ASHANTI JOHNSON

2019 John P. McGovern Science and Society Award Recipient

Plenary Speaker 

Strategies for Advancing Oceanography
Issues of underrepresentation in STEM are significant factors precipitating a global crisis in human resources. Studies show that while there is a growing demand for STEM knowledge, there is a growing global deficit of skilled STEM professionals, particularly in marine science. Attrition among individuals underrepresented in STEM (minority and women) remains high. While 38.8% of United States K-12 public enrollment is minority, only 5.4% of STEM doctoral grantees are minorities. Increasing geoscience and marine science workforce diversity is a critical solution to maximizing efforts to better conserve our natural resources. It is the synergistic leadership, contributions and cooperation of women and men of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and cultures that contribute to solving today’s problems. During this lecture student recruitment and retention strategies including inclusion, professional development and mentoring best practices will be addressed. Johnson will also, expand on my research in oceanography and educate the audience on current issues in this area.

Biography
Ashanti Johnson is an international expert and highly accredited STEM speaker, profiled in Wikipedia, several STEM textbooks and various other publications. She is also one of the first African American female chemical oceanographers in the country.

Her keynote topics include STEM professional development; diversity and inclusion; women in STEM; faculty recruitment and diversity; as well as workplace and career empowerment; environmental science; professional development of undergraduate and graduate students; student and early career mentoring; faculty staff professional development; institutional change; organizational leadership and advancement convocations.

In additional to serving as an aquatic scientist and conducting research, Johnson has gained over 15 years of senior leadership experience in university, non-profit and K-12 organizations, including serving as the University of Texas at Arlington assistant vice provost for faculty recruitment and diversity, Institute for Broadening Participation executive director, STEM Human Resource Development, Inc. CEO, Minorities Striving and Pursuing Higher Degrees of Success (MS PHD’S) Professional Development and Mentoring Institute executive director and Cirrus Academy CEO/superintendent.

She currently serves as a visiting associate chemistry professor for Fort Valley State University. 

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