Howard University Chair
Dr. James H. Johnson
 Dr.
Johnson is a professor of Civil Engineering and has been dean of the
College of Engineering, Architecture and Computer Sciences at Howard
University since 1996.
Prior to this appointment, he was the chair
of the Department of Civil Engineering and interim associate vice
president for Research for Howard University. Dr. Johnson received his
B.S. from Howard University, M.S. from the University of Illinois and
Ph.D. from the University of Delaware. He has taught Department of Civil
Engineering undergraduate and graduate courses in the area of
environmental engineering including hazardous waste management,
treatment and disposal.
Dr. Johnson's research interests include
treatment and reuse of wastewater sludge and the treatment of hazardous
substances, the evaluation of environmental policy issues in relation to
minorities and the development of environmental curricula.
In the course of his Howard tenure, he has
been the head of several interdisciplinary centers located on campus and
the Howard lead in several consortia based at other universities.
Currently Dr. Johnson is the co-principal investigator (with Ramesh
Chawla), of the HBCU/MI Environmental Technology Consortium., a 17
member DOE environmental research, education and technology transfer
funded project. From 1989-2002, he was the associate director, Great
Lakes and Mid-Atlantic Center for Hazardous Substance Research-a U.S.
EPA Center Serving Federal Regions 3 and 5; participating colleges
included The U. of Michigan, Michigan State U. and Howard. From
1996-2002, he oversaw the activities of ECSEL (Engineering Coalition of
Schools for Excellence and Leadership in Education) a seven-member,
National Science Foundation-funded consortium of which Howard was the
lead institution. (Other members were CCNY, MIT, Morgan State U., U. of
Maryland, Washington U. and Penn State.)
Since 1971, Dr. Johnson has participated in
consulting activities, mostly recently from 2002 to the present in the
Office of the President, University of California, as a member of the
Environmental, Health and Safety Panel monitoring activities at the
three DOE National Laboratories operated by the University of
California. He has also been a consultant to the administrator of
Department of Public Works, Water and Sewer Utility Administration,
Washington, D.C., and to Stottler Stag and Associates where he prepared
preliminary engineering design of wastewater treatment facilities in
Livorno, Italy for the U. S. Air Force.
Dr. Johnson is a member of the National
Research Council's Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology, Civil
Engineering Research Foundation (CERF) Board of Directors, SECME's Board
of Director, Board of Directors of the Engineering Deans Council of the
American Society for Engineering Education and serves on several
university and private sector advisory committees. He has been a paper
referee, proposal reviewer or performed editorial functions for the
Water Environment Federation, the Journal of Hazardous Waste, American
Council on Education, New York State Center for Hazardous Waste
Management, State University of New York at Buffalo, International
Association on Water Pollution Research and the National Science
Foundation.
His publications number over 50 scholarly
articles, contributions to three books, and he has co-edited two books
including one on hazardous waste. Dr Johnson's memberships in
professional organizations include the American Association of
Environmental Engineering and Science Professors, American Water Works
Association, fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers, American
Society for Engineering Education and Tau Beta Pi. Dr. Johnson is a
registered professional engineer in the District of Columbia and a
diplomat of the American Academy of Environmental Engineer.
As a dedicated Howard alumnus, he has been
active participant in supporting Howard University projects. In 2000, he
was chair of the University-wide Advisory Committee for Strategic
Framework for Action II and in 1996-98, he was chair of the Howard
University Republic of South Africa Project (HURSAP), and previous to
that in 1996 he was a member of the Howard Educational Delegation to the
Republic of South Africa. He has also been an active member of the
Howard Committee on Research Infrastructure and a member of the Howard
University Task Force on Graduate Education and Research.
A Discussion with Dr. Johnson on Program Goals
"In my role as the incumbent of the Massie
Chair at Howard University, I have formulated program goals that express
actions needed to increase the participation of minorities in
environmental engineering studies and the profession. First, for
students in K-12, we must include environmental topics across the
curriculum in English, science, technology and mathematics. This may
include designing modules as well as creating on-line learning
experiences. Pedagogical avenues for advancing understanding of the
importance of the environment for this age group include outreach
programs such as those in which Howard University has been engaged for
over 30 years as well as seminars to increase parental involvement."
"The second goal is to widen the
environmental engineering focus to allow the cross-fertilization of
various disciplines in order to truly integrate all the factors that
impact on environmental policies, decision-making, research and
development and technology; these range from politics to economics to
societal values. The role of nanotechnology in achieving this goal will
operate inclusively and naturally lead to experts and scholars across a
spectrum of disciplines uniting to create new technologies and
processes."
"The third goal is one to ensure the future.
This goal concentrates on developing a cadre of eager, excited and
curious learners who will become the next generation of engineers and
scientists to forge new processes, technologies and policies to protect,
preserve, extend our natural resources and expand the possibilities of
our environment, e.g., by investigating the potential and limits of
manufacturing in space, exploitation of hydrogen-based fuels, and the
use of microbes and their enzymes to catalyze chemical reactions for
environmental applications such as decontaminating radioactive wastes
and producing plastics from agricultural crops."
"Briefly, the three goals that I expect our
College to address are:
-
Increasing the participation of
minorities in science, technology, engineering and mathematical
disciplines by using environmental subjects as a platform for
teaching topics at
K-12 grade levels.
-
Increasing the interdisciplinarity/multidisciplinarity
nature of environmental engineering and science by expanding the use
of nanotechnology and computational toxicology tools in the field.
-
Encouraging and helping to train the
next cadre of environmental engineers and scientists to enter the
professoriate."
Selected Publications and Presentations
"3-D Structural Modeling of Humic Acids
through Experimental Characterization, Computer Assisted Structure
Elucidation and Atomistic Simulations, accepted for publication," Diallo,
M. S.; Simpson, A.; Faulon, J. L.; Gassman, P. Goddard, W. A. III;
Johnson, J. H. Jr and Hatcher, P. G. , Environmental Science and
Technology, 2003.
"Bonding of Hydrophobic Organic Compounds to Dissolve Humic Substances:
A Predictive Approach Board of Computer-Assisted Structure Elucidation,
Atomistic Simulations and Flory-Huggins Solution Theory,"Diallo, Mamadou
S.; Faulon, Jean-Loup; Goddard, William A. III, and Johnson, James H.,
Jr, Humic Substances: Structures, Models and Functions, 2001.
Cambridge, UK: Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, November 2001,
221-240.
"Bioremediation of PCBs in Aqueous and Soil Systems," Chawla, Ramesh C.;
Liou, Raychurn; Johnson, James H. Jr., and Tharakan, John T,
Remediation of Hazardous Waste Contaminated Soils, Second Edition
2000, pp.237-264. NY, NY
"Molecular Modeling of Chelsea Humic Acid: An Hierarchical Approach
Based on Experimental Characterization, Computer-Assisted Structure
Elucidation and Atomistic Simulation," Diallo, Mamadou S.; Faulon, Jean
Loup; Goddard, William A. III; Johnson, James H. Jr., and Weber, Walter
J. Jr., ACS, Division of Environmental Chemistry, Reprints of Extended
Abstracts, 219H. ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA. March 26-30,
2001, 40(1); 2000: 343-347.
"Polyamidoamine/Dendrimers: A New Class of
Higher Capacity Chelating gents for CU (II) Ions," Diallo, Mamadou S.;
Balogh, Lagos; Shafagati, Abdul; Johnson, James H. Jr, Goddard, William
A. III, and Tomalia, Donald A., Communications to the Editor,Environmental
Science and Technology, Vol. 35, No. 3 (1999), pp. 820-824.
"Molecular Distribution of Some Commercial
Nonyl Ethoxylates Using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desporption/Ionization
Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry," Ayorinde, F.E.; Eribo, E., Johnson,
J.H., Jr, and Elhilo E., Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry,
1999, Vol. 13, pp. 1-5.
"Poly(amidoamine) Dendrimers: A New Class of
High Capacity Chelating Agents for Cu(II) Ions," Diallo, M.S., Balogh,
L., Shafagati A., J.H. Johnson, Jr., W. A. Goddard III and D. A.
Tomalia, Environmental Science and Technology, submitted for
review September 1998.
"Biodegradation of PCBs in Aqueous and Soil
Systems," Johnson, J.H., Jr., Chawla, R.C., Tharakan, J.P. and Liou, R.,
ASCE, Remediation of Hazardous Waste Contaminated Soils (2nd
ed.), to be published by Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., in
preparation.
"Fate and Behavior of Benzoapyrene in Soil
Composting Systems," Williams, T., Karimpanal, D. and Johnson, J.H.,
Jr., Hazardous and Industrial Wastes, Proceedings of the 29th Mid-
Atlantic Industrial Waste Conference(Gregory Boardman,(ed),
Technomic Publishing Co, Inc. 1997.
"Anaerobic Dechlorination and Aerobic
Degradation of PCBS in Soil Columns and Slurries," Liou, R., Johnson,
J.H., Jr., and Tharakan, J.P Proceedings of the 29th Mid-Atlantic
Industrial and Hazardous Waste Conference-Hazardous and Industrial
Wastes (Gregory D. Boardman, ed.), Virginia Polytechnic Institute and
State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, July 13-16, 1997, pp. 414-423.
Lancaster, Pennsylvania: Technomic Publishing Co., Inc., 1997.
"A Woman's Place May Be in Engineering,"
Johnson, J.H., Jr. and Mitchell, L.S., Impacting Change Through
Collaboration, 1997 WEPAN/NAMEPA Joint Conference Proceedings, March
8-11, 1997, pp. 337-342.
"Biphenyl-Assisted Co-metabolic
Biodegradation of PCBs - Individual Congeners and Mixture
Studies,Chawla, R.C., Tharakan, J. P. Kizito, S.R.N. and Johnson, J.H.,
Jr Proceedings, Forum on Environmental Remediation and Toxicology,
Michigan State University, September 19, 1996.
"Preliminary Results of PCB Biodegradation
in Soil Columns," Liou, R., Johnson, J.H., Jr., and Tharakan, J.P.,
Proceedings, Forum on Environmental Remediation and Toxicology, Michigan
State University, September 19, 1996.
"Thermal Extraction of Hexachlorobiphenyl
from Sandy Soil,"Raghavan, D., Jackson, R., Umezi-Ernonia, and Johnson,
J.H., Jr, Proceedings, Forum on Environmental Remediation and
Toxicology," Michigan State University, September 19, 1996.
"The Use of Cosubstrates in the Biological
Degradation of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs),"Tharakan, John P.,
Kizito, S., Chawla, R.C. and Johnson, J.H., Jr., Proceedings, Forum
on Environmental Remediation and Toxicology, Michigan State
University, September 19, 1996.
"In-Vessel Composting and Benzo(a)pyrene
Disappearance in Soil,"Johnson, J.H., Jr., Karimpanal, D. V., and
Williams, T., Proceedings, Research Findings on Environmental
Remediation and Toxicology, Michigan State University, Spring 1995.
"Biotransformation of TNT by a Rhodococcus
in Batch and Continuous Culture,"Tharakan, John P, Welsh, G.E., and
Johnson, J.H., Jr., Proceedings, Research Findings on Environmental
Remediation and Toxicology, Michigan State University, Spring 1995.
"Comparison of Extraction Methodologies for
Desorption of Pyrene,"Raghavan, D. and Johnson, J.H., Jr., Hazardous and
Industrial Wastes, Proceedings of the Twenty-Seventh Mid-Atlantic
Industrial Waste Conference, Arup Sengupta (ed.), Technomic Publishing
Co., Inc., 1995.
"Biotransformation of
Trinitrotoluene,"Tharakan, J.P., Welsh, G. E., and Johnson, J.H., Jr.,
Hazardous and Industrial Wastes," Proceedings of the Twenty-Seventh
Mid-Atlantic Industrial Waste Conference, Arup Sengupta (ed.), Technomic
Publishing Co., Inc., 1995.
"Use of Composting Technology to Remediate
Contaminated Soils and Sludges,"Johnson, J. H., Jr., and Wan, L. W., in
20th Annual RREL Research Symposium Abstract Proceedings,
EPA/600/R-94/011, Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory, Office of
Research and Development, U.S.E.P.A., Cincinnati, Ohio, March 1994.
"Bioremediation of 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene
Contaminated Soil Via 2,4,6-Trinitrobenzoic Acid Using Composting
Technology,"Mohsen, M. B., Johnson, J. H., Jr., and Wan, Lily W.
Hazardous and Industrial Wastes, Proceedings of the Twenty-Fifth
Mid-Atlantic Industrial Waste Conference, Allen P. Davis (ed.),
Technomic Publishing Co., Inc., 1993.
"Batch and Continuous Models of Surfactant
Soil Washing," Khokhar, T.A., Johnson, J.H., Jr., and Fleming, L.N., in
Proceedings of the 1993 International Waste Management Conference, U.S.
EPA, Sandia National Laboratories, University of Turabo, San Juan,
Puerto Rico, April 29-30 and May 1, 1993.
"Bachelor of Civil Engineering Technology
and Civil Engineering Programs," Highter, W.H., Johnson, James H., Jr.,
Phang, M. K. and Watwood, V. B., ASCE Journal of Professional Issues in
Engineering Education and Practice, Vol. 119, No. 2, pp. 118-125, April
1993.
"Future Concerns in Environmental
Engineering Graduate Education," Luthy, R.G., Bella, D.A., Hunt, J.R.,
Johnson, J.H., Jr., Lawler, D.F., O'Melia, C.R. and Pohland, F.G., ASCE
Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering, Vol. 118, No. 4, pp.
361-380, October 1992.
"Bioremediation of PAH-Contaminated Soil via
In-Vessel Composting," Adenuga, A.O., Johnson, J.H., Jr., Cannon, J.N.
and Wan, L., Water Science Technology, Vol. 26, No. 9-11, pp.
2331-2334, 1992.
"Detoxification of a Contaminated Sludge via
In-Vessel Composting," Yusuf, M., Johnson, J.H., Jr. and L. Wan, in
Proceedings of 23rd Mid-Atlantic Industrial Waste Conference,
R.D. Neufeld and L.W. Casson (eds.), Lancaster: Technomic Publishing
Co., Inc., 1991.
"Importance of Soil-Contaminant-Surfactant
Interactions in in situ Soil Washing,"Chawla, R.C., Porzucek, C.,
Cannon, J.N. and Johnson, J.H., Jr., in Emerging Technologies in
Hazardous Waste Management II, ACS Symposium Series 468, D.W. Tedder
and F.G. Pohland (eds.). Washington, DC: American Chemical Society,
1991.
"An Ion Exchange Model of Lead-210 and Lead
Uptake in a Foliose Lichen: Application to Quantitative Monitoring of
Airborne Lead Fallout."Schwartzman, D.W., Stieff, L., Kasim, M., Kombe,
E., Aung, S., Atekwana, E., Johnson, J.H., Jr. and Schwartzman, K.,
The Science of the Total Environment, 100 (1991): 319-336.
"Recovery of Organic Compounds From Sewage
Sludge by Proton Transfer,"Diallo, M.S., Johnson, J.H., Jr., Chawla, R.C.,
Cannon, J.N. and Senftle, F.E., in Emerging Technologies for
Hazardous Waste Management, ACS Symposium Series 422, D.W. Tedder
and F.G. Pohland (eds.).Washington, DC: American Chemical Society, 1990,
pp. 311-327.
"In-situ Treatment of Soils Contaminated
With Hazardous Organic Wastes Using Surfactants: A Critical Analysis,"
Chawla, R., Diallo, MS., Cannon, J.N., Johnson, J.H., Jr. and Porzucek,
C, in Solid/Liquid Separation: Waste Management and Productivity
Enhancement, H.S. Muralidhara (ed.) Columbus: Battelle Press, 1990,
pp. 356-367.
"The Reaction of Organic Nitrogen Compounds
With Chlorine and Chlorine Dioxide," Varma, M.M., Niles, F.R. and
Johnson, J.H., Jr. 1989-90. Journal of Environmental Systems,
Vol. 19, No. 1, pp.33-43, 1989-90.
Hazardous and Industrial Waste,
Proceedings of the 20th Mid-Atlantic Industrial Waste Conference,
M.M. Varma and J.H. Johnson, Jr. (eds.). Washington, DC: Hazardous
Materials Control Research Institute, 1988.
Hazardous Waste Management Engineering,
E.J. Martin and J.H. Johnson, Jr. (eds.). New York: Van Nostrand
Reinhold Publishing Co., 1987.
"Storage of Hazardous Waste," E.J. Martin
and J.H. Johnson, Jr. (eds.). in Hazardous Waste Management
Engineering, New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., Inc., 1987, pp.
317-364.
"Quantitative Monitoring of Airborne Lead
Pollution by a Foliose Lichen," Schwartzman, D.W., Kasim, M., Stieff, L.
and Johnson, J.H. Jr., Water, Air and Soil Pollution, Vol. 32,
pp. 363-378, 1987.
"Active Carbon: Dechlorination and the
Adsorption of Organic Compounds," Johnson, J.H., Jr. with Snoeyink, V.L.,
et al., Chapter 11, in Chemistry of Water Supply Treatment and
Distribution, Alan J. Rubin (ed.). Ann Arbor, Michigan: Ann Arbor
Science, 1973.
Professional Organizations/Associations
Member, American Society of Engineering
Education. 1995 - present
Member, International Association of Water Quality. 1995-present
Member, Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors.
1984-present
Member, American Water Works Association. 1970-present
Fellow, American Society of Civil Engineers. 1969-present
List of Accomplishments
2002-1999
Men of Courage Award, A Tribute to Women of
Color of Anne Arundel County, MD
1998-1996
Listed in Strathmore's Who's Who Register of
Business Leaders
Outstanding Engineering Alumni, College of
Engineering, University of Delaware
1995-1993
The First N. Jerome Edwards Award for
Outstanding Service, Mt. Moriah A.M.E. Church, Annapolis, Maryland |
