Kathryn Johnson

Kathryn Johnson

Kathryn Johnson, Ph.D. grew up in northwest South Dakota, Perkins County, and attended Black Hills State College, now Black Hills State University (BHSU), to be close to her sister who was already a student there. She earned her Bachelor of Science degrees in chemistry and math from BHSU in 1975, obtained her master's in chemistry from Iowa State University, and a Ph.D. in geology from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. Kathryn was appointed to the South Dakota Board of Regents in 2005 by Governor Mike Rounds where she served twelve years and President of the Regents from 2011-2013.

Kathryn has advocated for women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math fields her entire life. She spent her professional career in a male dominated field for more than three decades working in mineral development and environmental issues as a geochemist. In 2018, she was honored by her alma mater BHSU for her leadership and vision for education in the state, when the Life Sciences building at BHSU was renamed The Kathryn Johnson Life Sciences Laboratory in her honor. Kathryn was also federally appointed to the Congressional Commission on the Advancement of Women and Minorities in Science, Engineering and Technology.