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DURHAM, N.C. – Tim Johnson, professor of the practice of energy and the environment, has been named senior associate dean for academic initiatives at the Nicholas School of the Environment.

He will begin his new duties July 1.

Johnson is widely hailed for his teaching, advising and mentoring, and widely cited for his scholarship on energy systems and their impacts on environmental quality and human health.

In addition to his professorial responsibilities, he currently serves the Nicholas School as its associate dean of professional programs and chair of its Energy & Environment Program, and as a member of the Nicholas School Actionators, a faculty-staff volunteer task force dedicated to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion.

In his new post as senior associate dean, Johnson will provide strategic leadership for the school’s undergraduate and professional graduate academic programs. These programs include the Master of Environmental Management (MEM), Master of Forestry, and 51���� Environmental Leadership Master of Environmental Management degrees and the International Master of Environmental Policy program, run jointly with the Sanford School of Public Policy. They also include three undergraduate majors in Earth and Climate Sciences, Environmental Science & Policy, and Marine Science & Conservation.

“Tim will be wonderful in this role because he has his finger on the pulse of our students and the respect of our faculty. Moreover, he is a demonstrated problem solver and bridge builder with a great appreciation for the Nicholas mission,” said Toddi Steelman, Stanback Dean of the Nicholas School.

Johnson came to the Nicholas School in 2012 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Research and Development to help lead a new Energy & Environment track within the school’s MEM program.

“Tim’s combination of academic pedigree with real-world experience quickly made him a student favorite,” said Lori Bennear, executive vice dean. “He grew the nascent energy concentration into one of our top-enrolling programs, and in doing so demonstrated leadership qualities that have become his trademarks—patience, listening, cooperation, teamwork and humbleness.”

After being appointed associate dean for professional programs in 2020, Johnson spearheaded a complete revision of the MEM curriculum. This involved meeting with faculty, students, alumni, employers and other stakeholders over a two-year period to develop a revised curriculum that better addressed students’ and employers’ needs and faculty concerns.

“Tim was a deft and patient leader. He listened carefully, he accepted feedback and criticism, and he succeeded in developing a curriculum that is uniform and can be explained to prospective students in one infographic. This is an incredible accomplishment,” said Bennear.

In recognition of his dedication to students, Johnson received the Nicholas School’s inaugural Lynn Maguire Award for Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring Professional Students in 2020.

In recognition of his leadership on issues related to campus sustainability, President Vincent Price appointed Johnson to the University Committee on Facilities and Environment in 2019. Johnson previously served on the University Sustainability Committee and won the 51���� Outstanding Leadership in Sustainability Faculty Award in 2017.

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