Rate My Professor Brelinda Johnson

Brelinda Johnson earned her Ed.D. in Assessment, Learning, and Student Success with a concentration in higher education from Middle Tennessee State University in December 2021, becoming the inaugural graduate of this program within the College of Education. Her dissertation, titled 'The Impact of Family Involvement on Academic Success in College: A Comparison of Black Students,' investigated the influence of family engagement on undergraduate achievement, with a particular focus on Black students, exploring definitions of support and success. Johnson also holds a master's degree in Human Development and Family Studies from MTSU, completed in 2009. Her academic background underscores her commitment to educational equity and student success in higher education settings.

At Middle Tennessee State University, Johnson served as Manager of the Scholars Academy in the Office of Student Success, where she developed and oversaw early arrival programs for incoming freshmen, targeting first-generation students and students of color to provide a supportive transition to college life. She contributed to high persistence rates, such as 96% for the 2020 cohort into spring 2021, and organized workshops on topics like dedication and discipline. Additionally, she acted as Principal Investigator for the Accelerated Mentoring Program, securing a $50,000 grant from the Tennessee Board of Regents for the period July 2021 to June 2022. Johnson published an article, 'The Impact of Family Involvement on Academic Success in Higher Learning Institutions,' in 2019, affiliated with MTSU. Her professional impact was recognized with the Unsung Staff Award at MTSU's 26th annual Unity Luncheon in February 2022 and selection as a Maxine A. Smith Fellow among 21 Tennessee educators in 2022. A native of Adams, Tennessee, Johnson exemplified student success principles through her own balancing of full-time work and doctoral studies. Subsequently, she advanced to Executive Vice President for Student Success at Motlow State Community College.