As Sinclair’s President since 2003, Dr. Steven Johnson is motivated on a daily basis by seeing how the power of knowledge and learning can change a student’s life.
“I am motivated knowing that I am working in a learning college where students have their lives changed by what we do,” Johnson said. “I am motivated knowing that I am part of something bigger than myself or any of us.”
Growing up on a farm in Northern Wisconsin, Johnson learned the importance of hard work.
“I started working at a young age operating tractors, doing fieldwork related to growing and harvesting crops, and other things related to housing and caring for lots of cows and calves,” Johnson said.
Along with working on his parent’s farm, he was involved in 4-H to show his cattle and crops at the fair, as well as being a school athlete, focusing on basketball.
However, the greatest thing he’s experienced is the art of learning. Like most college experiences, Johnson had the opportunity to learn from a multitude of ideas from all over the world.
“I love learning. I love being exposed to things and ideas from all over the world, past and present. I love speculating on how the future will unfold,” Johnson said. “College is the perfect place for learning.”
Learning is also made up of the dedicated professionals who take the time to serve students, according to Johnson, so that the community can have a better future.
“Sinclair has a great mission and has been doing a great job for nearly 130 years,” Johnson said. “We do something at Sinclair that matters. And that’s a great way to spend your days—doing things that matter.”
Johnson starts his day between 6:00 and 7:00 a.m. checking emails and then continues his day by attending eight to ten meetings covering a variety of issues, such as politics, funding and personnel.
Although Johnson stays busy for majority of the day, he still finds time to travel, along with doing family activities.
“I love personal travel—though I hate business travel. It is nice to go to other countries when I can. I really like Europe,” Johnson said. “Also, I enjoy family activities—whatever they may be—with my wife, Cindy and her kids.”
Another passion for Johnson besides being the President is his collection of guitars. He picks up a guitar every once in a while, even though he doesn’t play them as well as what he hoped for.
“I love guitars. I don’t play well, but I am happy to be able to make sounds that don’t terrify the creatures around me,” he said.
As the President, Johnson takes pride in Sinclair and how important it is to the community and to students, staff and faculty. He believes that every one plays a vital role in making Sinclair a better place.
“Sinclair was a great college well before I became president. I am proud that working together we are all—thousands of us—together, we are poised to make Sinclair better, even in the face of incredible challenges. Of that I am proud for all of us,” Johnson said. “We are creating history in Dayton, Ohio and we are all doing this together as we are forging a new future.”
Johnson believes Sinclair creates a better community with future opportunities in Dayton by providing high-quality, low cost programs of education that no one else can provide.
“Each year, almost 5,000 students complete certificates and degrees that fit our locally economy—those are 5,000 completions that would not have happen without Sinclair,” Johnson said.
With Sinclair reorganizing their physical appearance, along with revamping education programs, Johnson said the college would be readjusting in new and important ways.
“Sinclair’s physical reorganization is a big deal,” he said. “The new Health Sciences building is part of the strategy—smart clustering of programs that work together and share resources.”
According to Johnson, there are three aspects to the importance of education. “The first is the ability to do something of value and make a living. Second is the ability to know and understand our place in history, our place in the world, and where our civilization is headed. Lastly is the ability to find happiness and comfort in the beauty that exists in the community.”
The best advice he’s received throughout the years is “learn as much as you can, volunteer to do work that you have never done before, meet as many different people as you can, and be useful.”
Johnson said he hopes students leave Sinclair with a love of learning and a great deal of self-confidence for achieving personal goals. He finds the most important thing in order to succeed is to be reliable and useful.
“Being useful is the rent one pays for the resources one consumes when on this earth,” Johnson said.
Gabrielle Sharp
Executive Editor