Author and psychologist to speak in chapel

Doug Johnson, author and psychologist from Yakima, Wash., will speak in Northwestern College’s chapel service on Monday, March 17, at 10:05 a.m. and Tuesday, March 18, at 11:05 a.m. The events are free and open to the public.

Johnson teaches high school English to at-risk youth while advocating for issues in poverty on a scholarly level. As executive director of Cave Moon Press, he publishes poem anthologies that feature emerging writers while providing support to nonprofit organizations that reach out to underserved populations. Johnson is also a worship leader, artist, novelist of social fiction, illustrator, and composer of symphonic music for church and African ethnic pieces. A graduate of Heritage University in Toppenish, Wash., he earned a doctorate in educational psychology from Capella University.

“I am looking forward to visiting Northwestern to encourage people to embrace being authentically different for Christ, and collaborating on what drives us as North American Christians,” says Johnson. Attendees can anticipate Johnson addressing the subject of domestic violence in correlation with his social justice project called Keys to Silence that benefits the YWCA.

“In his visit, Doug will inspire students to be aware of issues and their world, and consider God’s word in all of it,” says the Rev. Harlan VanOort, Northwestern’s chaplain.

Johnson is appearing under the auspices of the Ronald R. Nelson Scholars and Artists in Residence Program, which seeks to inspire students with scholarship that encourages peace and justice. The program is named in honor of a history professor who taught at Northwestern from 1974 until his death in 1985.