Professor Carla Johnson Receives School Science and Mathematics Association’s George G. Mallinson Distinguished Service Award

Carla Johnson, Ph.D., a professor of science education in the NC State College of Education and executive director of the Artificial Intelligence Academy, has been selected to receive the School Science and Mathematics Association’s George G. Mallinson Distinguished Service Award. 

The award recognizes substantial participation and leadership in the School Science and Mathematics Association (SSMA) over a period of at least 10 years and is awarded based on nominations from past association presidents. Johnson will receive the award during the SSMA’s virtual conference at the end of October. 

Formed in 1901 under a different name, the SSMA is one of the country’s oldest STEM education professional associations. 

“It is quite an honor to be selected for this award, as I was nominated by two distinguished past presidents of SSMA,” Johnson said. “I became a member of SSMA during my doctoral program and have grown with the organization over the past 20 years. It’s one of the most meaningful recognitions I have received during my career.”

During her time as a member of SSMA, Johnson has received the Outstanding Early Career Scholar Award for her article on “Effective Professional Development and Change in Practice: Barriers Science Teachers Encounter and Implications for Reform”, which was published in the SSMA’s School Science and Mathematics journal. She also served as the editor of that journal from 2011 through 2021 and as an elected board member for the organization. 

Throughout her career, Johnson has authored or co-authored over 200 journal articles, book chapters and research reports and books, including the first Handbook of Research on STEM Education.  She is currently serving as the principal investigator on a $6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor that created the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Academy to train 5,000 individuals to assume roles in areas related to artificial intelligence.