Central State University welcomes Dr. Alex Johnson as Interim President today.

Johnson has agreed to serve as Interim President for one year. He is serving upon the departure of Dr. Jack Thomas, who did not seek renewal of his contract. His last day was June 30, 2023.

With nearly 30 years of experience as a college president, Dr. Johnson is a nationally-recognized educator, author, and expert in institutional transformation.

Most recently, he served as president of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C), a position he held from 2013 through 2022. There, he focused on strengthening the institution’s longstanding mission to provide high-quality, accessible, and affordable educational opportunities and services.

Dr. Johnson has also served as president of Community College of Allegheny County, a multi-campus college in and around Pittsburgh; chancellor of Delgado Community College in New Orleans; president of Tri-C’s Metropolitan Campus in Cleveland, and a two-year term as president of the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges.

His books, "Change the Lapel Pin: Personalizing Leadership to Transform Organizations and Communities" (2018) and "Capturing Change: Creating Systems of Transformation through Continuous Improvement" (2021), provide insight into how leaders can create lasting systems of transformation.

Dr. Johnson’s work on local, statewide, and national boards has focused on workforce development and institutional innovation and accountability. He has received numerous awards and accolades for his vision and leadership in higher education.