To Jeannette “Jan” Selby Johnson, life is all about helping others achieve more than they could on their own. Early in her career, she felt that the best way to do that was through education. Her first professional position was student personnel assistant at Ohio State University, followed by home economist at the Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, instructor of home economics at Ohio University, substitute teacher at Athens City Schools, adult instructor of family life education at Tri-County Vocational School, and teacher of home economics at Trimble Middle School, among many others. Later on, Ms. Johnson decided that nursing would be a better way to achieve her goals. She proceeded to become a community health nurse coordinator of the childhood immunization and post-partum program at Ohio University College Osteopathic Medicine, an admissions nurse at CMC-Mercy Hospital, an intake specialist and home care specialist at Gentiva Home Health, and an admissions nurse and team manager at Hospice and Palliative Care, Charlotte Region. She retired in 2017.
Ms. Johnson prepared for her endeavors by earning a Bachelor of Science in home economics and a Master of Arts in education from Ohio State University in 1972 and 1974, respectively, and by becoming a certified teacher in the state of Ohio. While in school, she was elected chairman of the Senior Class Committee. She is proud to have used the position to remove architectural barriers to the handicapped at the university. Ms. Johnson and the rest of the committee had elevators put in and cut curbs, along with a variety of other projects. She furthered her education with an Associate of Applied Science from Hocking College in 1997 and certification as a registered nurse in the states of Ohio and North Carolina.
In light of her achievements Ms. Johnson was honored with the Outstanding Leader Award from the Girl Scouts of the United States of America in 1990 and with the Award of Recognition from the President’s Committee on the Employment of Handicapped in 1972. She was also featured in three editions of Who’s Who in American Education and one of Who’s Who in the Midwest.
When Ms. Johnson has spare time, she enjoys camping, reading, bicycling, sewing, and playing the piano.
