At 23 years old, Michael D. Johnson has already achieved more than some people twice his age. He’s a college graduate, social entrepreneur, federal government employee, mentor and role model.
In May 2014, Johnson graduated magna cum laude as a student-athlete from Tennessee State University (TSU). He received an undergraduate degree in criminal justice and psychology. A year later, he sits at a desk in TSU’s Career Development Center as a student training and academic recruitment representative for the U.S. Department of Defense.
“We help students, veterans and regular citizens with the federal hiring process,” Johnson says. “My job is to learn how to adapt to each [person] and make sure that I’m able to tackle those problems for them.”
Johnson conducts information sessions that teach students and veterans how to navigate through the USAJobs.gov website, create and organize a federal résumé, and provide them with a list of opportunities for them to hone the skills necessary to bolster their academic and career opportunities. This month, he also graduated magna cum laude with a master’s in criminal justice/pre-law from TSU.
“As soon as I get an assignment, I have to do it so it’s never a case of trying to do last–minute work — so I can always stay ahead,” he says.
Part of Johnson’s ability to balance being a student and professional comes from his attachment to TSU. “I was thinking the other day when I was walking on campus that I literally became a man here at this school,” he says.
After being recruited by the track team, Johnson left his home in Flint, Michigan, with two things in mind: “Beating everybody [on TSU’s track team] because I knew I was fast and having very high grades,” he says.
