Karl T. Johnson

Karl T. Johnson, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Health Leadership and Practice at the University of North Carolina's Gillings School of Global Public Health. His work bridges research and practice, emphasizing community engagement and governance innovation. He serves part-time at Granville Vance Public Health, coordinating mental health initiatives and opioid settlement fund strategies.

Education:

• Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Johns Hopkins University (2018)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Health Policy Management from UNC Gillings (2023)

Research Focus: Karl investigates public health governance structures, substance use policy, faith community partnerships, and social media's mental health impacts. His recent work examines North Carolina's board of health effectiveness and cross-sector collaboration during crises.

Key Contributions: His 2023 dissertation analyzed board of health governance strengths/weaknesses in NC. Recent publications include studies on pandemic decision-making systems and community health improvement strategies.

Awards:

• 2023 UNC Gillings Department of Health Policy and Management's Francine and Harry Weinberger Award for Excellence

Service & Engagement: Current roles include Board Member of North Carolina Boards of Health, Co-Faculty Advisor for NACCHO Student Chapter, and participation in Gillings Research Strategic Planning Task Force.

Practice Work: Leads mental wellness initiatives at Granville Vance Public Health, focusing on youth social media impacts and opioid crisis response strategies.