Derek Johnson

Derek’s work focuses on supporting students to be engaged in community in meaningful ways during their time at Macalester. This includes being a lead staff person with the Off Campus Student Employment Program, which allows students to work in meaningful ways with a wide variety of local nonprofits. He also facilitates the Civic Engagement Organizers program, which supports issue-based and site-based student leaders to connect the Macalester community to local engagement opportunities. Derek also organizes events and workshops throughout the year that support students to get civically engaged, and he leads outreach efforts to expand the breadth of Macalester students building meaningful relationships in the community, developing civic skills and habits, and impacting public issues that are important to them.

Derek has worked in the Twin Cities since 2001, and he describes his work as taking place at the intersection of higher education and community. While he has worked and collaborated in many fields, he has worked most deeply with immigrants and refugees and in the field of youth development. He enjoys partnering with organizations and projects to make an impact, and he is always looking for ways to deepen his knowledge and understanding of local neighborhoods.

BA: Brown University

Masters in Urban and Regional Planning: Humphrey School, University of Minnesota