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CURRICULUM VITAEGARY C. JOHNSON, Ph.D.EDUCATIONPh.D., Comparative LiteratureUniversity of North Carolina, Chapel Hill2000Concentrations: Modernist novel (U.S., French, and German)and narrative theoryB.A., Comparative LiteratureUniversity of Virginia, CharlottesvilleConcentrations: American and French literature and literarytheory1989ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTSProvost and Executive Vice President at Lenoir-Rhyne University, 2018-presentLenoir-Rhyne University is a private, liberal arts institution located in Hickory, North Carolina andaffiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA). We also have graduate campusesin Asheville, North Carolina and Columbia, South Carolina; the Columbia campus includes the LutheranTheological Southern Seminary. In total, Lenoir-Rhyne University has approximately 2,600 students anda budget of about 60 million annually. We are considered at “Regional University” by U.S. News &World Report and our Carnegie Classification is “Masters Colleges and Universities: Larger Programs.”Our endowment is currently 110 million.ResponsibilitiesAcademic Program: Oversee the University’s academic unit, including programs on all three campusesand the University’s library system. We offer a full range of undergraduate majors and degrees and morethan 20 graduate programs, including one doctoral degree and a seminary. We have approximately 150full-time faculty.Selected Accomplishments: Led effort to respond to COVID-19 pandemic on the academic side of the University, includingthe move to remote learning for the second half of the spring 2020 semester and the move to ablending learning approach for the 2020-2021 academic year; this approach has allowed us tomaintain face-to-face instruction, retain our students on campus, and keep our revenue steady. Co-leading the effort to develop and implement a new strategic plan for the University; primaryresponsibility for Academic Affairs. Initiated and oversaw a revision to the current Academic Affairs structure. Developed and oversaw the implementation of our Graduate School structure. Launched the Lenoir-Rhyne Equity and Diversity Institute in Asheville, NC. Leading the effort to plan for a library renovation on our main campus.JohnsonPage 1

Student Life: Oversee Student Life and Residence Life operations, including our office of StudentSuccess and Retention and our Learning Commons.Selected Accomplishments: Expanded, enhanced, and relocated office of Student Success and Retention. Reorganized Learning Commons to enhance student support operations. Worked with our Dean of Students to ensure the safety of our residential facilities duringCOVID-19 pandemic.External Relations: Serve as a liaison between Lenoir-Rhyne University and its external constituents,including Board members, the local community, alumni and friends of the College, and accreditingbodies.Selected Accomplishments: Member of Hickory’s “University-City Commission,” dedicated to enhancing partnershipopportunities between the two entities. Member of the “Legislative Task force” formed by the Hickory Chamber of Commerce andcharged with developing and advocating for a list of legislative priorities for the area. Member of “Catalyst Catawba,” a consortium of business and education leaders committed tosupporting entrepreneurial activity in Catawba county, NC.Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at Hastings College, 20122018Hastings College is a private, liberal arts institution affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (PC-USA)located in Hastings, Nebraska. We had an enrollment of approximately 1,150 students (undergraduateand graduate), a staff of approximately 275, an annual budget in excess of 30 million, and anendowment of 85 million during my tenure.ResponsibilitiesAcademic Program: Oversaw the College’s academic unit, consisting of 5 divisions, 17 undergraduatedepartments, a Master’s of Arts in Teaching graduate program, and approximately 80 full-time facultymembers and 40 part-time faculty members; 1150 total students.Selected Accomplishments: Initiated and completed a comprehensive campus-wide strategic planning process, including arewriting of the College’s mission and vision statements as well as the establishment of 5-yearobjectives and annual goals: 2013-ongoing. Led a successful campus-wide prioritization project to ensure that Hastings College’s academic,administrative, and athletic programs align with our mission and use our resources wisely: 20162017. Led campus through a successful reaffirmation of accreditation by the Higher LearningCommission, resulting in the College being allowed to choose our preferred accreditation“Pathway”: 2013-2014. Provided vision and leadership for the fundraising, design, and completion of our new 8.5million Jackson Dinsdale Arts Center.JohnsonPage 2

Initiated and oversaw the development of new academic and co-curricular programs; examplesinclude:o a new program in Visual Arts and Mediao a collaborative (3 1) Nursing program with Creighton Universityo an articulation agreement with the Creighton School of Pharmacyo a new Hastings College Honors Programo the Thrive Leadership Programo two new, collaborative Business programs with Central Community Collegeo the founding of the Hastings College Press. Led initiatives to overhaul our general education program and to incorporate high-impacteducational practices throughout the curriculum. Developed a new Hastings College Center for Teachers and Learners with a core group offaculty members committed to enhancing faculty professional development opportunities. Led Faculty Senate in updating core faculty governance issues, including a revision to thesabbatical program; revising tenure and promotion criteria and guidelines; and the strengtheningof critical faculty committees, including the Curriculum Committee and the AssessmentCommittee.Academic Support: Oversaw the College’s main library (Perkins Library), the Learning Center, theExcel program (serving students identified as retention risks), the Registrar’s office, InstitutionalAssessment, Institutional Research, and Academic Technology.Selected Accomplishments Increased staffing in the Learning Center to provide enhanced support for students requiringaccommodations. Revived Hastings College’s Assessment Committee and developed an assessment protocol forour Liberal Arts Program (our approach to general education). Transitioned the College from a Moodle-based learning management system to Canvas inanticipation of an increased commitment to providing online and hybrid learning opportunitiesfor students on and off campus. Worked with the library director to ensure our institution’s alignment with the ACRLFramework for Information Literacy.Human Resources: Oversaw the HR function for the entire institution; this included recruitment andhiring, benefits, performance management, federal compliance, compensation, and employee relations.Selected Accomplishments Commissioned compensation study for staff and made requisite salary adjustments. Implemented early retirement incentive program (2015). Developed and deployed campus-wide culture survey and identified action items based on theresults. Instituted annual on-line performance review protocol for staff. Modernized payroll services by partnering with ADP. Adjudicated employee disputes and Title IX-related issues.JohnsonPage 3

External Relations: Served as a liaison between Hastings College and its external constituents,including Board members, the local community, alumni and friends of the College, and accreditingbodies.Selected Accomplishments Collaborated with Board members, alumni, and friends of the College to ensure our financialstability and support the College’s strategic vision; assisted in securing foundation grants forprograms (including our Irish Fellows study abroad program) and faculty development; attendedtwo Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) conferences for administrators. Participated with numerous community boards and groups to enhance the area’s financial,cultural, and educational health; groups include the Hastings Area Education Consortium, theHastings Young Talent Initiative, the Hastings Economic Development Corporation, HastingsChamber of Commerce Board, and the Hastings Public Schools Task Force on ElementarySchools; developed collaborative nursing program with our local hospital and CreightonUniversity to help meet the area’s growing need for nurses. Maintained professional relationships with the Council for Independent Colleges, the HigherLearning Commission, and the International Society for the Study of Narrative; currently servingas the point person for Hastings College’s engagement with Stamats consulting group’s work onnew program analysis and program demand.Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at The University of Findlay, 2008-2012The University of Findlay is a private, church-related institution in northwest Ohio. It is the largestprivate, not-for-profit higher education institution in that part of Ohio with an enrollment ofapproximately 4,500 students, split relatively evenly among its undergraduate and graduate programs.Responsibilities Oversaw six academic departments and thirty undergraduate majors; departments includedCommunication; English; History, Pre-Law, and Gender Studies; Language and Culture; Social,Behavioral, and Justice Sciences; and Visual and Performing Arts. Oversaw two graduate programs: Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of OtherLanguages (TESOL) and Master of Arts in Liberal Studies. Oversaw sixty full-time faculty and approximately fifty contingent faculty. Oversaw the operating budgets for the College of Liberal Arts and all of its programs. Facilitated professional development activities for College faculty. Ensured integrity of academic programs and general education offerings. Oversaw course scheduling and staffing for College departments. Coordinated College-wide recruitment and retention initiatives. Led initiatives relating to strategic planning, hiring, program and personnel management, andresource allocation. Led program development initiatives. Led fundraising and strategic planning for College-related development activities. Performed annual performance reviews for College faculty and staff. Coordinated grant writing activity within the College. Served as a team leader for HLC review.JohnsonPage 4