Jamil D. Johnson is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Higher Education and Student Affairs in the Department of Leadership, Learning Design, and Inquiry at the University of South Carolina (USC). 

Dr. Johnson’s book “Celebrating Students and their Experiences at HBCUs,” was published as part of his NASPA extramural grant to which he served as primary investigator during the multi-year funded project (2026). 

Dr. Johnson currently serves as primary investigator examining first-generation student experiences and engagement in high-impact practices as a Student Affairs and Academic Support (SAAS) Faculty Research Fellow, funded through an intramural grant at USC. 

The National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition published the 2023 National Survey on the First-Year Experience: Contemporary Strategies to Support Student Success (2023 NSFYE), a mixed-methodology series which he served as primary investigator (2025, 2026). 

Dr. Johnson’s scholarly productivity includes the educational pathways of African American men, historically underrepresented students’ access and participation in higher education and graduate programs, first-generation students, Pell-eligible students, first-year seminars, first-year experience, high-impact practice engagement, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), TRIO federal programs (McNair undergraduate research program). 

Dr. Johnson’s expertise in these areas has led to primary and co-authorship of articles, research reports, research briefs, book chapters, extramural and intramural grant funding. Dr. Johnson has also been nationally recognized and invited to interviews, presentations, consulting, teaching, and advising from national organizations, institutions, and consortiums. 

Dr. Johnson earned his B.A. in history, M.A., and Ph.D. in Educational Policy Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 

Jamila S. Lyn is a leading advocate for student success within the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) landscape. With over two decades of experience serving HBCU campuses in faculty, advisory, and administrative roles at institutions including Morehouse College, Spelman College, Florida Memorial University, and Benedict College, she brings deep institutional insight and a cross-sector perspective to conversations at the intersection of equity, innovation, and institutional sustainability.

As Founder and Chief Student Success Strategist of Bottom Up Thinking Consulting, Jamila advises colleges and education partners on building scalable, equity-centered strategies that align technology, talent, and cross-sector collaboration to expand access and improve student outcomes. Known for her ability to bridge diverse stakeholders and translate complex challenges into actionable solutions, she facilitates high-impact dialogue that moves ideas into implementation.

In 2023, she was named Outstanding Educator of the Year by Essence Magazine and Warner Bros. Films, a recognition that reflects both her impact in the field and her commitment to advancing student-centered innovation. Her scholarship and thought leadership examine student retention, digital equity, and the impact of trauma in learning environments—grounding her work in both research and real-world application.