Come July, Rodney L. Johnson, the executive director and founder of the Office of Parent Services at the George Washington University, will step down from his long-held post following 30 years of service.
Surrounded by photos of family, friends and colleagues in his office on the fourth floor of Rice Hall, Mr. Johnson is thoughtful rather than boastful about his many accomplishments.
He chalks them up to a simple mission: “To let parents know that we care.”
“When my parents drove me to Mars Hill [University, formerly Mars Hill College], they dropped me off at the curb and said goodbye,” he laughed. “When I created this office, I didn’t really know what I had in mind, but I knew I wanted parents at GW to feel important, to feel a part of this university.”
The George Washington award winner and former GW assistant men’s basketball coach has built a legacy that includes the development of the Parents’ Association Advisory Council (PAAC), beloved programming at Colonial Inauguration and Colonials Weekend and a reputation as a go-to resource for parents.
For a final turn, the university will establish the Rodney L. Johnson Parents Helping Parents Fund in recognition of his service. The fund will provide assistance to GW parents during emergencies such as covering travel expenses during a family crisis.
"I wanted parents feel important, to feel a part of this university."
- Rodney L. Johnson, executive director and founder of the Office of Parent Services
The fund is a continuation of the work that Mr. Johnson and a dedicated team have done to meet parents’ concerns from safety and dining to academic advising, career services and mental health and wellness services. Mr. Johnson said that he believes parents will give to the fund because of the strong community of parent support at GW.
“I didn’t know we had an equestrian team at GW until a parent called me about her daughter’s riding pants, and I didn’t know we had a sailing team until I was assured by a parent that her daughter was practicing on a sail boat,” he laughed. “The parents at GW are involved in all aspects of university life.”
Andrew Sonn, assistant vice president of the Division of Student Affairs, began working with Mr. Johnson in 1999. Mr. Sonn said that his personal and professional development and the university as a whole have benefited from Mr. Johnson’s skills as a caring and compassionate community-builder.
“I love seeing Rodney walk around the Foggy Bottom campus because he typically stops every 100 yards to speak with a student, faculty or staff member and greet each of them with a warm smile, handshake or hug,” Mr. Sonn said.
“Rodney was among the first administrators to welcome me to GW, and he has been a supportive colleague and mentor to me and many other colleagues and countless GW students. He has made an incredible difference in our lives,” he said.
Mr. Johnson established the PAAC in 1993 and handpicked a group of charter members who would best represent the interests of GW parents. Under his direction, the now-elected members of PAAC have championed a series of initiatives including supporting the GW Police Department and Office of Security and Safety increase in “4-Ride” vans to meet student needs, promoting Smoke-Free GW and working with GW Housing on the renovation plan and to improve communication about student housing selection.
The PAAC also has evolved with the university, most recently adding a spot in its ranks for a parent of an international student who can be a voice for that community’s interests.
PAAC President Robert Pagoni, father to two GW alumnae and a current student, said that Mr. Johnson has a unique ability to stay plugged into what parents and students need.
“He seems to have an abundance of knowledge of what is going on at GW and how to get things done,” Mr. Pagoni said. “I haven't been anywhere on campus with Rodney that he isn't shaking hands. I mention his name anywhere, and people know him and say good words.”
Mr. Johnson has become known in the university community for his excellence parent programming at Colonial Inauguration, including the seminar "Letting Go," which helps parents prepare for their student's transition to college.
Mr. Johnson says the secret is to treat people with respect and value, to look them in the eyes and to listen. Those rules have served him well throughout life from his early adult years as the first African-American full scholarship recipient and basketball star at Mars Hill University to his stint as the first director of minority affairs at the University of North Carolina at Asheville.
He said that GW is second in his heart only to his alma mater.
“I’m 65 years old, and I’ve been at this university for 30 years, and I didn’t even know I’d be here this long—but when I got here, I knew this was a place I could see myself happy,” he said. “Sometimes things were tough—budgets, problems, things come up—but it taught me about loyalty, tradition and commitment.”
He said that when he came to the university after serving as the assistant men’s basketball coach at Boston University for one year, it was former Senior Provost and Vice President of Student and Academic Support Services Robert A. Chernak, a friend and colleague, who invested in his career.
“[President Emeritus Stephen Joel] Trachtenberg, Bob Chernak and now, President [Steven] Knapp and Provost [Steven] Lerman, put a lot of faith and trust in me to create this office and so many other things, but it’s a collective effort,” Mr. Johnson said. “The team I work with is amazing.”
Mr. Chernak said that Mr. Johnson’s vision, honesty, listening skills and patience have made the Office of Parent Services a succes
2007 George Washington Award winners: Mr. Johnson and alumni Andrew Brown, B.A. '06 and Omar Woodard, B.A. '05
“GW has transformed itself for the better in many ways and part of that improvement can be credited to Rodney. He is a man with a big heart and is always with open arms to try to accommodate someone else's problem,” Mr. Chernak said. “Rodney exemplifies what it means when we say GW is student and parent-friendly.”
With such glowing reviews it would seem to be an easy task to get Mr. Johnson to talk about himself, but somehow during an interview with George Washington Today, he manages to move the conversation back to the contributions of others.
Of the stories of praise he heaps on his colleagues—their hard work throughout the years and support during his recent illness—it’s a memory of his surgery last fall that makes him tear up.
“I had to miss Colonials Weekend. It was going to be my last one, but I was in the [George Washington University] hospital recovering after surgery. One of the day nurses, she told me that she had never seen a patient who had as many visitors as I had—she had to turn people away,” he said.
“When you see how people care—I’m not sure anyone could say more than me about this university. I’ve just had such an unbelievable career here,” he added.
Looking ahead to his retirement, Mr. Johnson said he is excited to travel, volunteer and spend more time with his partner, Henry Huot.
“We’re living longer now so you hope you can do everything you can,” he said, settling back into his chair. “The George Washington University has given me so much in my career and my life, but now it’s time to walk away and do something else. I’m excited about July 1.”