Johnstone Takes on New Roles
In June, Christopher J. Johnstone began new roles as a full professor and chair of the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy and Development at the University of Minnesota.
“Challenges to higher education are ever-present, but this department has always been about creating more just and equitable futures through our work in organizations and education. We won't stop that now,” Johnstone shared in a social media post on his first official day in the new roles.
Catching up with him a few days later, he shared a little more about his goals as he takes the helm in very uncertain times, or in his words, keeps the wheels turning.
“I’m trying to be optimistic, and in some ways, I feel it’s a little easier in these kinds of really challenging times to have open conversations with people. We’re all facing a lot of pressure in higher education in general, and so there’s a spirit of, ‘We’ve got to pull together.’ Whatever problems we have here and there, the prevailing larger problems are grabbing more attention, and so we keep to some guideposts.”
Comparing OLPD in some ways to ICI, where Johnstone worked earlier in his career on applying universal design concepts to state educational assessments at the National Center on Educational Outcomes, he said OLPD’s diverse global and local projects and different perspectives is a strength.
“At a time when we maybe can’t count on what we’ve always counted on before, having multiple touchpoints and different communities shows that we have people leading in all sorts of really interesting ways. It’s a little bit like ICI, right?”
The department’s presence in schools, nonprofit organizations, and internationally speaks to that breadth and is particularly needed today, he said.
His role as professor is in the department’s comparative and international development education area.
“We look at education systems around the world, and my interest has always been on inclusive education,” he said. “It’s why I came to the U and then furthered an interest in international higher education as well. As I sit here today, I think about spheres of influence. I know I’ve got this department to work with, and I’ve got my colleagues to work with. I’ve got great research projects going with colleagues around the world and I’m not stopping for any reason. Eventually, those spheres of influence will connect with others.”
Johnstone is also contributing to an Edward Elgar book series, with his content currently titled Rethinking Inclusive Education. He said it “focuses on constant, local, and inclusion-focused activity as a way of introducing systems change.” Expected publication is 2026.
“I don’t know if there’s ever a point where we’ll say we’re inclusive now, we’re done, because every day, needs change. Populations change. Our idea of what education is changes. So, it’s unachievable, but advocates can be constantly doing things – like all the incredible things ICI is doing – and that’s all we can hold on to.”