David Johnson was the third chancellor of the University of Minnesota Morris. Popularly known by students as “Chancellor Dave” and renowned for his easy-going manner, Johnson was a fervent supporter of the liberal arts and a staunch advocate for UMN Morris. His many accomplishments include securing funding for both the Regional Fitness Center and the addition to the Science Building, the founding of the Center for Small Towns, and coalition building in the form of the campus’ growing involvement in the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC).
Chronology
born in Grand Rapids, MN on January 21
received B.A. in Sociology from Gustavus Adolphus College
married to Jean Lunnis on September 10
received M.A. in Sociology from the University of Iowa
began teaching sociology at Luther College
awarded Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Iowa
became Dean of Arts and Sciences at East Stroudsburg State College
accepted the position of Vice President for Academic Affairs at St. Cloud State University
returned to Gustavus Adolphus College as Dean of the College
proposed the idea for the Center for Small Towns
received funding for the Science Building and Regional Fitness Center
honored by the renaming of Independence Hall to David C. Johnson Independence Hall
Personal Life
David C. Johnson was born in Grand Rapids, Minnesota in 1933. His father, Chester, was a high school principal and his mother, Olga, taught English and German.[3] He graduated from Grand Rapids High School in 1950 and enrolled at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. Upon graduation he began graduate work in sociology at the University of Iowa, earning his M.A. in 1956 and his Ph.D. in 1959. In 1955, he married Jean Lunnis, who, like Dave, was a 1954 graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College.
He accepted a position at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa in 1957 and was a member of that school’s Sociology Department until 1969. In that year, he joined the administration at East Stroudsburg State College in Pennsylvania as Dean of Arts and Sciences. In 1976, Johnson accepted the position of Vice President for Academic Affairs at St. Cloud State University and seven years later he returned to his alma mater as Dean of the College. He accepted the position of Chancellor at UMN Morris in 1990.[4]
Jean, Chancellor Dave’s wife of over 40 years, died in May of 1996, and two years later in 1998 Dave stepped down from his position as chancellor at UMN Morris.
Research
David C. Johnson trained as a sociologist and was primarily interested in ethnicity and the sociology of religion. He did his graduate work at the University of Iowa, earning both an M.A. and in 1959 his Ph.D. His dissertation, "Some Sociological Factors in the Lutheran Merger Movements" examined regional and ethnic conflict within modern American Lutheranism. Johnson also explored ethnic working class communities, both on the Minnesota Iron Range and in the anthracite coal areas of Pennsylvania. He brought these interests to the classroom and developed and taught courses in Social Thought and Theory, the Sociology of Religion, Scandinavian Social Planning, and the Sociology of American Minority Groups. While teaching at Luther, he inaugurated an early faculty-student research venture which examined changing naming patterns in the rural Upper Midwest. After his retirement Johnson brought insights from sociology to his unique family history in a book entitled, Shtetls to Shipsides: The Religious Roads of My Mother’s People.[5]
Campus Contributions
Dave Johnson's tenure at UMN Morris was marked by campus growth and development. Planning for the "Morris Science Project" (the construction of a new science building and the renovation of the old) occurred during his administration. Johnson also helped put together the unique campus-community partnership that produced the Regional Fitness Center. Funding for both projects was secured during Johnson's last year at Morris.[6]
Another notable accomplishment was the creation of the Center for Small Towns. Roger McCannon, who headed up Continuing Education and Regional Programs at UMN Morris recalled that Johnson came up with the idea over lunch with senior administrators in Minneapolis, telling McCannon, "It's an idea, make it happen."[7] The result was the establishment of an institution that--through the construction and maintenance of regional partnerships--exemplified a specific sort of Morris approach to community outreach.[8]
A final example of partnership building under Dave Johnson's leadership was the role played by UMN Morris in the birth and first years of COPLAC (Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges). This organization of generally small public colleges striving to compete with prestigious, lavishly endowed private institutions was formally incorporated during a meeting at Morris in 1992.[9]
Less tangible than the construction of buildings and institutions, but still of importance, was the tone and style Johnson brought to the campus. Setting formality aside and intent on bridging the gap between administrators and staff and students, "Chancellor Dave" would often venture to food service or TMC and join tables of students or staff or junior faculty for lunch. To recognize his commitment to students, in 2006 UMN Morris changed the name of Independence Hall to David C. Johnson Independence Hall.[10]
After UMN Morris
In retirement Johnson continued to play an active role in teaching, travel and civic leadership. In the few years after he stepped down from the chancellorship he continued to lead hiking tours to Norway, Sweden and Romania, a practice he began in 1987.[11] From 1999 to 2003 he served as a consultant to the international education offices at the Universities of Oslo, Bergen, Tromsø, Kristianstad and Tampere. In these same years he also worked with the Fulbright offices in Norway and Sweden. In addition, from 1999 to 2001 he occupied the role of President of the University of Minnesota Elder Learning Institute, 1999-2001 (now Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) and served as President of the University of Minnesota Retirement Association, 2001-2002.[12] Finally, he has led classes at the Holden Village Lutheran Retreat Center in the Cascade Mountains of western Washington State.[13]
Returning to his roots in retirement, Johnson began research on the Minnesota Iron Range and their ethnic groupings. He has also pursued his own family history and brought sociological perspectives to his Jewish-Lutheran past. This research resulted in the publication in 2013 of his book, Shtetls to Shipsides: The Religious Roads of My Mother’s People.[14]
In 2000 Johnson endowed the David and Jean Johnson International Service-Learning Scholarship. Chancellor Dave has often returned to campus to visit with the award's recipients.[15]
Footnotes
[1] David C. Johnson, interview by Christopher Butler, 2010, transcript, University Stories, University of Minnesota Morris Archives, Morris, MN.
[2] University Relations, “Profile: Chancellor David Johnson will retire in 1998,” Profile (Morris, MN), Spring 1997.
[3] David C. Johnson. Shtetls to Shipsides: the Religious Roads of My Mother’s People (Minneapolis, MN : IVVE Leaguers, 2013)
[4] “Gustavus grad takes Dean’s post as 122nd year gets underway,” Gustavian Weekly (St. Peter, MN), September 8, 1983.
[5] Email message between Stephen Gross and David C. Johnson, January 28, 2021
[6] University Relations, “Profile: Approved! Morris Science Project and Regional Fitness Center,” Profile (Morris, MN), Spring 1998; University of Minnesota Morris, Re-collections celebrates: The University of Minnesota's 150th birthday; The West Central School of Agriculture's 90th birthday; The University of Minnesota, Morris' 40th birthday, 2000.
[7] Roger McCannon, “History of the Center for Small Towns: from inception to 2004,” 2013.
[8] David C. Johnson, interview by Christopher Butler, 2010
[9] Schuman, Sam. “COPLAC - The Evolution of a Vision 1987-2014,” COPLAC, 2017 and David C. Johnson, interview by Christopher Butler, 2010
[10] Jenna Ray. “David C. Johnson Independence Hall celebration,” University Relations (Morris, MN), 2006.
[11] University Relations, “Profile: Approved! Morris Science Project and Regional Fitness Center”
[12] Email message between Stephen Gross and David C. Johnson, January 28, 2021
[13] University of Minnesota, Morris Retirees’ Association, “UMMRA Info: volume XIII, number 2,” Fall 2010.
[14] University Relations, “Profile: Green Prairie Community,” Profile (Morris, MN), Spring 2014.
[15] University Relations, “Profile: Our Place in the World,” Profile (Morris, MN), Fall 2014.