Joshua “JJ” Johnson

JJ has worked in higher education for over 20 years and served in various roles within student affairs. His career has included developing student leaders, creating programs, academic advising, housing and residence life, and student advocacy. As the Assistant Director, his roles include Veterans Academic Resource Center (VARC) operations, university and community relations, and event and program management. He also works with student veterans, military, and service-connected students. He engages with the University Community and Veterans Service Organizations in Central Florida to establish purposeful relationships and educate and inform the student population. He has also presented on program development, event management, university and community collaboration, and relationship building.

JJ values student success and advocacy and is a current member of the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA), the National Association of Veterans Program Administrators (NAVPA), and active with the Student Veterans of America (SVA) and National Salute Student Veterans Honors Society. He also served on the executive board for the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Sunshine Chapter. He has also presented at multiple conferences and events on topics relating to issues and challenges facing student veterans, military, and service-connected students.

Before joining UCF in 2006, he worked at multiple academic institutions including Southwest Ohio Consortium of Higher Educations (SOCHE), University of West Florida, East Carolina University, and Hillsborough Community College. JJ spent 5 years as a hospitality management professional, serving as Director of Housekeeping and Assistant Property Management for companies such as Homewood Suites, Clarion Suites, and JME Vacations (Destin).

JJ grew up in Dayton, Ohio, a graduate of Wright State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Public Relations and a Master of Arts degree in Higher Education Administration.

JJ is a proud Air Force dependent (aka B.R.A.T.) living on or near military bases including Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Joint Base Andrews, Joint Base Bowling, and Wright Patterson Air Force Base. When not teaching or taking courses at UCF, he can be found visiting the local theme parks, traveling, and reading.