Dr. Larry D. Johnson, Jr. is an equity-minded student advocate with nearly 20 years of higher education experience.  Selected by the CUNY Board of Trustees on February 1, 2021 to be the College’s second president, he assumed the presidency on July 1, 2021.

Johnson is a bold, creative and experienced academic leader. During his tenure at Guttman, he has led transformational changes and established a vision for enrollment growth and ensuring students leave the institution prepared to earn family-sustaining wages. Collaborating with faculty, staff, and senior leadership, Johnson championed the new six-year strategic plan (Guttman Forward 2028), launched inaugural Career Innovation HUB, increased campus outreach and engagement, applied laser focus on grants, and reimagined institutional structures to support success.

Prior to joining Guttman, Johnson served as the sixth and first Black president of Phoenix College (AZ). A college that enrolled more than 20,000 credit and non-credit students, he launched the Presidents’ Promise, a comprehensive plan to: reengage community and workforce leaders, improv employee satisfaction and engagement, employ student-centered practices. Under this Plan, Johnson launched the Neighborhood College initiative to provide educational opportunities for employees at their workplaces and launched the IT Institute to meet industry demands.

Johnson has distinguished record of higher education experience and has served on national board and commissions with organizations such as the American Association of Community Colleges, Presidents’ Round Table, Enterprise Bank & Trust, Mayor’s African American Advisory Committee, Helping Hands for Single Moms, to name a few. He has actively engaged in fund and friend-raising and championed institutional grants and awards that have resulted in over $12M.

As a leader committed to equity and inclusion, Johnson was selected to participate in the inaugural Aspen New President’s Institute to gain a deeper understanding of the competences required to advance equitable outcomes for diverse student populations.

Johnson is a proud alum of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), where he earned his B.A. in English literature. He also earned his M.A. in Humanities and a graduate certificate from Florida State University. His doctorate degree in Humanities, with an emphasis in English literature, is from Clark Atlanta University.

In his spare time, Johnson enjoys attending theatre performances, cooking, traveling and spending time with close friends and family.