Washington College Names Johnnie Johnson Vice President for Enrollment

Johnson brings experience leading recruitment for liberal arts colleges and building partnerships to increase access and diversity.

Washington College concluded a national search by appointing Johnnie Johnson as vice president for enrollment. Johnson will oversee undergraduate recruitment and financial aid and will serve as a member of the senior leadership team.

A graduate of Cornell College in Iowa, Johnson brings more than 20 years of recruitment experience at liberal arts colleges to Washington College. He has spent the last 11 years with Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky, serving as vice president for admissions since 2020. His experience with Transylvania included serving as director of enrollment communications and minority recruitment, director of multicultural recruitment and operations and director of admissions before assuming the role of vice president.

“I am excited to join the recruitment team and administration at Washington College and am encouraged by President Sosulski’s vision for the future of the College,” said Johnson. “There are numerous opportunities to expand the recruitment and retention efforts for the institution. I look forward to the campus-wide partnerships and activities that contribute to opportunities to grow and highlight the experiences of those that attend this unique and historic institution and working to make sure that Washington College is mentioned alongside the top liberal arts institutions in the country.”

While at Transylvania, Johnson led his recruitment team through the pandemic to maintain healthy enrollment levels. He also increased outreach and partnerships with community-based organizations to grow the number of first-generation and underserved populations at the University. Under his leadership the level of students from diverse backgrounds has increased significantly from 5 percent across campus to 18.5 percent, improving the student experience for all.

“Johnnie joins Washington College at an extremely important moment for our institution. His commitment to and experience within a top-tier liberal arts environment brings critical leadership to enrollment and the senior team,” said President Sosulski. “The results of his work, his fresh thinking on student recruitment and his infectious energy are well suited to the opportunities that await us. I’m looking forward to seeing him play a pivotal role for the College in our strategic planning and growth over the next decade.”

Johnson has proven himself as a national leader in the area of undergraduate recruitment. He currently serves on the board of the National Association of College Admissions Counseling and has been a member of the Kentucky Association of Blacks in Higher Education since 2013. In addition, Johnson has been involved with a number of community-based organizations focused on improving awareness and increasing access to opportunities in higher education to first-generation and diverse populations, including serving on the Lexington Commission for Racial Justice and Equality and YMCA Lexington Black Achievers scholarship committee.

In addition to Transylvania, Johnson previously served in admissions roles with his alma mater, Cornell College, and Georgetown College. He begins his new role at Washington College on September 12.