As the Provost and Senior Vice President at APUS, Dr. Elizabeth Johnson leads the University’s five schools and academic departments in ensuring an exceptional student learning experience. She has worked as a faculty and administrator in higher education for over 20 years.
Since joining APUS in June 2023, Dr. Johnson has helped drive several major academic initiatives focused on establishing a foundation of quality, integrating innovative design and AI tools, and steering the institution’s global academic initiatives. This includes designing a three-year cycle for centralized course (re)development; implementing a Time to Market-based program development model; establishing the University’s Global Digital Journey; and fostering a strong sense of community and connection across academics.
Previously, Dr. Johnson was an educator at Post University, serving on-campus and online students as an Associate Professor, Dean for the School of Art & Sciences, Assistant Provost, and Provost. As Provost, she supported several quality and growth initiatives by implementing eight new academic programs, securing two programmatic accreditations, and establishing two new schools. Her leadership earned her numerous awards and recognitions.
Dr. Johnson is a strong advocate for institutional accreditation and currently serves as a site evaluator for the New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE). Prior to academia, she worked as a Wetland Delineator and a Soil Consultant.
Dr. Johnson earned her Ph.D. in Plant and Soil Sciences from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, in the field of soil organic chemistry. She has an M.S. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst studying wetland soils, and a B.S. in Earth and Environmental Science from Lehigh University.