He is an energetic, innovative and visionary leader, and he has been very successful nationally and internationally in the areas of agricultural policy and development, which are extremely important to Iowa's future. The vice provost vacancy was created when Robert Anderson resigned to teach in the electrical and computer engineering department. His national, and indeed international, experience in understanding and facilitating agricultural and rural development were recognized by the main constituencies with which he interacted during his interview. A professor of economics, Johnson has directed CARD since 1985. He also has served, since 1984, as executive director of the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute, an ISU-University of Missouri collaboration.
All degrees are in agricultural economics.