Effective Nov. 1, 2009, Charles A. Johnson, dean, College of Liberal Arts, will join the Division of Research and Graduate Studies as a Senior Associate Vice President for Research.

In his role as Senior Associate Vice President for Research, Johnson will focus on a number of critical University-wide responsibilities and facilitate resources for the implementation of the Academic Master Plan Research Roadmap.

“I am extremely excited about this significant appointment,” says Jeffrey Seemann, vice president for research. “Dr. Johnson’s experience will also provide a strong foundation for his role in supporting infrastructure development to elevate the research environment and raising the research profile of the humanities, social sciences, and related disciplines at Texas A&M.” 

Johnson will also oversee interdisciplinary programs as well as collaborate with constituent groups across the university to facilitate the development and sustain the existence of high-impact, well-integrated programs. He will also support research programs that advance diversity and extend the international reach of Texas A&M University, areas that are both core to the success of this University, as well as key to providing exceptional experiences to researchers and students to affect the global community. 

"Dr. Johnson has provided extraordinary vision and energy for the College of Liberal Arts during his tenure as Dean,” says Dr. Karan L. Watson, interim provost and executive vice president for academics. “With his passion for collaboration and his breadth of experience, he is a perfect choice to expand and enhance the capacity of the Office of the Vice President for Research to support the growth of research and scholarship that will make Texas A&M a truly comprehensive Top 10 public research university."

Johnson, a professor of political science, has served very successfully as the dean of the College of Liberal Arts for more than eight years. As dean, he has been committed to three major priorities: developing departments and programs of national visibility, creating an environment supportive of diversity, and extending the international reach of faculty and students.

The College of Liberal Arts has flourished under his leadership, with nationally top-rated departments, award-winning faculty, as well as a wealth of international opportunities for the more than 6,500 students. His accomplishments include raising more than $41M for the college’s capital campaign, which exceeded the goal by more than $5 million, overseeing the expansion of several degree programs and supporting the increased diversity of the college’s faculty and academic programs.

Under Johnson’s leadership, the college has continued to grow, with nearly 200 new faculty hires, including 100 new lines, during his tenure. The college continues to be one of the largest colleges on campus, with more than 500 faculty members in the humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and performance studies serving in 12 departments and 8 interdisciplinary programs. 

Johnson is an accomplished researcher and scholar. He has co-authored three books and 40 journal and professional papers. He has been funded by the National Science Foundation among other funding sources, received a Fulbright Fellowship in Japan, and held leadership posts in the Law and Courts Section of the American Political Science Association. Johnson earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Towson State College, his master’s degree in government at the University of Maryland, and his doctorate in political science at the University of Kentucky.