Jennifer Johnson Among 2025 University Distinguished Professors
November 24, 2025
Jennifer Johnson, PhD, was among ten newly designated University Distinguished Professors recognized at a reception in East Lansing on November 20. The recognition honors Michigan State University faculty members for their outstanding achievements in teaching, research and public service.
Johnson is the founding chair and C.S. Mott Endowed Professor of Public Health at the Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health. She is also a professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology, and professor of psychiatry and behavioral medicine.
“I’m honored and grateful that my colleagues would think of me for this designation and spend the time it takes to create a nomination, collect letters, and submit a packet for me,” she said. “I hope this honor will help elevate our work to strengthen community mental health and maternal health services.”
A licensed clinical psychologist, Johnson’s work uses implementation science and community-participatory research to promote equity, expand impact, and affect policy.
“Mental health disorders are among the leading causes of disability globally and impose significant economic and social costs,” she said. “Over 1 billion people worldwide live with a mental health condition, yet most do not receive adequate care. Developing new treatments can be helpful, but we desperately need better ways to get treatments already known to work out to those who need it most.”
She leads two National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded center grants: the National Center for Health and Justice Integration for Suicide Prevention (NCHATS) and the Maternal Health MIRACLE Center of Excellence in Women’s Health Research.
In partnership more than 15 universities and health systems and more than 20 national, state, and local organizations, NCHATS identifies ways to provide suicide prevention to individuals interacting with police, courts, jails, and crisis services.
“NCHATS has solved one key problem in suicide prevention: identifying individuals at risk for suicide when they are at risk,” said Johnson.
Partnering with mothers, community leaders, and health systems, the MIRACLE Center works to improve maternal health services across Michigan. The Center includes three MSU College of Human Medicine-led projects that aim to reduce pregnancy-related illness and death in populations disproportionately impacted.
In 2015, Johnson arrived in Flint as MSU’s first faculty member of the new Division of Public Health, built in partnership with Flint community members. The collaboration led to the creation of the only academic unit in the country developed fully in partnership with those it seeks to serve.
“Our partners in Flint are exceptional organizers, inspirational leaders, and champions for public health and justice,” Johnson said. “They are strong in public and tirelessly compassionate in private. I’m humbled to work alongside them.”
By Claudia Price