Janet Johnson
Professor Janet Johnson, who has recently retired after a long career in legal education, says that she never really set out to be a "first." Nevertheless, her career and accomplishments suggest that it is in Professor Johnson's blood to be a leader to those around her. She was named valedictorian of her high school class, graduated second in her class at the University of Illinois, and, at a time when women comprised only two percent of the lawyers in the United States, she graduated second - in a class that had only six women - from Drake University School of Law in Des Moines, Iowa. Both of her degrees were earned after she was married and had two children.
In 1978, only six and one-half years after graduating from law school, she became the first female appellate judge in the State of Iowa. In 1983, she moved to Westchester County, New York, to become the Dean of Pace Law School. Janet was one of only four female law deans in the country. From 1989 until July 31, 2011, Professor Johnson taught law at Pace. In 1998, Janet was the recipient of the Westchester County Hall of Fame winner.
Leaders come from many different backgrounds. Professor Johnson got her start in a one-room country school, in rural Southwestern Iowa. She was expected to spend out-of-school time working to contribute to the family farm. "I was an only child but we were poor," says Johnson, "and I knew that education was the only ticket out of these circumstances."
Professor Johnson's has a drive which has prompted her activism in a variety of professional service organizations. She served on the Grievance Committee for the Ninth Judicial District for nine years; for four of those years, she served as the Chairperson. She was appointed chair of the Westchester County Women's Advisory Board in 1988, and for three years worked to protect funding for families in need. She has been a member of the Westchester Women's Bar Judicial Screening Committee since 1984. She served on the Westchester County Local Conditional Release Commission throughout its fifteen-year existence, and fought for rehabilitation programs for women that were equal to those historically available only to men. She also served from 1999 until 2007 as the Co-Executive Director for Academic Programs of the Pace Women's Justice Center.
Her advice to women? "Forget that you are a woman and just be who you are: don't let anyone put any limitations or additional expectations on you just because you are a woman."
Janet Johnson
Sister Mary Ross
Evelyn Stock
Camille Murphy
In 1978, only six and one-half years after graduating from law school, she became the first female appellate judge in the State of Iowa. In 1983, she moved to Westchester County, New York, to become the Dean of Pace Law School. Janet was one of only four female law deans in the country. From 1989 until July 31, 2011, Professor Johnson taught law at Pace. In 1998, Janet was the recipient of the Westchester County Hall of Fame winner.
Leaders come from many different backgrounds. Professor Johnson got her start in a one-room country school, in rural Southwestern Iowa. She was expected to spend out-of-school time working to contribute to the family farm. "I was an only child but we were poor," says Johnson, "and I knew that education was the only ticket out of these circumstances."
Professor Johnson's has a drive which has prompted her activism in a variety of professional service organizations. She served on the Grievance Committee for the Ninth Judicial District for nine years; for four of those years, she served as the Chairperson. She was appointed chair of the Westchester County Women's Advisory Board in 1988, and for three years worked to protect funding for families in need. She has been a member of the Westchester Women's Bar Judicial Screening Committee since 1984. She served on the Westchester County Local Conditional Release Commission throughout its fifteen-year existence, and fought for rehabilitation programs for women that were equal to those historically available only to men. She also served from 1999 until 2007 as the Co-Executive Director for Academic Programs of the Pace Women's Justice Center.
Her advice to women? "Forget that you are a woman and just be who you are: don't let anyone put any limitations or additional expectations on you just because you are a woman."
Janet Johnson
Sister Mary Ross
Evelyn Stock
Camille Murphy
