Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa, 92.9 WTUG, Praise 93.3, 105.1 The Block, and the Tuscaloosa Thread are proud to present the 2022 Black History Makers of Alabama supported by Sealy Furniture Outlet, Twelve25 Sports Bar & Entertainment Venue, and Red Oak Credit Union.

The Yellowhammer State is filled with great African American leaders from the past, present, and future. We thank our West Alabama community partners, the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, Delta Phi Lambda Chapter, and the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Eta Xi Omega Chapter for their continued support.

Dr. Tonjanita Johnson is a Black History Maker of Alabama 

“What does black history mean to you?” Dr. Johnson responded, "For me, Black History means acknowledging and celebrating the highs and lows of the Black experience and our many contributions to the world while allowing that experience to inspire each of us to create new and important chapters in our history every day." 

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Dr. Johnson is a fourth-generation college graduate who has devoted her life and career to promoting the value of higher education. She has led colleges and universities to higher levels of academic and operational excellence, with an emphasis on improving student outcomes and serving the diverse needs of all students. She currently serves as Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs for the University of Alabama System and is the primary system liaison to the academic, student, institutional research and planning, and diversity and inclusion officials at the System’s campuses in Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, and Huntsville.

Dr. Johnson began her college career at the University of Alabama in the summer of 1987 as a New York Times Scholar. She earned both bachelor’s and master's degrees from UA in 1991 and 1996. In 2006, she earned a Ph.D., in urban higher education from Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi. During her time at Jackson State, she was an Ayers Fellow in the Jake Ayers Institute for Urban Research. Additionally, she completed the Institute for Education Management at the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2008 and earned post-baccalaureate certification in construction management from Louisiana State University in 2017. 

Throughout her career, Dr. Johnson has maintained a very active volunteer and public speaking schedule. She has been a charter member of the University of Alabama Library Leadership Board for 20 years. Presently, she serves as a member of the International Board of Trustees for the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education.  She was also recently appointed to the Alabama Productivity Center Advisory Board at the University of Alabama. Dr. Johnson has formerly served on the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine Board of Visitors and the Board of Directors for the Historic Tennessee Theatre, the official State Theatre of Tennessee. 

Aside from being a force to be reckoned with Dr. Johnson is also a wife and mother to Tony and daughter, T’Anna Gabrielle who is currently a junior at the American University of Paris in France. Dr. Johnson’s resume can inspire us all to never stop achieving and learning. 

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