Dr. Natasha C. Johnson is a personality psychologist and social work scholar whose research focuses on culturally relevant developmental processes that promote mental wellness and resilience in Black youth. Her work explores three key areas: (1) social identities, (2) vulnerability and resilience in the context of racial discrimination, and (3) awareness of racism. Dr. Johnson is committed to reducing mental health disparities by developing and evaluating sustainable interventions that support Black youth’s emotional and psychological well-being, with a specific focus on school contexts.
Currently, her research examines racism awareness, a cognitive process through which individuals understand and make meaning of racial inequality. She is developing a multidimensional psychometric tool to assess youth’s understanding of racial inequality across distinct levels of oppression. This tool will deepen the field’s understanding of how awareness of racism influences ethnically and racially marginalized youth’s development and well-being. Overall, her work aims to identify effective, culturally relevant strategies that improve mental health outcomes and empower Black youth to navigate systemic challenges.
Dr. Johnson is a Detroit native and Spelman alumna, who earned her MSW and joint PhD in Social Work and Psychology at the University of Michigan.