WWU Give Day 2022

Please join us in establishing a scholarship endowment in honor of Vernon Damani "Dr. J" Johnson. 

By making a pledge or donation today, you are honoring the important way that Dr. J has shaped the lives of countless students, advocates and activists, dedicated to social justice and racial equity.

Your gift will provide on-going scholarship support for political science students who are dedicated to activism while creating a lasting tribute to Vernon Damani "Dr. J" Johnson.

This was one of the best kept secrets in WWU's History!

More about Dr. J

Dr. Vernon Damani Johnson has been a faculty member in the Department of Political Science at Western Washington University since 1986. His research interests include:  the politics of development, African politics, and race and public policy.  In addition to teaching courses on the politics of Africa, race and public policy, Dr. Johnson leads a summer service-learning class in South Africa that involves Western students in Political Science and Human Services and Rehabilitation in the work of local NGOs.  He currently serves as the Program Director for the Munro Institute for Civic Education and is editor in chief of the "African Journal of Governance and Development."

In addition to his academic pursuits, Professor Johnson was on the advisory committee to Reverend Jesse Jackson’s Presidential Campaign in 1988 and served on the Steering Committee of the Washington State Rainbow Coalition from 1988-92.  In Bellingham, he helped found the Whatcom Human Rights Task Force and chaired its board from 1997-2000.  He also serves on the board of the Slum Doctor Program and was the recipient of the 1997 Diversity Achievement Award at Western Washington University.  In September 2015 Professor Johnson received the WWU Philip E. Sharpe Community Engagement Award for his outstanding community service and, most recently, his numerous public presentations on race and law enforcement in the Post-Ferguson era. Thank you for helping us honor him.

To learn more about this scholarship and how to apply, please visit: https://chss.wwu.edu/political-science/awards-scholarships-and-research-grants