Faculty Expert Profile

Odis Johnson, Jr.

  • Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Social Policy and STEM Equity
  • Director, Institute in Critical Quantitative, Computational, and Mixed Methodologies
  • Executive Director, Johns Hopkins Center for Safe and Healthy Schools

Affiliations

  • School of Education

Languages spoken

  • English

Odis Johnson Jr. studies the intersection of social policy, racial justice and education. Leading the Center for Safe and Healthy Schools, he's researched school violence including school shootings.

A recent study of his linked intense school security measures with lower test scores and lower likelihood of college attendance.

Johnson's work has been featured in media outlets including CNN, The Washington Post, MSNBC, NPR, Teen Vogue, The Associated Press, Vox, The New Yorker, The New York Times and NBC News.

Recent coverage

Hub coverage

K-12 education
When school feels 'like prison,' test scores, college attendance drop
Published Sept 21, 2022
Students at high schools with prominent security measures have lower math scores, are less likely to attend college and are suspended more compared to students in schools with less surveillance, finds a new Johns Hopkins University study.
COVID-19
An expert look at back-to-school vaccinations for teens and kids
Published Aug 19, 2021
As the new school year approaches, vaccine expert Kawsar Talaat and education policy expert Odis Johnson Jr. discuss the benefits of vaccine mandates for school-age kids
Urban policy
New Johns Hopkins report details plan for digital equity in Baltimore
Published Jan 25, 2021
A new 21st Century Cities Initiative report outlines steps to increase access to reliable high speed internet in cities with pronounced digital divides

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