Royel M. Johnson

Dr. Royel M. Johnson is one of the nation's foremost voices on diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education. As a tenured professor in the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California, he also serves as the Director of the National Assessment of Collegiate Campus Climates, a survey enterprise within the USC Race and Equity Center that collaborates with institutions to assess campus racial climate for students, faculty, and staff. Dr. Johnson has five published books and is the author of over 50 peer-reviewed articles and other academic publications. He also serves as Co-Editor at Educational Researcher, the flagship journal of the American Educational Research Association. In 2024, the Los Angeles Times acknowledged Dr. Johnson as one of the 111 DEI leaders across various industries whose efforts are propelling positive change in Southern California and beyond.