He’s championing inclusivity in education!
Christopher Johnson was just named the first Black and deaf assistant dean at the University of Cincinnati (UC), Black Enterprise reports. A historic appointment, Johnson will be the first to hold the title in the University’s 200+ year existence. In his new role as Assistant Dean of Inclusive Excellence at UC’s College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies (CCPS), Johnson will help to launch an inclusive excellence strategic plan, ensuring those who are differently-abled and underserved can participate in the University’s previously established co-op employer program.
“People need to see that UC is employing deaf and neurodivergent leaders in prominent positions,” Johnson told UC News.
He hopes to amplify disability awareness and justice issues on campus, expanding that work into the classrooms where students can critically solve for some of these ills in a world that centers able-bodied people.
According to national studies, 2% of the population is deaf or hard of hearing. Among those aged 25 to 64, only .4% of Black deaf people hold a doctorate, medical, or juris doctorate degree. Born deaf in rural Georgia with little to no resources, Johnson has a lived reality that few can understand. He aims to use his experiences to help shape the next generation of leaders and provide opportunities that will lead to more equity and inclusion in academia and the workforce.
“Being culturally and linguistically deprived growing up in the South was a life-changing experience for me and my family. Being the first deaf person in my family to receive multiple degrees has pushed me to go above and beyond to raise the standard of academic excellence and sense of belonging, not only for deaf and hard-of-hearing students but also for [American Sign Language] students who passionately bridge gaps between mainstream and deaf communities,” explained Johnson.
The new dean credits his parents in large part for his success. Their advocacy and emphasis on his education helped him reach the heights he has.
“I grew up in a loving and supportive household where my parents raised the bar by constantly motivating me to read five or more books each summer. The resilience and persistent advocacy for my rights and access to education were the stepping stones that paved the way for my opportunity to break the cycle of Black deaf individuals being entrapped in the school-to-prison pipeline. To be Black and deaf in higher education is not interchangeable; it is addressing two separate experiences simultaneously,” he told reporters.
Johnson hopes he can help increase access and opportunities for deaf people of color and continue to do the work to shatter barriers for the disabled community.
“Disability justice and inclusive excellence frameworks are essential to dismantling exclusionary practices in each of our decision-making processes. My hope is that [this media coverage] inspires able-bodied individuals to break the barriers that have silenced the deaf community for centuries and to ensure that their voices are heard and valued in decision-making, creating an inclusive and equitable university environment for all.”
Cover photo: Christopher Johnson Makes History as First Black & Deaf Assistant Dean at University of Cincinnati/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand/Black Enterprise