James H. Johnson Jr. is the William R. Kenan Jr. Distinguished Professor of strategy and entrepreneurship in the Kenan-Flagler Business School and director of the Urban Investment Strategies Center in the Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His research interests include community and economic development, the effects of demographic changes on the U.S. workplace, interethnic minority conflict in advanced industrial societies, poverty and public policy in urban America, and workforce diversity issues.

He has published more than 100 scholarly research articles and three research monographs and has co-edited four theme issues of scholarly journals on these and related topics. Currently he is researching strategies to combat hyper-segregation, persistent and concentrated poverty, and gentrification-induced residential and economic dislocations in U.S. cities. And he currently works with gentrifying cities to develop roadmaps for inclusive and equitable economic development that creates shared prosperity. Fast Company profiled him in “Hopes and Dreams.” He received his PhD from Michigan State University, his MS from the University of Wisconsin at Madison and his BS from North Carolina Central University.

Positions and Awards

Faculty Appointments

  • Kenan-Flagler Business School
  • Public Policy 
  • Sociology 
  • Geography 

Administrative Posts 

  • Director, Urban Enterprise Corps
  • Director, UISC
  • Co-Director, Center for Sustainable Enterprise 
  • Director, UNC Minority Entrepreneurship Research and Training Center 
  • Faculty Advisor, Sustainable Enterprise Concentration 

Research Fellow

  • Carolina Population Center 
  • UNC Center for Urban and Regional Studies
  • Institute for Emerging Issues (NCSU)

Other Affiliations

  • School of Government 
  • Law School 
  • School of Social Work 
  • UNC General Administration (UNC Tomorrow Commission Scholars’ Panel Member)
  • Carolina Entrepreneurial initiative 

Board of Directors/Advisors 

  • Center for Civil Rights 
  • Center for Work and Opportunity 
  • Triangle Community Foundation 
  • Golden Leaf Foundation
  • Wells Fargo Bank – Chapel Hill Branch 
  • Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation 
  • Cary Academy 
  • Center for International Understanding 
  • Center for Aging and Health 
  • Gillings School of Public Health Accelerator 
  • Global Scholars Academy
  • UNC Press 
  • North Carolina School of Science and Math 
  • Carolina Covenant 
  • UNC Public Health Leadership institute

Leadership Development 

  • Management Academy for Public Health 
  • Emerging Leaders in Public Health 
  • Mental Health Leadership Academy 
  • Minority Entrepreneurship Research and Training Program
  • Public Executive Leadership Program
  • Minority Construction Contractors Training Program 
  • Food Systems Leadership Institute 
  • NC Teaching Fellows Program 
  • Water and Waste Water Systems Program 

Community Outreach & Development

  • Urban Enterprise Corps 
  • Durham Scholars 
  • Triangle Night Flight 
  • Global Scholars Academy Charter School  
  • Minority Males Bridge to Success Project 

Awards & Recognition

  • Ewing Fast Company 
  • Roy W. Holsten Award for Exceptional Service  
  • UNC General Alumni Association Faculty Service Award 
  • East Carolina University’s Educators Hall of Fame
  • Pitt Community College Distinguished Service Award
  • UNC General Alumni Association Distinguished Black Faculty/Staff Award 
  • The Robert E. Bryan Public Service Award 
  • Tar Heel of the Week 
  • Aspen Institute Faculty Pioneer Award 
  • Eisenhower Fellow 
  • Two appearances on NC People with Bill Friday

He is widely quoted in national media and appears on national network news programs.  Fast Company magazine named Johnson one of the “17…brightest thinkers and doers in the new world of work.”

Clients