Professor of Social Work

Professor of Health Behavior & Health Education

Dean of School of Social Work

Interim Vice- President & Secretary of the University 1994-1995

Memoir

Harold R. Johnson, professor of social work, former dean, School of Social Work, and professor of health behavior and health education, School of Public Health, will retire from active faculty status on December 31, 1995.

Professor Johnson received his B.A. degree from the University of Western Ontario in 1950 and his M.S.W. degree from Wayne State University in 1957. He held leadership positions in a variety of public and voluntary social welfare agencies before joining the faculty of the University of Michigan School of Social Work as a full professor in 1969. He received the additional appointment in the School of Public Health in 1976.

Prior to his appointment as dean of the School of Social Work in 1981, Professor Johnson served as head of the school's Community Practice Program and also as the school's divisional coordinator. From 1975-81, he was the director of the Institute of Gerontology He served as dean until 1993, when he became special counsel to the 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. His wisdom, skill, and expertise in this role afforded the University the continuity and stability needed throughout this transition period.

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. He is widely respected for the dynamic and thoughtful leadership he brought to the University and the School of Social Work and for his personal attributes of fairness, tolerance, and good humor.

The Regents now salute this distinguished faculty member by naming Harold R. Johnson professor emeritus of social work, professor emeritus of health behavior and health education, and dean emeritus.

Regents' Proceedings, December 1995, Page 235