ObituaryDaniel Johnson
Daniel Johnson, 80, former dean of what is now the College of Health and Public Service
who went on to become president of the University of Toledo, died July 1 in Washington
Township, Michigan. His higher education career spanned more than 40 years and brought
him international recognition. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from
Texas Christian University and his doctorate from the University of Missouri. He worked
in various leadership roles at Virginia Commonwealth University, then served at UNT
as a professor of sociology and dean of the then-called School of Community Service
from 1991 to 1997. His research specialties included urban poverty and diverse student
retention, and he received the university’s Equal Opportunity Award for his support
of increased campus diversity. He wrote about and advocated for metropolitan universities,
with a focus on applied research and serving the needs of their regions. In 1994,
he was appointed by Gov. Ann Richards to the newly formed Texas State Commission for
National and Community Service, to support volunteer participation in government and
community-based programs. He also assisted with the merger of the Texas College of
Osteopathic Medicine with UNT. He created the Daniel M. Johnson Award for Community
Service, first presented in 1998 to Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk. Dan left UNT to become
provost at the University of Alaska. He then led the University of Toledo from 2001
to 2006 and served in various other positions before retiring as distinguished university
professor of public policy and economic development. He also was provost and chief
operating officer of Zayed University in the United Arab Emirates from 2008 to 2011.