Natasha Johnson

Natasha Johnson is an Assistant Professor of Social Work at Columbia University, focusing on resilience among Black youth from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Raised in Detroit, Michigan, her childhood curiosity led to a career in understanding human behavior through a strengths-based approach, examining cultural assets and mental health strategies that enable academic and social thriving. She previously conducted research internships at Wake Forest University and worked in after-school programs, observing barriers linked to poverty and resource scarcity.

Her current scholarship centers on developing a psychometric tool to measure "racism awareness"—a concept capturing how marginalized individuals understand racial inequality through individual, interpersonal, and systemic lenses. This work emerged from interviews with high school students connecting racial discrimination to systemic issues like police brutality. Johnson emphasizes the importance of rigorous data collection and youth-informed language in her research, which aligns with Columbia's collaborative academic environment.