Professor Johnson joined the philosophy faculty at Rhodes College in the fall of 2007.  She completed her B.A. in philosophy at the University of Memphis (2000), her M.A. at Villanova University (2003), and her Ph.D. at Penn State University (2007).  Her dissertation employed the insights of French philosopher Jacques Derrida to analyze the role of truth, forgiveness, reconciliation and memory in the implementation and operations of various truth commissions (primarily in Africa and Latin America).  More generally, Professor Johnson specializes in social and political philosophy, 19th and 20th C. Continental philosophy and the philosophy of race and racism.  Her work has been published in International Studies in Philosophy and Contretemps.

Over the last several years, Professor Johnson has developed a simple principle for her students to follow in the study of philosophy: “Read more, write more, think more, be more.”  And, yes, she recognizes that this is easier said than done!

Professor Johnson is currently preparing a book manuscript incorporating her work on deconstruction and truth commissions.  She is also a participating faculty member in the Gender and Sexuality Studies Program and the African-American Studies Program, as well as a member of the Executve Board for the Memphis-area Scholars in Critical Race Studies.  Professor Johnson is also the faculty sponsor for Rhodes Radio.

Professor Johnson′s  C.V. (PDF)