PRINCESS ANNE, Md. — UMES math professor Rob Johnson is among 11 African-Americans who will be recognized Tuesday as national “Champions of Change” for their contributions teaching at historically black institutions.
Johnson has been excused from jury duty to attend the White House ceremony, one of a series of events organized to focus attention on President Barack Obama’s goal of challenging the nation “to lead the world in college completion by 2020.”
Since joining the UMES faculty in 1999, Johnson has focused “on identifying, securing, and establishing resources that create awareness and stimulate interests in the vast opportunities that exist in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” collectively known as the STEM fields.
“We must ensure more African-American students graduate from college,” the White House said. “The college graduation rate for African-American students is 34.3 percent, compared to 47.1 percent for Asian students, 46.2 percent for white students, and 41.05 percent for Hispanic students (according to the National Center for Education Statistics, 2015).”
A White House synopsis notes Johnson and fellow UMES faculty members “have secured over $3 million in federal, state and industry funds to aid students in completing financial obligations related to collegiate study, gateway course completion, completing intense research projects, and matriculation to graduation.”
From 1999-2009, Johnson was director of the UMES Summer Transportation Institute supported by funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation / Federal Highway Administration. “That program,” the White House said, “assisted over 200 high school students in honing essential academic and social skills necessary for successful entry into collegiate environments and matriculation through STEM disciplines.”
In addition to his main duties as a UMES professor, Johnson works in the school’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, serving as the college’s faculty athletic representative. In this role, he serves as a mediator between the NCAA, a school's department of athletics and the entire campus community. Since his appointment over the summer, he is a regular at Hawk home events, and works diligently behind the scenes to promote UMES athletic endeavors.
The 11 honorees, the White House noted, were recognized during a Black History Month-themed event because they “drive the college completion agenda. These leaders work with students, families, higher education leaders, and policymakers to build paths to graduation.”