Johnson brings rich experience in leadership and diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) engagement

University of Phoenix is proud to share that McCeil Johnson, J.D., vice president of Accreditation and Regulatory Compliance, has been selected by University Professional and Continuing Education Association, UPCEA®, the association for college and university leaders in professional, continuing, and online education, to serve on the UPCEA Board of Directors’ Diversity & Inclusive Excellence Committee for a one year term.

“McCeil is an exceptional and committed leader, and has made immeasurable contributions to our university,” states John Woods, Ph.D., provost and chief academic officer. “Selection for the UPCEA Diversity & Inclusive Excellence Committee honors McCeil’s leadership and experience, and deepens her expertise for the benefit of the students we serve.”

The UPCEA Diversity and Inclusive Excellence Committee exemplifies UPCEA’s commitment to inclusive excellence and actively supports the UPCEA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion vision statement and core principles: seeking institutional members from all sectors of higher education; welcoming all individual members of all identities and lived experiences; recruiting diverse corporate partners who share the values and goals of increasing access to higher education; offering content and programming reflective of its commitment to diversity and inclusion.

“On behalf of UPCEA’s leadership and more specifically, our Governance and Nominations Committee, we are excited to have McCeil serve on the Diversity and Inclusive Excellence Committee,” states Julie Uranis, Ph.D., Sr. VP of Online and Strategic Initiatives at UPCEA. “McCeil brings a wealth of knowledge to one of the most important leadership groups within the association.”

In her current role as University of Phoenix’s vice president, Accreditation & Regulatory Compliance, Johnson provides leadership and management for the University’s institutional and college-specific accreditation and regulatory initiatives, including institutional, programmatic, state boards, and other regulatory functions. Hailing from Des Moines, Iowa, Johnson completed her education at the University of Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree, and completed her Juris Doctorate at the University of Iowa College of Law.

“I am excited to be selected to work with UPCEA regarding its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives across higher education, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to build relationships with other professionals across higher education with the goal of increasing access and building diverse teams for professional development,” shares Johnson. “As Martin Luther King Jr. stated, ‘An individual has not started living until [s]he can rise above the narrow confines of h[er] individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.’ I welcome the opportunity to participate in this worthy and worthwhile endeavor.”

Johnson is active in diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging work, and is recognized as a leader and subject matter expert speaker. She was appointed in fall 2021 to the University of Iowa College of Law Alumni Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Council, and this fall was elected to serve as Vice Chair of the Council. Johnson has been serving as a speaker on the Women in Automotive circuit since March 2021, giving presentations and guidance on how women can empower themselves and their voices in a male-dominated industry.

Earlier in 2022, Johnson was selected to participate in the Black Leadership Academy Management Accelerator offered by McKinsey & Company, a six month program helping participants enhance functional organizational knowledge, develop a leadership mindset, expand their cross-industry peer network, and providing safe space and time to reflect and share perspectives on personal journeys as a Black leader in the world today.

Committed to professional integrity and growth, Johnson is a member of numerous professional associations in addition to UPCEA, including Association of Title IX Administrators (ATIXA); Council on Higher Education (CHEA); Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE); University Risk Management and Insurance Association (URMIA); Higher Learning Commission, Peer Review Corps (HLC Peer Reviewer); and the Online Learning Consortium (OLC).

UPCEA reviews institutions providing online education and identifies whether they meet seven different Hallmarks of excellence. In 2021, University of Phoenix was recognized by UPCEA in achieving recognition across all seven.

Learn more about UPCEA here.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix is continually innovating to help working adults enhance their careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, and Career Services for Life® help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.

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