A significant gift from the estate of Dr. David H. Johnson, a graduate of The University of Texas School of Social Work’s doctoral program, will create the newest endowed professorship at the school and provide new scholarship funding for its doctoral students.
An additional gift from Dr. Johnson’s estate will initially be utilized to help fund doctoral students engaging in research and study on a global scale. Subsequently, this gift may be used in support of a wider range of interests and opportunities in the doctoral program.
Dr. Johnson was known for his work as an associate professor of social work at Millersville University in Pennsylvania, where his scholarly interests focused on social welfare policy, especially health care policy. He was the coauthor with UTSSW professor Dr. Diana M. DiNitto for Essentials of Social Welfare: Politics and Public Policy (Boston: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon, 2013) and the Social Welfare: Politics and Public Policy, 8th Edition (Boston: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon, 2016).
“David Johnson was a significant leader and his efforts furthered social work education and advanced behavioral health policy,” said Allan Cole, dean of UT Social Work. “We are honored to create this endowed professorship in his name, which will further his legacy, honor who he was as a person, and have a significant impact on our students and those they serve. We are grateful to be the beneficiaries of his generosity and honored to memorialize him in a way that we know will make a lasting difference in the world.”
Often called “DJ” while in school, Dr. Johnson deeply valued the time he spent at UT Austin and the School of Social Work. He developed enduring relationships with staff, faculty, administrators, and classmates at UT. He loved his career in teaching and especially mentoring social work students.
“Dean Cole’s decision to use these funds to establish a professorship in Dr. Johnson’s name and to support doctoral students are such fitting tributes,” said Dr. DiNitto, who also taught Dr. Johnson during his doctorate education. “DJ and I had so many interesting discussions as he worked on his dissertation on health care policy and as we coauthored work on social welfare policy. His sharp intellect brought fresh perspectives to our work, and his sense of humor made the work fun. It is wonderful to know that Dr. Johnson’s legacy will remain in perpetuity through his generosity to this school.”