Krista Johns
Consultant
Krista.Johns@academicsearch.org
Ms. Krista Johns brings to Academic Search a legal mind, a deep affinity for higher education, and a passion for helping others succeed. Through her decades of work as an attorney, advisor, dean, chief academic officer, interim president, and regional accreditation vice president, Ms. Johns has honed a unique skillset that is an advantage in every search.
The daughter of a superintendent of schools who started as a one-room schoolteacher, Ms. Johns grew up with an educator’s heart and sensibilities. Before joining Academic Search in 2021, her career included university and community college instruction and administration, accreditation, law and legal education, and consultation with non-profits and national organizations. Ms. Johns initially practiced law in Illinois, then took a position leading continuing legal education at the Ole Miss School of Law. She later became the chief instructional officer for the state court system as Director of the University of Mississippi Judicial College. Ms. Johns then moved to the National Council (College) of Juvenile and Family Court Judges at the University of Nevada, Reno where she partnered with courts and government officials across the nation, guiding research, instruction, and publications to improve judicial support of families and children, while also holding a teaching load.
After adopting her children, Ms. Johns became senior attorney for judicial education at the Administrative Office of the California Courts. While collaborating with community colleges on credentialling for court employees, Ms. Johns found a system that shared her passion for providing equitable access and opportunity to students of all backgrounds. She became dean of English and Business at Diablo Valley College, and her 20 years of community college experience included Vice President of Instruction and Interim President at Berkeley City College, Vice Chancellor (district CAO and CSSO) for the Chabot-Las Positas Community Colleges, and an appointment by the California Community Colleges system office to support the 26 Bay Area colleges and CEOs during implementation of Guided Pathways. She taught for 10 years as an adjunct business professor. Additionally, Ms. Johns served as Vice President for Policy and Research at WASC-Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, leading the introduction of standards for student learning outcomes, disaggregation of student success data, distance education, and more.
As a consultant, Ms. Johns brings an awareness of the importance of process, access, and focus on institutional mission. In a search, Ms. Johns can be counted on for her in-depth research, open communication, and impressive attentiveness. Ms. Johns holds a Juris Doctor degree from the Chicago-Kent College of Law, and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. She also completed a fellowship with the California Community College Leadership Development Institute at Claremont Graduate University. Ms. Johns is licensed to practice law in Illinois, Mississippi, and California.
