The Asbury University Shaw School of Sciences welcomes Dr. Cheryll Crowe ’03 Johnson in her new role as the school’s dean, in addition to serving as chair of the Department of Mathematics & Computer Science. She previously served as Associate Dean of the Shaw School of Sciences.
“Dr. Cheryll Crowe Johnson has a demonstrated history of leadership competency as a person of faithful character and virtue who is deeply respected by peers and students,” said Asbury University President Dr. Kevin Brown. “The new arrangement in the Shaw School of Sciences is strategically structured for departmental growth and capitalizes on strong faculty leadership within each department.”
Johnson graduated from Asbury College in 2003 with a major in secondary mathematics education. She taught high school mathematics in central Kentucky while pursuing her master’s degree in Mathematics Education and Gifted Education endorsement from Georgetown College. Johnson received her Ph.D. in Education Sciences (Mathematics) from the University of Kentucky in 2008.
Before returning to Asbury University in fall 2013, Dr. Johnson was a professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Eastern Kentucky University for five years. During the 2023-2024 academic year, Johnson participated in the CCCU Women in Leadership Development Institute (WLDI), a yearlong program focused on supporting emerging leaders.
“For the past 11 years, I have been blessed to serve at Asbury alongside the best and brightest scholars, teachers, and researchers,” Johnson said. “It is a joy to now step into this role, set by the firm foundation of leadership from our founding dean, Dr. Vins Sutlive.”
The Shaw School of Sciences recently announced five new departments including Biology & Chemistry, Equine Studies, Exercise Science, Mathematics & Computer Science, and Nursing. Johnson shares about the diversity of majors in the Shaw School of Sciences.
“Students have the opportunity to explore God’s creation through Adventure Leadership, Computer Science, Equine, Exercise Science, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Nursing,” she said. “In each of these academic areas, students learn beyond the classroom walls through travel courses, attending and presenting at conferences, and participating in international competitions. Particularly relevant, the Shaw School of Sciences emphasizes the integration of academic rigor and spiritual formation, preparing students to impact the world for Christ.”
The Shaw School of Sciences offers 14 majors and six minors, including biology, chemistry, and physics. The Walt and Rowena Shaw Collaborative Learning Center (Shaw CLC) offers 11 laboratories, with spaces dedicated to eDNA research, cell and molecular biochemistry, ecology and environmental science, physics, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, instrumentation, biology preparation, chemistry preparation, and collaborative innovation.