How Charlotte Johnson plans to bring life back to campus

New VP for Student Affairs looks to restore student community

Yana Kouretas / Feature Editor / The USD Vista

With the return of a new school year, students, staff, and administrators alike can expect to witness a relatively new sight—a bustling campus full of new faces. For first-years, the idea of being exposed to instantaneous stimulation and interaction can be both daunting and exciting. Yet it poses a new opportunity for the USD community to rebuild and relearn in the face of so much past disconnection from one another.

Charlotte Johnson, JD, who recently stepped into the role of Vice President for Student Affairs at USD, is optimistic that something good can come of USD realigning their goals and priorities to fit a modified reopening of campus. 

Specifically for Johnson, this environment paves the way for her to help students find their footing in both academic and social settings at USD.

“Our priority is to help ensure new students, and sophomores, for that matter, quickly begin to establish their social networks on campus and connections to campus resources,” Johnson said. “I’m excited to see students find new passions, get inspired to step out of their comfort zones or help our local community through one of the dozens of clubs we have on campus.”

As the university steadily transitions back to normalcy, students can expect an extra focus on encouragement to seek out campus resources. Given the circumstances–returning to school in a time where COVID-19 is still rampant–they are especially needed to support changes in one’s lifestyle and education that many are faced with as USD shifts to in-person activities. 

Johnson aims to draw attention to and improve upon the student health and wellness provisions that USD offers.

“Student Wellness is a top priority for me. At USD, students can take advantage of counseling services, recreation opportunities, and the student health center, amongst other offerings,” Johnson said. With the added stressors of the pandemic, we will place a special emphasis on student well-being and mental health.”

Johnson comes from a background of providing assistance to colleges that need to get certain programs off the ground. She concentrates this energy to help students thrive in a college environment and discover their passions, areas that have appeared to lack over the last year or so. 

Altogether, Johnson and the USD administration understand the importance of rebuilding the sense of community that was toppled by the pandemic.        

“Many of us will need to relearn how to be in community with each other, in the same physical places, in ways that facilitate the USD Culture of Care,” Johnson said. “We are living in challenging times and my hope is that we will afford each other grace and a helping hand.” 

Whether that be congregating with friends in the SLP, attending a rowdy sports game, or just lounging in the quad, first-years can expect USD to slowly come to life again in all different areas of campus, with necessary precautions still in place. A seamless transition back to in-person learning won’t come without its challenges, but Johnson and the administration radiate enthusiasm and hopefulness for what is to come for new and returning students.