Jody Johnson currently works (15 years and counting) for the University of Illinois Extension (UIE) as the County Extension Director, II, serving Alexander, Johnson, Massac, Pulaski and Union Counties. Jody has served on the Board since 2017.
As a past alum of Shawnee, playing baseball in 1988-1989, Jody discovered the asset that Shawnee is to our region. Later, his career brought him back to Shawnee for regional meetings and many regional partnership initiatives and programs. Jody believes that Shawnee Community College is an entity that is more than just a higher-education facility….it truly is a community asset providing space for our local health department, US Department of Interior’s Fish and Wildlife, and several programs within campus targeting special-populations. The college serves as the regional disaster recovery center for when that BIG disaster happens.
The Foundation is critical component to fill in the gaps where the college cannot do it. Evidence of this includes scholarships for students, establishing a food-pantry to address food in-security needs, to offering special project funds to SCC Faculty to give students an even richer education experience. Jody sincerely appreciates the opportunity to serve in the capacity as a board member.
Nominated by SCC Past-president, Dr. Larry Choate, Jody was a graduate of the Delta Regional Authority’s Delta Leadership Institute (2007); a program intended to train and network with leaders throughout the eight-Midwest states that make up the Delta Regional Authority. Other memberships include One Shawnee, a Regional Community Development organization; and Johnson County 2000, Inc. Jody has won several awards won for work surrounding Disaster Preparedness in the 5-county region and mid-west
Personally, Jody is the father of three incredible young-men; Connor, graduate of Shawnee CC (Spring 2021); Tyler, graduate of Shawnee CC (Fall 2021); and AJ, Goreville High School (Class of 2022). Jody has served his hometown as a Trustee, Village of Goreville for 20 years. Jody values being fiscally conservative, as a household and organization should ‘live-within-their-means’ – as a public servant, he understands tax-dollars are not his to spend, but rather his responsibility is to invest with an intent to achieve a good rate-of-return.
Jody values group of people working together to achieve common goals and then celebrating those successes! He wants to see it become an annual event with the Shawnee CC Foundation Board. True to his never-give-up spirit, Jody encourages everyone to watch “The Rookie”. No matter what like throws at you, don’t ever give up. Through the twists and turns, you might just find yourself on the path to your dreams.