UC College Dean to be Honored by the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission

Lawrence J. Johnson, dean of the University of Cincinnati College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH), is one of three community leaders who will receive the Connecting Cultures and Communities Award from the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission at the organization’s 65th annual community dinner on May 8.

The award honors individuals who have made significant contributions in promoting inclusiveness and positive human relations in the Cincinnati USA region. Johnson will be recognized for his service and research that has had an impact on the local, state and national levels of education.

Johnson is chair of the operations committee for Strive, a regional partnership that is working on building the best educational system, from preschool to college. He is currently CEO for the Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP), a longitudinal study involving all of Ohio’s college and university teacher preparation programs that is examining what makes an outstanding teacher and how that excellence improves the academic performance of schoolchildren in math and English.

Johnson is also co-chair of the comprehensive two-year self-study of the university’s quality and accountability to report to the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), which grants accreditation and membership in the HLC and the North Central Association (NCA).

The Cincinnati Human Relations Commission is an organization that works to overcome prejudice and discrimination and build respect and understanding among Cincinnati’s diverse cultures. The Cincinnati Human Relations Commission was formally established by the Cincinnati City Council in 1965. George Wharton, director of the UC Office of Equal Opportunity, is the current chair of the CHRC.

The other two recipients of the Connecting Cultures and Communities Award are Jack Cassidy, president and CEO of Cincinnati Bell, and Penny Friedman, vice president and COO for InterAct for Change