Raphael B. Johnson

Background

About Raphael B. Johnson

Dr. Raphael B. Johnson is a graduate of Gwynedd Mercy University Executive Doctorate in Educational Leadership program. He attended the University of Detroit Mercy, where he graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in legal administration and a Master of Arts in liberal studies. Dr. Johnson’s research redefined self-destructive behavior, a term commonly used in psychology, and applied it to the pedagogical level with urban middle school males. The results of Dr. Johnson’s study have aided educational stakeholders in properly identifying thought processes that lead to school disengagement, specified misbehaviors and eventual adult incarceration. In 2016 Dr. Johnson’s research topic, Self-destructive Behavior in Urban Middle Schools as a Predictor of Adult Incarceration won 1st Place in the International Thesis Competition hosted by Mary Immaculate College in Limerick, Ireland. Dr. Johnson founded The 180° Program in 2004. His DEI services offer both students and educators the opportunity to learn behavior modification skills and interventions for the promotion of high academic achievement, higher order thinking skills, college/career readiness and reduction in truancy. His professional development series were adopted by Georgia Southern University and incorporated into their annual National Youth At-Risk conference from 2015 to 2016. Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, Dr. Johnson spent fourteen years as a day-time television behavioral expert/consultant for the Maury show where he served in the area of "out-of-control teens" and "controlling men." For his community initiatives with The Detroit 300, Dr. Johnson received the NAACP Ida B. Wells Award in 2012. Dr. Johnson’s autobiography, To Pose A Threat: My Rite of Passage, was inducted into the African American Literature Special Collection at Wayne State University in 2007. Dr. Johnson is the recipient of the Michiganian of the Year award for 2011. Most recently, Dr. Johnson received the Michigan Chronicle Men of Excellence award in 2019. Dr. Johnson is also a 7-time gold medalist in Michigan’s USA Powerlifting league. He holds a state bench press record in the Push/Pull category. Dr. Johnson currently services school districts in the area of social emotional learning to aid students and parents in coping with the adverse impact of the pandemic. Dr. Johnson’s expertise in social emotional intelligence and behavior modification is transferable and applicable to higher education, corporate teams or to anyone interested in improving overall performance.