Harold R. Johnson

Harold R. Johnson was appointed to the faculty in 1969 as professor of social work. Prior to joining the faculty, he had held leadership positions in a variety of public and voluntary social welfare agencies. He was also professor of health behavior and health education in the School of Public Health. He gave leadership to the community practice curriculum at the school, and from 1975 to 1981 he was the director of the Institute of Gerontology. He was appointed dean of the school in 1981, an appointment that he held until 1993, when he became special counsel to the university president. In this role, he assisted with the many issues challenging the university at that time and provided leadership and a respected presence in the Detroit area. From July through December 1994, Professor Johnson served as interim secretary of the university. He retired in 1995 as dean emeritus and professor emeritus.

Professor Johnson has a distinguished record of scholarship and publications on gerontological, organizational, and human services issues and has consulted broadly on these matters. His impressive record of national and state service includes leadership roles with the White House Conference on Aging, chair of the National Institute of Mental Health Review Panel for Geriatric Mental Health Training Grants, and consultant to the National Institute of Mental Health/National Institute on Aging on the enhancement of geriatric training. He has been principal investigator for a number of research and training grants dealing with issues involving aging, the elderly, and minorities. He was named a Gerontological Society of America Fellow in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field of aging.

Within the university, Professor Johnson has served on many search, advisory, and other committees and has served as chair of SACUA. In 1993 he was the recipient of the Dreamkeeper Award in recognition of his exceptional contributions to the university's commitment to cultural diversity.