Johnnie Johnson ’97

I grew up in Chicago and attended Morgan Park Academy High School. My parents are both retired now, but my mom was a Financial Analyst for Shell Oil Company and my dad was a Systems Manager for Electronic Data Systems (EDS). My mom got her degree after I graduated from college and after she retired. My dad never went to college. He was in the army and spent some time in Korea with the military.  Both got their jobs just by rising through the ranks at their respective companies.

I currently live in Lexington, Kentucky. I am Associate Director of Admissions, Director of Operations at Transylvania University in Lexington. Before that, I worked in admissions at Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky, and even before that, I worked as an admissions counselor at Cornell!

I’m a big believer in a liberal arts education, and Cornell College, along with One Course At A Time, changed my life. Cornell gave me a passion for learning about people. I was an Economics & Business and Sociology double major. I also worked in the admissions office as a tour guide for 3 of my 4 years. That, combined with my classes and interactions with my professors and classmates helped develop my love for admissions work. I truly enjoy helping families navigate the college search experience, which is why I’ve been in this profession for almost 18 years. Cornell gave me such a strong academic and social base that I knew I would be successful when I left the Hilltop.