Ralph W. Johnson Named NSU Vice President for Finance and Business

 

Norfolk, Va.—Ralph W. Johnson has been named vice president for finance and business at Norfolk State University, effective July 1. Since November 2005, Johnson has served as associate vice president of finance and business at NSU.

As vice president for finance and business, Johnson will serve as the chief fiscal officer for the university. His responsibilities will include the fiscal administration of institutional funds, management of the university’s financial processes, and the planning and operation of several major areas. He will represent the University on Virginia’s State Council of Higher Education’s Finance Advisory Committee. He will also provide planning and management for student financial services, auxiliary services, the controller, bursar, facilities management, human resources, public safety and procurement.

Highlights from his career at NSU include:

• Meeting all Commonwealth financial management standards for the three consecutive years and the third time in NSU’s history.
• Contributing to an 84 percent reduction of student accounts receivables.
• Accomplishing a successful bid process that led to the awarding of the university’s bookstore contract.
• Implementing a fully operational Blackboard debit card system for SpartanCard users.

Prior to coming to NSU, Johnson served as the controller for Dillard University in New Orleans, La. His career spans more than 21 years in the areas of business, financial operations and management.

A native of Chicago, Ill., Johnson is a certified public accountant. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Bradley University and an M.B.A. from Tulane University. He also completed a management development certification program at Harvard University and the Commonwealth’s management institute. He is a member of several professional organizations including the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the National Association of Black Accountants, and the National Association of Educational Buyers. He also serves on the Norfolk Board of the YMCA.