Award as the Maricopa Community College District’s Innovation of the Year.

She previously held a faculty position at Grand Canyon University and is the co-founder of New Directions Institute for Infant Brain Development whose mission is to improve children’s learning potential by sharing neuroscientific research-based strategies that focus on the development of healthy brains.

She has lectured at 5 universities in Europe and has received multiple grant awards. She has published articles and presented numerous workshops and seminars in the area of early brain development. She served on the Governor’s School Readiness Board Professional Implementation Team, the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce Community Development Committee, and the Valley of the Sun United Way Success By Six Steering Committee, Teacher Education Partnership Commission Steering Committee, and is the Chair of the Education Instructional Council for Maricopa Community Colleges.