Title: Lecturer in Public Policy
Company: Harvard University
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Douglas Alen Johnson, lecturer in public policy at Harvard University, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements, and leadership in nonprofits.
Across a career spanning more than 35 years, Mr. Johnson has established himself as a respected educator and a leader in the nonprofit space. In 1988, he began a term of nearly 25 years as the executive director of the Center for Victims of Torture. As part of this role, Mr. Johnson helped expand the organization around the world by establishing support centers in refugee camps, training clinicians and funding independent support centers. Further building on his success, he served as part of the United States delegation to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Human Dimension Implementation Meeting in 1997. Mr. Johnson was awarded an honorary doctorate by Macalester College in celebration of his accomplishments. He shifted toward the academic field in 2012, becoming an instructor at the University of Minnesota and the University of Oxford.
Mr. Johnson’s expertise in nonprofit management and advocacy was recognized when he accepted the position of faculty director of the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. For nearly five years, he led this group in research, training and education related to international human rights matters. Concurrently with that, Mr. Johnson also continued his own teaching career, becoming a well-regarded lecturer in public policy for the John F. Kennedy School of Government. He relinquished his faculty director duties in 2017 but remains a lecturer to this day.
Though his professional journey has been filled with many memorable moments, Mr. Johnson is especially proud of his time leading the Infant Formula Action Coalition (INFACT). From 1977 to 1984, he played a crucial part in supporting an international grassroots boycott against Nestlé due to concerns about how the company was marketing infant formula in underdeveloped countries. Mr. Johnson’s guidance in this cause led to the led to the World Health Organization publishing the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes. This major victory directly contributed to improving health and saving lives in developing nations.
Prior to pursuing his career, Mr. Johnson chose to set a strong foundation in his own education. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from Macalester College in 1972. Subsequently, Mr. Johnson earned a master’s degree in public policy and management from the Yale School of Management in 1988. His achievements have been honored with a number of accolades, including the International Citizens Award from the City of Minneapolis, the Servant Leadership Award from Luther Seminary, the Pax Cristi Award from St. John’s University, and the Distinguished Service to Justice Award.
In addition to his work in human rights, Mr. Johnson has demonstrated a commitment to civic advocacy throughout his life. He has contributed on the advisory board for the Center for Cross-Cultural Health and as the treasure for the Center for Justice and International Law. Mr. Johnson was the founding president of the National Consortium of Torture Treatment Programs.
Beyond his primary vocation, Mr. Johnson is a loving husband, father to two and grandfather to one. He finds relaxation in remodeling his home and woodworking. Looking ahead, Mr. Johnson has started to plan for his retirement from Harvard University. Although he intends to step back in the near future, he also aims to continue offering free consultancy in nonprofit management and strategy.
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