Director for Equity and Diversity
Leann Johnson is Director for Equity and Diversity at Clark College.
In her newly created position, Johnson is responsible for directing and
promoting the College’s diversity and equity initiatives in areas of recruiting,
training and development, and reporting. She also serves as
a member of the Executive Cabinet and reports to the President on activities
related to harassment/discrimination claims and for the college's multicultural
committee.
Johnson previously served as manager of Cultural Services for the City of Vancouver where she managed arts, heritage, and cultural programs. Prior to her work with the city, Johnson served as Director/Founder of the Office of Intercultural Affairs and Civil Rights for YWCA of Clark County and as Chair/Founder of the YWCA Diversity Task Force and the Diversity Institute. Her background includes extensive professional training and speaking experience, having developed and delivered customized training on diversity and communications to over 3,000 people in public, corporate, non-profit, and community organizations.
A lifelong resident of the Pacific Northwest, Johnson holds a bachelor’s degree in communications management from the University of Portland, and she completed an internship in public relations and organizational communications at Emmanuel Hospital in Portland. Johnson was honored as a “Rising Star” by The Columbian, received the 1993 Val Joshua Racial Justice Award, and was selected by the YWCA of Clark County as a 1998 Woman of Achievement. She was appointed to the Washington State Arts Commission in 2004 by Governor Locke and is a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Johnson describes her decision to join Clark College as based on a personal desire to seek new challenges and opportunities for growth and on her enthusiasm for Clark College’s leadership role in the community.
“I’ve always appreciated the fact that our community has had access to Clark College’s people and programs, but my appreciation has been heightened over the last few years,” explained Johnson. “From the outside looking in, I just felt there was something going on here that I wanted to be a part of.” On a personal note, Johnson enjoys spending time with her family,
theatre and sporting activities, and directing Girl Scout Camp. She
is also the proud owner/player of a Slingerland vintage drum set.
