About the President

Dr. Ronald A. Johnson, Ph.D.

TSU President

Ronald A. Johnson is a higher education advisor and executive who has led “turnarounds” successfully at both public and private universities. Johnson is motivated by a fundamental belief that higher education is about transforming lives and igniting new possibilities for social and economic advancement. He is known for his commitment to amplifying student success and strengthening the financial health and long-term sustainability of colleges and universities through a culture of accountability, shared governance, mentorship, and continuous improvement.

In today’s rapidly shifting landscape for tuition-driven universities, Johnson’s approach focuses the attention of board members and leadership on the continuously evolving course of action-the strategic edge-required to effectively manage, maintain, and enhance the impact of higher education institutions.

Johnson is currently a Presidential Counsel in the Registry Advisory Service Board Governance and Leadership Practice. He is a co-founder and Advisory Board Member of the HBCU Executive Leadership Institute (ELI) at CAU and a recipient of its inaugural Frederick S. Humphries Leadership Award. ELI’s mission is to increase the number of qualified candidates for the presidency and cabinet-level positions at HBCUs through a program centered on the development of leadership competencies, mentorship by current and former HBCU presidents, and real-time practice in HBCU working environments.

He served as a member of the President’s Advisory Board of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities and served as the Chairman of the Consumer Advisory Board of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau of the United States.

Johnson is the former Interim President of Kentucky State University (KSU) and the immediate past President of Clark Atlanta University (CAU). At KSU, Johnson assembled a team of specialists to address priorities outlined in House Bill 250 (HB250) and issues raised by the Auditor of Public Accounts, SACSCOC, and the NCAA as well as running the day-to-day operations of the institution. He initiated a plan of action entitled “An Intended Future for KSU”, which restored fiscal/operational stability and realigned operations, policies, and resources for better performance.

Johnson held the position of President and Chief Investment Officer at Smith Graham & Company, Director of Global Fixed Income Research, and Senior Portfolio Manager for Franklin Templeton Worldwide.

Johnson earned a PhD and MA in economics from Stanford University, after completing an MBA in finance and a BA in economics from Adelphi University.