Angela Johnson

Co-Chair & Professor of Educational Studies

Department Chair

White woman with graying brown short hair looking fondly at small golden brown terrier
Contact
Personal Pronouns
  • she/her
Location
Resume/CV & Website

Biography

Angela Johnson is a Professor of Educational Studies. She is a former high school physics teacher. She graduated in physics from Bryn Mawr College and earned her doctorate in the social foundations of education from the University of Colorado at Boulder, with an emphasis in anthropology. She teaches courses in educational equity, assessment, educational policy, and research methods. She has authored and co-authored numerous articles and book chapters on the experiences of women of color in physics and other science contexts, and on other issues involving equity and excellence in science and science education.

Areas of Research Specialization

  • Women of color in science
  • Retaining members of historically excluded groups in physics
  • Retaining members of historically excluded groups in college

Areas of Teaching Specialization

  • Diversity, equity and multicultural education
  • Educational research methods
  • Educational policy

Education

  • A.B. in Physics at Bryn Mawr College, 1987
  • Ph.D. in Social Foundations of Education at University of Colorado, Boulder, 2001

Spotlight

  • Book chapter

    Johnson, A. Using an intersectional physics identity framework to identify components of physics settings  where women of color thrive. In A. Danielsson and A. Gonsalves, eds., Mapping Out New Terrain in Physics Education Research.

  • Publication co-authored with students

    Johnson, A, Young, R., & Mulvey, E.. Where do women of color complete physics degrees? The Physics Teacher 58, 620-624.

  • NSF grant: Centering Women of Color in STEM: Data-Driven Opportunities for Inclusion

    This grant supports the creation of a data portal through which users locate the universities in the US and UK in which women of color/Black and minority ethnic women are graduating in higher-than expected numbers in physics.

  • Grant: Jump-starting physics teacher education at St. Mary's College of Maryland through formalization of a physics teacher education program and recruiting

    This grant, through the American Physical Society, allowed us to work with current physics majors to develop skills in culturally relevant physics teaching.