Dr. Matt Johnson is a professor of higher education at Central Michigan University. His research focuses on the intersections of leadership development, democratic engagement, and social justice in the context of college student development. His research delves into the experiences of college students and young individuals, aiming to understand how college experiences foster the development of democratic capacities necessary for living in a diverse democracy. He received his Doctor of Philosophy in college student personnel from the University of Maryland in 2012. He received a master’s in college student personnel from Miami University and a bachelor’s of business marketing from Saginaw Valley State University. As a first-generation rural college student, Dr. Johnson’s life was transformed by higher education and hopes to improve college experiences for future generations.