The Behavioral Sciences department’s search for a new tenure-track professor has ended successfully.

Leslie Johnson, who has a Ph.D. in general/experimental psychology from UVM will join the department in the fall semester.

Originally from Michigan, Johnson currently teaches at Finlandia University, a small Michigan liberal arts institution.
She is an experimental psychologist with a specialization in social psychology.

According to Dan Regan, dean of academic affairs, she will teach a couple of existing beginning-level psychology classes so that “large numbers of students can be exposed to a person I think will be an exciting new faculty member.”

Johnson, as well as the other previous finalists for the position, has visited JSC and led a teaching demonstration. Students participated in the demonstration and had the opportunity to react and give feedback.

“The student sentiment was really unanimous in enthusiastic support for Leslie Johnson’s candidacy,” Regan said.

Gina Mireault, professor of behavioral sciences, also had a hand in the search for the new faculty member.

“Leslie stood out as an outstanding fit with our program and department,” Mireault said. “At Finlandia, she has taught a variety of psychology courses, all of which will translate here to the JSC curriculum.”

According to Mireault, Johnson conducted research on weight stigma while at Finlandia, and included students in her research as well as helping them with their own projects.

“We are very excited that she will bring additional research activity to the halls of McClelland and social science opportunities to our JSC psychology majors,” Mireault said.

Regan stated that he thinks Johnson will be a good addition to JSC’s faculty.

“I think she’s a really good fit for Johnson State,” Regan said. “She, too, as is the case with many of our students, is a first-generation college student. She understands what it takes for students to be successful at a college such as Johnson State.”

Mireault also believes Johnson will fit in well at JSC, and noted that Johnson “values the small classroom dynamic,” especially since she’s coming from another small liberal arts college.

“Leslie is a dynamic and warm individual who values the small liberal arts environment and the close collaborations that it affords between faculty and students, Mireault said. “She has an infectious enthusiasm for psychology and psychological research, and will have an immediate impact on our students and program.”

Two other faculty positions are available. One is a one-year, full-time theater position, and the other is an elementary education position.
According to Regan, two finalists for each position have visited the campus, and the respective search committees are in the process of making final decisions on who will be offered the positions.

“I’m very confident that when this recruitment year concludes, three very fine full-time faculty members are going to be joining the group at Johnson State,” Regan said.