Thomas Johnson, PhD

Biography

I was born and raised in Glastonbury, Connecticut, a town across the river from the capital city of Hartford in the middle of the state. I lived in Connecticut for twenty-five years, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science from the University of Connecticut, where I also taught. I moved to Washington, DC to begin a Ph.D. program in International Relations at the School of International Service, the American University.

During my studies there and afterwards, I served as a program researcher at the U.S. Institute of Peace, a government-funded research organization dedicated to advancing the nonviolent resolution of international conflict. After graduation, I taught and served in an administrative capacity for the university before moving to Ohio, where I taught at a small branch campus of a large public university. I began teaching for what was then Jamestown College in August 2006.

My Favorite Course to Teach

I have no single favorite course to teach; whatever I am teaching right now is my favorite. However, if something dramatic or interesting is happening in the U.S. or the wider world in a semester when I am teaching a class addressing those issues, then that is my favorite course. And finally, given that my doctorate focused on international affairs and U.S. foreign policy, I always enjoy the semesters when those classes are taught. But even then, whatever I am teaching right now is my favorite course.

Scholarly and Creative Works

I have had numerous opportunities to share my interests with the campus community, the region, and with the nation.

On campus, I have presented on many occasions to the Character in Leadership program, the History Club, and to various other student groups; I was also invited to give the baccalaureate sermon on two occasions.

Regionally, I helped to review historical exhibits at the Stutsman County Courthouse and on several occasions appeared on KFGO talk radio in Fargo.

Nationally, I have appeared on two different national television news networks as well as on National Public Radio, Voice of America radio, and Minnesota Public Radio. I was once interviewed about American politics for a Helsinki, Finland newspaper. My research has been presented to national and regional professional conferences and has appeared in peer-reviewed journals.