AWC Trailblazer – Carolyn Johnson

When Carolyn Johnson passed away in November of last year, tributes were plentiful regarding this trailblazer with an infectious smile.  It was clear she had touched lives worldwide.

Carolyn was national president of Women in Communications, Inc. (WICI) from 1981 – 1982. She joined the organization in 1968 as a student, so it was fitting that she would devote her career to educating communications students. She joined the organization in 1968 as a student, so it was fitting that she would devote her career to educating communications students.

Leading the Way at CSUF

In 1972, Carolyn was hired as the first tenure-track woman faculty member for the newly formed Communications Department at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF).

The staff was very much like a family then, she remembered fondly in an interview with former student and WICI member Cathi Douglas.  “We all took care of each other,” Carolyn said.

As her career progressed, she attended the University of Tennessee to earn her Ph.D., and CSUF leaders showed their extraordinary regard by holding her position open until she returned two years later.

Champion of the ERA

Though “CJ,” as she was affectionately known on campus, had a collegial experience in her own career, it did not stop her from fighting for the rights of women in the workplace.

When WICI championed passage of the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970’s, Carolyn actively raised funds for the campaign.  Her impassioned plea would typically raise hundreds of dollars – even when there was only a handful of people in the audience.

As national president of WICI, she spoke on behalf of women throughout the country.

“They sent me to D.C. several times along with strong professional women like Helen Thomas to testify about the importance of women’s leadership,” Carolyn would tell people.  (Helen Thomas, a member of the forerunner of AWC, Theta Sigma Phi, was the first female member of the White House press corps during the John F. Kennedy administration and covered 10 presidents over five decades.)

Teaching Was Her Passion

Carolyn represented women on many stages, but it never overshadowed her heartfelt desire to teach and inspire students.  “I enjoyed teaching college writers,” she said.  “They had an authentic enthusiasm for a journalism career.  They knew they wanted to write and they went after it.”

Former student and WICI member Cher Knebel remembered Carolyn not only as a “one-of-kind” educator, but as a role model as well.  “CJ had a big influence in the Communications Department, and her presence showed us that as female students we could also be trailblazers in our careers!”

Carolyn retired from CSUF in 2010 after 38 years, but she continued to make an impact as a generous benefactor.  In 2016, she was honored for her support with the dedication of the Dr. Carolyn E. Johnson Internship Office and the formation of the Journalism Endowment Fund.

Giving Back Through Rotary Club

Off campus, Carolyn was among the first women to join the local Rotary Club and serve as president.  “She really built club morale,” said member Ray Kawase.  Ray was her co-author on two global grant applications that were funded by The Rotary Foundation.

One grant built a facility providing medical and educational assistance to impoverished children in Mexico.  The other drilled a well to supply fresh water to a village in Nigeria.  Carolyn visited each site, and in Nigeria was surrounded by curious youngsters who had never seen a white woman.

Carolyn also received a global Rotary grant to teach for a semester at the University of Belize.   While there, she assisted in the start-up of a school newspaper and a student-run radio station.

Courage After Injury

Sadly, Carolyn’s life took a tragic turn in 2013, when she broke her back and neck during a hiking accident.  This is when Carolyn showed her true courage in finding a new path.

“After six months of rehabilitation, she made an amazing recovery,” said former CSUF colleague Andi Stein.  She might have been bedridden, but because of her hard work and determination she was able to sit up in a wheelchair and have some use of her hands and arms.

With her quick wit and ready smile, Carolyn made friends easily at the assisted-living community, and enjoyed many of the pastimes. Incredibly, with the help of friends, she also continued her outside activities at church, Rotary, CSUF, and the American Association of University Women.  And, even though the Orange County Professional Chapter of WICI had disbanded, Carolyn joined other long-time members at annual reunion luncheons.

“Carolyn never felt sorry for herself,” said Ray of her remarkable attitude.  “She was the same person as before and was a joy to be around.”

Andi summed up Carolyn’s resilience, “If we were in her situation, most of us would want to crawl under the covers and never come out.  But Carolyn wanted to build a new life in a new home – and that’s just what she did!”

~ Christy Sims,

Past President of the Orange County Professional Chapter of WICI.