Admissions officer and 35-year Columbia employee Peter V. Johnson has passed away.
Most recently, Johnson worked as a special assistant to the dean of Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Aid. But beyond admissions, students knew Johnson as a mentor, as an athletic liaison for the Lions, and as “the kind gentleman with the bowtie who would patiently answer question after question,” according to a Columbia statement issued Friday.
In 2016, Johnson was honored with the Black Alumni Council Heritage Award, which awards individuals in the Columbia community who have made considerable contributions in their fields and in the school as a whole. During his acceptance speech, Johnson said about Columbia: “My 33 years here have been A Love Supreme. You have challenged me, taught me, supported me, proven to me that this is the best college in the world.”
We offer our condolences. Columbia has stated that details are forthcoming about a memorial honoring Peter’s life.
Photo via Columbia College
3 Comments
@Anonymous I had the pleasure of working with Peter as part of the Minority Recruitment Committe in the early 90s as an under graduate student. His committment to understanding the unique experiences of students, especially Chicano(a) students, was genuine and truly appreciated. His impact on my life on many others has been profound. Thank you, Peter! I am truly a better person for having known you. Your influence lives on in all of many, many people you took time to help.
@Anonymous I will miss his gentlemen’s greeting in the morning. He would always bow, such a gentle person..
RIP Peter Johnson
@Alumnus I had the great pleasure of working as a student assistant in the Admissions Office during my time at Columbia. Peter Johnson was always kind, generous, and had a passion for all things Columbia (including our football team during the days when they had a 20+ game losing streak). May he rest in peace.