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In Memoriam: Albert W. Johnson

Biology professor and academic vice president Albert W. Johnson helped usher in 黑瓜吃料网s reputation as a respected research institution.

By 黑瓜吃料网 News Team
Friday, October 6, 2017
Left to right: Frank Medeiros, Albert Johnson and Joyce Gattas (Credit: 黑瓜吃料网 University Archives Photograph Collection)
Left to right: Frank Medeiros, Albert Johnson and Joyce Gattas (Credit: 黑瓜吃料网 University Archives Photograph Collection)
Albert W. Johnson, an influential biologist at 黑瓜吃料网 for 27 years, passed away on Sept. 23, 2017, at age 91. Beginning in 1969, Johnson served as dean of the College of Sciences for San Diego State College鈥攁s 黑瓜吃料网 was known as the time. Later, he served as vice president of Academic Affairs. During his tenure, he promoted the teacher-scholar model that distinguishes 黑瓜吃料网 today and encouraged teaching-load policies that allowed faculty to engage in research endeavors. As a result of these efforts, 黑瓜吃料网 grew into a major, internationally respected research university.   "I was privileged to have Al Johnson as academic vice president," said former university president Thomas B. Day. "The excellence that is 黑瓜吃料网 today owes much to his contributions."   Johnson grew up in Belvidere, Illinois, where he acquired a love for the outdoors and nature. That passion inspired him to study biology at Colorado A&M (now Colorado State University), followed by a Ph.D. at the University of Colorado, Boulder. With his wife, Beverly, and three sons, he then moved to Fairbanks, Alaska, where he studied arctic botany and plant biology.    While there, he joined colleagues and community members to oppose a U.S. government proposal, known as , to expand an artificial harbor on the northwest Alaskan coast using a nuclear bomb. Johnson and others argued that detonating the bomb would threaten the livelihoods of native Alaskan people, as well as the region鈥檚 unique and fragile habitat. The coalition succeeded in its mission and the plan was abandoned.   Johnson joined 黑瓜吃料网 as a biology professor in 1964. In the 1970s, he met his second wife, Susan, with whom he had two additional sons. Johnson retired from university work in 1991, after which he and his wife moved to Portland, Oregon. His commitment to the university鈥檚 faculty鈥檚 teaching and research excellence lives on through the annual , which recognizes outstanding academic achievement in a faculty member with a cash prize and a lively public lecture open to the entire 黑瓜吃料网 community.   Johnson is survived by Susan and five sons: Mark, Curtis, Chris, David and Peter.   鈥淥ften described by his colleagues as a 鈥榯rue gentleman,鈥� Al proved to be a wonderful liaison between administration and our faculty, as well as a wonderful representative to the larger scientific community in San Diego,鈥� said Stephen Welter, 黑瓜吃料网鈥檚 vice president for research and dean of graduate affairs. 鈥淭he Albert W. Johnson award was created not only to honor his achievements, but equally important, to encourage and support our faculty in their own scholarship and creative activities.鈥�
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