Gary Johnson is an Associate Professor of Urban Studies and Planning at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, Virginia. Johnson has been on the Department’s faculty since 1985. He joined the Department on a full-time basis in 1991, following six years as Assistant Dean of VCU’s School of Community and Public Affairs and as Director of the School’s Center for Public Affairs. Before that, Gary served on the faculties of the University of Virginia (5 years) and Indiana University (South Bend Campus, 2 years), and as the Regional Comprehensive Planner the Michiana Area Council of Governments, a large metropolitan council of governments serving Michigan and Indiana (2 years).
Professional and Community Service: Gary has also been actively involved in public, professional and university service. He served on the APA Board of Directors (1992–1996) and two years on APA's Executive Committee, and was Co-Editor (1993-1998) and Co-Book Review Editor (1988-1993) of the Journal of the American Planning Association.
Gary serves on the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, and as Chairman of the Oversight Committee of the Better Housing Coalition (a nonprofit housing developer that has produced approximately 700 units of affordable housing in the last 12 years). He also serves on the Boards of the Virginia Forum, the Virginia Friends of Rail Committee and on the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) of the Chesapeake Bay Program. He has served on VCU’s: Faculty Senate, Graduate Dean’s Advisory Committee, Social Science Task Force, Ph.D. in Public Policy Committee, Virginia Center on Aging Advisory Committee, Survey Research Lab Advisory Committee, and Advisory Committee of the Governor Institute at VCU on Alcohol and Drug Abuse. From 1989-1991 he served as President of the Faculty of VCU’s School of Community and Public Affairs.
Planning Focus: Johnson’s teaching, research, and scholarship focus on the fields of housing and transportation. His more than 50 publications include research reports, planning documents, book reviews, a CPL Bibliography, as well as articles in such outlets as: Society, the Journal of Urban Affairs, Urban Law and Policy, Urban Resources, the Journal of the American Planning Association, the American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Transportation Research, the Journal of Transportation Engineering, Transportation Research Record, AASHTO Quarterly, Municipal Management, The South Carolina Policy Forum, Virginia Town and City, Planning in Virginia, Virginia Review and others.
Gary has conducted research for, and/or provided technical assistance to, a variety of organizations over the years. Clients have included: the City of Richmond; the South Bend Urban Observatory; the U.S. Department of Transportation; the U.S. Naval Aviation Executive Institute; the Office of the Virginia Secretary of Transportation; the Office of the Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth; the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy; the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development; the Virginia Department of Legislative Services; Virginia Power, Inc.; and the Ethyl Corporation. From 1986-1988, Johnson served as Director of the Governor’s Commission on Virginia’s Transportation in the 21st Century (COT-21).
Awards: "School and University Leadership Award" (VCU -1994), an "Excellence in Service Award" (VCU-1992), a "Citation Award for Planning Achievements" (Virginia Citizen Planning Association –1991), an "Individual Award of Excellence"(WTS Virginia Transportation Forum –1990), an "Honorary Membership Award" (Naval Aviation Executive Institute –1985) and a "Creative Programming Award" (NUCEA –1984).
Education:
Johnson holds a Doctor of Environmental Design in Urban and Regional Science (Texas A&M University -1979), a Master of Urban Planning degree (Wayne State University -1974) and a Bachelor of Science in Political Science (Northern Michigan University -1972).Gary can be reached at:
Home: 1603 Swinton Lane Richmond, Virginia 23233 (804) 741-5674
Office: Department of Urban Studies and Planning, Virginia Commonwealth University
812 W. Franklin Street, Box 842008 Richmond, Virginia 23284-2008; (804) VCU-CITY
Email: Gjohnson@titan.vcu.edu
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