MEET GAYE
Dr. Gaye Theresa Johnson is an award-winning professor, teacher and internationally renowned expert on race relations and social justice. In addition to being a certified professional and life coach and coach trainer, she is Associate Professor of Chicana/o and Central American Studies and Associate Director of the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies at UC Los Angeles.
She is the author of several books, including Spaces of Conflict, Sounds of Solidarity (University of California Press); Futures of Black Radicalism (Verso Press) and the forthcoming Rings of Dissent: Boxing and the Performance of Rebellion.
Gaye has been a community-engaged scholar and teacher for twenty years, having committed herself to the idea that the most important lessons come not from history books, but from the actions of everyday people who make that history. She uses social justice research, teaching and consulting to make meaningful changes in the schools, communities, organizations, and boards she works with.
She was named a “Master Educator” by Course Hero, the #1 online teaching platform in the U.S. and was featured in a documentary about her unique approach to community-engaged teaching. Most recently, Gaye was awarded the UCLA Chancellor’s Award for Community-Engaged Research and a Certificate of Recognition from the California Legislature for her commitment to serving the Latino Community. The University of Texas at San Antonio recently named a postdoctoral fellowship in community scholarship after her.
After two decades in higher education, Gaye decided to become a student once again and earned a certification in professional and life coaching. She then became a coach trainer, working with movement leaders, program officers in philanthropy, lawyers and grassroots organizers.
Now, in addition to her UCLA professorship, she continues to consult with school districts and university departments to create impactful, inclusive curricula and consults with corporate boards on how to think productively about creating work environments that elevate community and social justice issues.
