Shelley Johnson Appointed as Dean of the School of Health Professions
Johnson comes to Manhattan College from Florida A&M University, where she served as dean of the College of Nursing.
Shelley Johnson, Ed.D., has been named as the dean of Manhattan College’s new School of Health Professions, effective July 15, 2023. Johnson is a nationally recognized leader in nursing education and comes to the College from Florida A&M University, where she served as a professor and dean of the School of Nursing. 
Johnson has also held leadership roles at Chamberlain, Lincoln, Rutgers and La Salle Universities. She has created, taught and led undergraduate and graduate programs for more than 17 years. Her specialties include leadership, curriculum and instruction, assessment and community health. She is certified as a nurse executive, nurse educator and a comprehensive systematic reviewer.
Johnson received her Ed.D. in educational leadership from the University of Phoenix, her M.S. in community health nursing from Pennsylvania State University, her B.S. in nursing from the University of Pennsylvania and her MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University.
“We are excited to welcome Dr. Johnson to Manhattan College as the first dean of the School of Health Professions,” said Dr. Milo Riverso '81, Ph.D., PE, the president of Manhattan College. “Dr. Johnson is a highly accomplished scholar and educator with a deep commitment to excellence in teaching and learning. This is a pivotal role and we’re confident that Dr. Johnson will be a transformative leader that expands the professional and academic horizons of our students in the healthcare field."
In her role as dean at Florida A&M University, she oversaw all aspects of the university's nursing undergraduate and graduate programs. During her three-year tenure, she restored a historic school of nursing’s accreditation status, increased pass rates, increased enrollment by more than 200%, developed innovative curricula based on national workforce trends, and created programs and initiatives to support faculty development and expand the Master of Science in nursing program portfolio.
“I’m thrilled to join Manhattan College and lead the new School of Health Professions as it begins its journey into the future,” said Johnson. “This is an important and transformative time for healthcare, and I am committed to providing our students with the highest quality education that prepares them to be leaders in a competitive field. I am also committed to creating a diverse and inclusive learning environment where all students can thrive and meet the challenges that lie ahead.”
Previously, she served as the national dean, curriculum and instruction, and the national dean, assessment, at Chamberlain College of Nursing in Phoenix, Arizona. Johnson oversaw the curriculum and faculty implementation of the curriculum for 19 campuses across the country.
In 2012, Johnson was named the director and chair of nursing and health science at Lincoln University in Lincoln University, Pennsylvania. Her time at Lincoln was highlighted by the design and launch of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). the RN-BSN high school of STEM program and a Certified Nurse's Aide (CNA) program.
Earlier in her career, she was an assistant professor and adviser at Rutgers University and for six years was a program director at La Salle University. At Rutgers, she managed graduate education and supervised the upper division of the accelerated nursing program. At La Salle, she marketed programs and recruited students and developed, implemented and evaluated curriculum.
Johnson is committed to servant leadership, currently serving as a leader and member of the Xi chapter of the international nursing honor society Sigma Theta Tau at the University of Pennsylvania and continues to serve on other community organization boards. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Joyce University. She was previously a reviewer for the Joanna Briggs Institute, the Journal of Leadership, the Florida Nurses Association and Sigma Theta Tau International.
Her research interests include nursing and general educational practices, healthy work environments and leadership development. She also conducts presentations and workshops on these topics for academic and business groups.