Kathy Johnson (FACET Class of 2002) received the 2021 P.A. Mack Award for her distinguished service to teaching that significantly and demonstrably advances the goals of FACET.
Johnson is the Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer at IUPUI. She was nominated for this award by Stacy Morrone, Dean; Professor, Educational Psychology at IU Bloomington.
The P.A. Mack Selection Committee was composed of Julie Saam (Chair), Jon Becker, Carol Hostetter, and Robin K. Morgan. The Committee stated, "Johnson has a substantial list of accomplishments in the area of teaching, learning, and student success at IUPUI while serving in the Department of Psychology, University College, and Office of Academic Affairs. For this and her passion, commitment, and selflessness, we would like to recognize her as the 2021 recipient of the P.A. Mack Distinguished Service to Teaching award."
In her nomination letter, Morrone describes Johnson as, “…the most tireless advocate I have ever seen for student success and the pedagogical practices that promote student success.” Morrone attributes most of IUPUI’s student success initiatives and national reputation for such to Johnon's dedication to student learning. IUPUI is nationally recognized for excellence in areas such as the first-year experience, service learning and themed learning communities, and the IUPUI Principles of Undergraduate Learning provide a flexible, principle-based framework for planning and evaluating undergraduate curricula.
Johnson was inducted into FACET in 2002 and won numerous awards at IUPUI since (her induction), including: Outstanding Female Faculty Leader (2003); Faculty Mentor Award (2003); Trustees Teaching Award (2006); IU Leadership Development Program Fellow (2007); IUPUI Service-Learning Fellow (2007); and Psychology Instructor of the Year (2010).
She has also been involved with innovations relating to faculty professional development. She created The Forum Network, a consortium of centers, divisions, and offices all providing professional development and the Faculty Crossing space in the University Library to support community and interdisciplinary collaboration among faculty. In addition, she has been an active leader in LEAP Indiana since its inception, and was pivotal in making LEAP a sustainable organization that connects campuses from the entire state of Indiana.
“Kathy truly embodies the P.A. Mack award. Throughout her career, Kathy has advocated for pedagogical innovation, inspired growth and reflection, cultivated Scholarship of Teaching and Learning activities, and fostered personal renewal in the commitment to student learning. She has consistently pushed for the dissemination of best practices in teaching and learning and the many centers, divisions, and offices that she has created have contributed to IUPUI’s reputation as a national leader in teaching and learning.” – Stacy Morrone
Johnson was recognized at the Annual Retreat on October 22, 2021, followed by a P.A. Mack Forum given by Rebecca Torstrick, the 2020 P.A. Mack Award recipient. Johnson and Mark Hoyert, 2019 P.A. Mack Award recipient, will be invited to present at the upcoming Retreat on June 8-10, 2022.