Dr. Aisha Johnson (she/her), Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Outreach at Georgia Institute of Technology Library, is a revelator of Southern library history, information access, and literacy. Formerly MLS Program Director for the School of Library and Information Sciences (LIS) at North Carolina Central University, continuing as adjunct, she stands on her commitment to enhancing LIS through service, practice, and curriculum to produce librarians and archivists who become scholar-practitioners and leaders.

Johnson stands firm on a soapbox for unveiling the history of underrepresented and marginalized communities. Her research focuses on the development of literacy in the African American culture and philanthropic efforts that gave aid towards literacy in the South. Her advocacy is conveyed in her research and scholarship as well as her professional career with nearly 15 years of experiences as a practitioner (librarian and archivist) and organizational administrator. 

A leader in the field, she was dubbed the 2020 Distinguished Alumni of Florida State University's College of Communication and Information, iSchool for her research and scholarship, The African American Struggle for Library Equality: The Untold Story of the Julius Rosenwald Fund Library Program. This work also directly influenced the American Library Association's "case that Rosenwald's support for libraries - particularly, for Black librarians and libraries in Black communities - is an important part of his legacy that should be recognized in the [national] park." In 2021, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History recognized her work and impact with the Freedom Scholar Award. Most recently, Dr. Johnson was recognized as a Change Agent with the prestigious 2024 Library Journal's Movers and Shakers Award. 

Dr. Johnson also serves through professional organizations and is regularly sought out to contribute to discussions on representation and inclusion, LIS research, and strategic leadership. She, alongside other Black Librarians, were recently featured on Good Morning America advocating for Black librarianship and the forthcoming documentary, The Black Librarian.  Dr. Johnson also appeared on CNN First of All with Victor Blackwell advocating discussing Black history in education with emotional intelligence. She continues to build onto a platform of advocacy, bringing awareness to the need for more minority information professionals, and the field of Library and Information Sciences as an impactful career.

As she always tell her students and audience, "Librarianship chooses the right people, at the right time. And I am glad it chose me."

Bio and photograph provided courtesy of Dr. Aisha Johnson.