Dr. Melvin N. Johnson

Tennessee State University president, Melvin N. Johnson, D.B.A

Melvin N. Johnson was named the seventh president of Tennessee State University on March 10, 2005. Johnson assumed leadership of TSU on June 1, 2005.

Johnson has served as Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) and tenured Professor of Economics since July 2000. Prior to coming to WSSU, Dr. Johnson served in senior academic roles at North Carolina A&T State University. He also taught at the USAF Academy and completed a distinguished military career as a lieutenant colonel.

Johnson received his undergraduate degree in economics from North Carolina A&T State University, and earned the Master of Arts in Economics from Ball State University. He received an M.B.A. and D.B.A. in Business Economics and Public Policy from Indiana University. His postdoctoral studies include the Harvard Institute for Higher Education (IEM and MLE) and Stonier Graduate School of Banking at the University of Delaware.

His fellowships include: NAFEO Kellogg Leadership Fellow; Senior Fellow of Future Focus 2020 (Babcock Graduate School of Management, Wake Forest University), Millennium Leadership Institute Protégé (AASCU), and Nissan Fellow.

He completed the Executive Leadership Summit (Hampton University), Leadership Winston-Salem, and the Triad Leadership Network. He recently received an award for “Lifelong Excellence and Leadership in Higher Education” from the Northeast Business and Economics Association (NBEA) at Yeshiva University, NY on September 27, 2004.