Dr. David J. Johns
Washington, D.C.
Dr. David J. Johns is the chief executive officer and executive director of the National Black Justice Collective (NBJC), a civil rights organization dedicated to the empowerment of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer+, and same-gender loving (LGBTQ+/SGL) people, including people living with HIV/AIDS.
Dr. Johns was appointed the first executive director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans by President Obama and served from 2013-2017. Dr. Johns was a senior education policy advisor to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions under the leadership of U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) and has served under the leadership of the late U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA). Dr. Johns was a Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Fellow in the office of Congressman Charles Rangel (D-NY).
Dr. Johns earned his Ph.D. in sociology and education policy at Columbia University. Dr. Johns obtained a master’s degree in sociology and education policy at Teachers College, Columbia University, graduating summa cum laude. He graduated with honors from Columbia College, Columbia University in 2004 with a triple major in English, creative writing, and African American studies.
Dr. Johns began his career as an elementary school educator in New York before applying the lessons learned in that space on Capitol Hill, working as a senior policy advisor to Congressman Charles Rangel (D-NY) in the US House of Representatives and Senators Edward “Ted” Kennedy (D-MA) and Tom Harkin (D-IA) in the US Senate, specifically the senate committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Dr. Johns received the Active Advocate Award at BET’s Black and Iconic celebration in 2024, was honored with the Bayard Rustin Advocate Award by Better Brothers Los Angeles in 2024, was named to the Out100 list in 2021, Ebony’s Power 100 in 2015, the Root100 in both 2013 and 2014, and received an early career award from Columbia University Teachers College in 2016. Dr. Johns was named to the 2025 Time Magazine Closers list of Black leaders working to end the racial wealth gap.
Media
- LGBTQ Nation: Civil rights leader David Johns is fighting to reclaim the future for Black & queer America
- THE HOUSE: From Being an Educator to Creating Change in Washington (Apr 2022)
- THE HILL: The Hill’s Changemakers: David J. Johns, executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition (Dec 2023)
- USA TODAY: College Board CEO asked to resign over AP African American Studies curriculum changes (Feb 2023)
- CNN: Gov. DeSantis’ conservative takeover of a liberal arts college could silence diversity, critics say (Feb 2023)
- TIME: Queer Activists Criticize Target for Removing LGBTQ+ Merchandise After a Conservative Backlash (May 2023)
- ABC NEWS: SCOTUS ruling prompts fear, criticism from LGBTQ community leaders (Jun 2023)
- NBC NEWS: Civil rights leader’s legacy remembered on March on Washington’s 60th anniversary (Aug 2023)
- MSNBC REPORTS: Florida Classrooms (Feb 2023)
- MSNBC: Court Filing in Web Design Case Included Fake Inquire for Same-Sex Wedding Website (Jul 2023)
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