George W. Johnson (academic)
| George W. Johnson | |
|---|---|
| President of George Mason University | |
|
In office 1978–1996 |
|
| Preceded by | Robert C. Krug |
| Succeeded by | Alan Merten |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
George William Johnson Jr. July 5, 1928 Jamestown, North Dakota |
| Died | May 30, 2017 (aged 88) Falls Church, Virginia |
| Spouse(s) | Joanne Johnson (1955–2017; his death) |
| Children | Two |
George William Johnson Jr. (July 5, 1928 – May 30, 2017) was an American academic and academic administrator who served as the President of George Mason University from 1978 to 1996. Johnson is credited with transforming George Mason University from largely a commuter college into a nationally recognized research university during his 18-year tenure as president. Under Johnson, total student enrollment doubled from 10,000 in 1979 to more than 24,000 students in 1996. Johnson also oversaw the addition of 34 new academic programs (including 11 doctoral programs), the creation of GMU's first doctoral programs, and the establishment of the George Mason University School of Law (now known as the Antonin Scalia Law School) in 1979.
Johnson was born in Jamestown, North Dakota, on July 5, 1928, and raised during the Great Depression. His father worked as a mechanic and part-time fireman. Johnson graduated from Jamestown College (present-day University of Jamestown) on a scholarship before serving in the United States Army during the Korean War. Johnson, a skilled baseball player, played for the U.S. Army exhibition team, but severely injured his shoulder in a collision with an opponent while covering first base. His injury ended his fledgling baseball career, but prevented him from active deployment with his artillery unit during the war.
He enrolled at Columbia University in New York City during the early 1950s under the G.I. Bill. Johnson earned both his master's degree and doctorate in English from Columbia. His doctoral dissertation focused on Stephen Crane. He then taught English at the University of Missouri, where he met his wife, Joanne Ferris. The couple married in June 1955 and had two sons.
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