Kenan-Flagler professor honored for service

James Johnson

The UNC General Alumni Association has awarded UNC Kenan-Flagler professor James Johnson Jr. its Faculty Service Award.

Johnson is director of the Urban Investment Strategies Center supported by the Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise at UNC. He is also  William R. Kenan Jr. Distinguished Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at Kenan-Flagler.

The award honors faculty members who have performed outstanding service for the University or the association.

Johnson’s research focuses on the causes and consequences of growing inequality in American society, especially its effects on socially and economically disadvantaged youth. He also studies approaches for eliminating poverty, creating jobs, developing communities, easing minority conflict and bolstering workforce diversity issues.

He started the after-school Durham Scholars program to encourage students to finish high school and go to college. He has grown the program into a kindergarten-through-eighth grade laboratory school that will open in July. 

Johnson is raising $30 million to endow the new Union Independent School in Durham. The school is a joint venture of the Kenan Institute and Union Baptist Church.

Johnson was faculty representative to the alumni association’s board of directors in 2004-05.

Other recent recipients of the Faculty Service Award include former law school dean and faculty chair Judith W. Wegner, English professor George Lensing, business professor Jack Evans, education professor emerita Mary Turner Lane, geography professor emeritus Doug Eyre and political science professor emeritus Thad Beyle.