James_May-June_2026_web - Flipbook - Page 31
WHEN DR. MICHAEL JOHNSON
talks about the mission of the
University of West Georgia, the
conversation quickly turns personal. As a first-generation college
graduate and U.S. Marine Corps
veteran, Johnson has held senior
leadership roles across a diverse
range of institutions— including
community colleges, land-grant
universities and urban research
universities. It naturally gives him
a comprehensive perspective on
the challenges and opportunities
facing higher education today.
Johnson understands firsthand the transformative power of
higher education. That perspective
has shaped both his leadership
style and his vision for UWG— an
institution he believes is uniquely
positioned to expand opportunity
across Georgia while strengthening the economic future of West
Georgia.
Throughout his career, Johnson
has been recognized for connecting universities more directly with
the communities and industries
they serve— a philosophy that now
shapes his work at UWG.
“I truly believe in the value of
public higher education,” Johnson
said. “When I looked at the University of West Georgia, I saw an institution with the right mission— serving
students who are looking for opportunity and upward mobility.”
Since becoming president in
August 2025, Johnson has focused
on positioning the university as both
a gateway for students seeking their
first chance at higher education and
a strategic partner for the businesses and communities that depend on
a skilled workforce.
His vision centers on a simple but ambitious idea: a regional
university that not only educates
students but also drives economic
growth and social mobility across
the region it serves.
At UWG nearly 46 percent of
students are first-generation college attendees, and more than 90
percent come from within Georgia.
The university’s role, Johnson says,
is not simply to educate— but to expand opportunity across the state.
For Johnson, that mission is
deeply personal. “My mom graduated high school. My dad was a
A DIFFERENT KIND OF UNIVERSITY
In a state known for flagship
institutions like the University of
Georgia and Georgia Tech, the
University of West Georgia occupies a different— but increasingly
essential— space.
Johnson believes that regional universities educate the broad
middle of America’s student population: first-generation students,
working professionals returning to
school, adults seeking career
advancement, and traditional students who value
the support of a close-knit
campus community. And
he believes these institutions often play the most
transformative role in
higher education.
“Regional comprehensives educate
more of the citizenry
of the United States
than any other
type of institution,”
he said. “We serve
students from every
background and
every household.”
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