Marcus L. Johnson

Dr. Marcus L. Johnson is a Professor in the Educational Psychology and Educational Research and Evaluation programs at Virginia Tech. Since joining the faculty in 2021, Dr. Johnson has continued to advance his extensive research on motivation in education, with a particular emphasis on how learners overcome misconceptions in science, health, and social studies. Additionally, Dr. Johnson has been deeply committed to advancing research initiatives, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations, and supporting professional and faculty development across the School of Education and the broader field of education.

Prior to joining Virginia Tech, Dr. Johnson was a distinguished faculty member at the University of Cincinnati, where he was honored with the Faculty Exemplary Service Award and recognized as a member of the Academy of Fellows for Teaching and Learning. Dr. Johnson is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association’s Division 15 for Educational Psychology and currently serves as an Associate Editor for the journal Contemporary Educational Psychology. He has also contributed his expertise as a review panelist for the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIHMD).

Dr. Johnson’s research portfolio includes leading an NSF-funded study focused on the motivations of underrepresented students pursuing STEM careers, along with broader investigations into the cognitive and motivational processes that influence students' engagement and achievement across various disciplines. Dr. Johnson earned his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and began his career teaching high school science in diverse educational settings.