Connie Johnson

Connie Johnson serves as a Lecturer in the Department of Communication Studies at California Polytechnic State University, teaching oral communication and public speaking courses. With over 20 years of professional experience in academic student engagement and community development, she played a pivotal role in establishing a statewide program for minority student retention in Georgia and aims to implement similar initiatives on California's Central Coast.

Her educational background:

• Ph.D. in Communication, University of Texas at Austin
• M.A. in Communication Studies, University of Southern California Annenberg School
• B.S., California State University Dominguez Hills

Johnson's research centers on critical race theory and the rhetoric of marginalized populations, with significant contributions to ethnic studies and critical thinking in communication. Her widely cited dissertation "Barack Obama: The Rhetoric of a Black President" examines political discourse through frameworks of race and representation, reflecting her commitment to analyzing power dynamics in public communication and social justice contexts.