Meet UNC's new Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, Amy Johnson

There is usually a bit of a honeymoon period when you start a new job, UNC’s new vice chancellor for Student Affairs, Amy Johnson, said. 

But no amount of experience could’ve prepared her for the unprecedented start to her position — within a week of Johnson's arrival, the University decided to switch to remote learning.   

Since taking on this new role on Aug. 3, Johnson has been immersing herself into the UNC community while still upholding COVID-19 regulations.  

Johnson said she didn't experience an introduction period to her position — time to learn the organization, budget structures and all the things required of the job — before having to make big decisions.

Despite obvious pressure and limitations due to COVID, Johnson said she has felt more than welcomed at UNC, receiving a surplus of emails and notes from faculty, parents, students and community members.   

“I have never accepted a position where, from the moment I hung up the phone to say ‘Yes, I will come’ my email inbox and my phone started to ring,” Johnson said. “It’s one thing if faculty and staff write to you, but alumni, students and parents were saying ‘We’re so happy to have you,’ and ‘Let me know if you need a recommendation regarding a grocery store.’"

Johnson said it was clear to her that the idea of the Tar Heel family has meaning for the UNC community. 

Johnson has over 20 years of leadership experience in higher education and student affairs at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Southern California and Eastern Washington University. 

Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz said in an emailed statement via UNC Media Relations that Johnson is an energetic and compassionate administrator who has experience as a national thought leader.  

“She brings the experience of a seasoned faculty member in higher education administration and a passion for connecting students’ academic and co-curricular learning experiences,” he said in the statement. 

During her time at UNC, Johnson said she plans to focus heavily on issues of diversity, equity and inclusion.  

Johnson said she previously helped create the first multicultural center at Eastern Washington University and is deeply committed to these issues. 

She said that one thing she has heard from students is that they feel as if institutional issues related to Silent Sam and racism have created a feeling of broken trust between many students and the University.  

Shaylen Atma, a sophomore studying business, said diversity in the classroom is one of the most important aspects of education.  

“From personal experience, it’s quite clear diversity strongly promotes learning within the classroom,”  Atma said. “More importantly, it has made me more conscious of my own cultural identity. I also believe inclusion in my schooling has allowed me to accept and assimilate differing cultural backgrounds from my own.”  

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