Edited and posted by Drew Whelchel, COM 303
Combining a variety of interests is not uncommon for this Berry College professor.
Dr. Janna Johnson, lecturer in mathematics and computer science and associate athletic director, was awarded of Faculty Member of the Year by students at Honors Convocation on April 29. In addition to teaching math, she is also an advisor for Athletes Bettering the Community (ABC), a First-Year Seminar professor and a yoga teacher.
“I enjoy each of the things I’m involved in,” said Johnson. “Every time someone asks me what I would drop, I can’t think of any of those things that I do that I would give up.”
Johnson is from Snellville, Ga, and received her Bachelor of Science in mathematics from Berry in 1981 and went on to get her master’s of applied mathematical sciences from University of Georgia. She received her Ph.D. in math education from Georgia State University and joined the Berry faculty in 1983.
Janna Johnson, 2008 faculty Member of the Year
recipient at the Honors Convocation
Photo from Berry College
In addition to her faculty positions, Johnson is also the advisor for ABC.
“She’s incredibly helpful,” said senior Emily Bender, president of ABC, “but she guides it [ABC] with a loose hand.”
Bender said that Johnson keeps them “on the right track” as far as planning and executing activities, but that Johnson prefers to let the athletes take a more hands-on approach.
“She wants us to do well; for us to succeed,” Bender said.
Johnson said she loves all the events they put on, but her favorite is the most charitable.
“I love the service days; just knowing that the athletes are all over the Rome community helping others, I love being a part of that,” said Johnson.
Yoga is Relaxing
Johnson’s interest in yoga began 10 years ago when Jeanne Schul, lecturer of health and physical education, allowed her to join the yoga class. Johnson then took advanced classes in Rome and went on to get her instructor’s certification in Atlanta. She now teaches a free yoga class at Berry and recently taught a section of the HPE class.
“She keeps us moving, if that’s possible in yoga,” said junior Stephanie Butterworth, one of Johnson’s former yoga students.
Freshman Involvement
Johnson has also taught a BCC 100 course every year since the program began. Johnson said she keeps her students involved throughout their college experience by throwing Christmas and year-end parties every year, and all her former freshman seminar students are invited.
Johnson’s past advisees value her involvement and dedication to them after their freshman year.
“Janna is there for me even now,” said junior Dnika Joseph, one of Johnson’s former advisees. “I still run to her when I have good news about my life.”
Johnson said she has enjoyed working with freshman so much that it has led her to volunteer to teach BCC 100 every year.
“I love working with the freshmen and helping them make the transition to college,” Johnson said.
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