It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Dr. David Johnson. David (DJ) passed away last Friday. He has been a valued member of the Political Science Department since 2008 and has served as Master of Public Administration Program (MPA) director since 2017.
DJ touched many lives and performed yeoman service for both the MPA program and the greater Springfield emergency response community. Prior to arriving at MSU, DJ was an active fire service member in Pittsburg, PA and was involved in search and rescue at the World Trade Center following 9-11. At MSU he taught emergency management and disaster response and preparedness with an academic’s knowledge and a practitioner’s soul. He was engaged with local emergency response agencies and often involved students with those agencies. As MPA director, DJ spearheaded an overhaul of the program, coordinated bringing it online, and watched it succeed by drawing increasing numbers of students.
DJ will be sorely missed. Please keep his family in your thoughts as they go through this difficult time.
A Funeral Service for Dr. Johnson has been planned for Friday, September 17
10:00am
At
All Saints Anglican Church – Springfield, MO
2751 Galloway Street
Springfield, Mo 65804
In honor of DJ’s service at the World Trade Center and to those who fell victim from toxic exposures at Ground Zero, in lieu of flowers, his family would appreciate donations to be made to Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation