Monica Kirkpatrick Johnson

Outstanding Career Faculty Achievement (Tenure Track)

Chair and Professor
Sociology

Monica Johnson’s extraordinary research accomplishments are changing our scientific understanding of what causes success, or the lack thereof, as people transition into adulthood and through life. Her work will be crucial to better understanding the impact of the pandemic on youth and families around the world.

A highly productive researcher, Monica’s work has appeared in many of the top sociology journals. Her publications on the dynamics of work values, their precursors and consequences, are major contributions to the literature on the life course and attainment processes.

Monica is a valued peer mentor and collaborative colleague with an extensive service record at the department, college, and University level. She is a member of the Washington State Academy of Sciences as well as a national AAAS elected fellow.

Well respected in the discipline, her professional service with American Sociological Association includes selection for four leadership roles. Most recently, Monica was elected to the executive committee of the London-based Society for Longitudinal and Life Course Studies.

Her devotion to teaching and helping students extends far beyond the formal classroom. She has chaired a combined total of 32 undergraduate and master’s theses and PhD dissertations.

Monica’s commitment to the scholarly enterprise, her analytic sophistication, energy, and creativity place her among the most important scholars engaged in the interdisciplinary study of the life course and one of WSU’s most talented professors.