Chief Academic Officer Appointed at Southern

Mount Gay, WV – Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Christina Johnson as Interim Chief Academic Officer, effective April 21, 2025.

Dr. Johnson is the Assistant Vice President of Assessment and Accreditation and Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) at BridgeValley Community and Technical College. With a distinguished background in teaching, assessment, accreditation, and community college leadership, Dr. Johnson brings a passion for transformative learning, academic integrity, institutional excellence, and student success to her new role at Southern.

A proud native of West Virginia, Dr. Johnson earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from WVU Tech in 2000, launching her career in higher education as an adjunct instructor. In 2009, she began her community college journey at Bridgemont Community and Technical College as an instructor and assistant professor of life sciences. Following the 2014 merger that formed BridgeValley Community and Technical College, she continued to rise through the ranks in both academic and administrative leadership while maintaining her role as an associate professor.

Throughout her tenure at BridgeValley, Dr. Johnson has served in numerous influential positions, including:

• Faculty Senate Chair
• Lead Instructor of Science
• Chair of Collaborative Programs
• Department Chair of Science
• Associate Dean of Academic Assessment and Student Learning
• Assistant Vice President of Assessment and Accreditation

She holds a master’s in Biological Sciences (2006) and a doctorate in Leadership Studies (2018) from Marshall University.

Dr. Johnson’s commitment to service is evident both on and off campus. She has contributed extensively to faculty and staff governance, served as a peer reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission for nearly six years, and participated in editorial work with Intersection, the official journal of the Association for the Assessment of Learning in Higher Education (AALHE). She also volunteers as a longtime animal foster with the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association.

Her extensive experience with institutional and programmatic accreditation has equipped her with a comprehensive understanding of higher education operations, enabling her to lead with academic insight and administrative perspective.

“I am honored to serve Southern during this leadership transition,” said Dr. Johnson. “I look forward to supporting and collaborating with the faculty, staff, and students, and to sharing my accreditation experience to advance the mission of Southern.”

Southern WV Community and Technical College welcomes Dr. Johnson’s leadership and looks forward to the impact she will have during this transitional period.