Celerstine Briggs Johnson, Ed.D.: 1934-2023

11/02/2023

Celerstine Briggs Johnson, Ed.D., former associate vice provost at Saint Louis University, died Monday, Oct. 23, 2023. She was 89.

Johnson worked for Saint University for nearly 30 years. She joined SLU in 1979 and retired in the winter of 2008. Johnson served as Saint Louis University’s first Black female associate vice president for enrollment and academic services.  She was also a SLU alumna, having earned her Doctor of Education degree from the University.

“Dr. Celerstine Johnson was an honored Billiken alumna and a valued member of the SLU community,” said SLU President Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D. “She founded and advanced numerous programs that supported the thriving of all Billikens. She was a transformational leader, whose legacy endures within our University and in the lives of all of the students and alumni who benefited from her work. We share our prayers and condolences with her family, friends and loved ones in this time of grief.” 

Johnson graduated from Harris-Stowe State College, now Harris-Stowe State University, with a degree in education in 1955. She began her career in education by working as a seventh- and eighth-grade math teacher for St. Louis Public Schools. Johnson also taught math at Enright Middle School and Beaumont High School. She received her master’s degree in mathematics from Webster University in 1972. 

Johnson made the move to higher education in 1975. She returned to her undergraduate alma mater, Harris-Stowe, as director of recruitment and placement. While at Harris-Stowe, she also served as the chairperson for the Division of Academic Support Services and was an instructor for orientation courses for freshmen students. 

In 1979, Johnson crossed the street from Harris-Stowe and became a Billiken. She initially worked as director of the Student Educational Services Center. The job included providing instruction and support services for students with disabilities as well as non-traditional students. 

Johnson helped develop curricula for a pre-college summer program and an academic support program for non-traditional higher education students. She also served in the administration and development of the Upward Bound and Student Support Services programs at SLU. 

While working at SLU, she completed her doctorate in 1984. 

She was eventually promoted to associate vice provost for enrollment management. In that role, she supervised the TRIO programs for first-generation students as well as programs including the  Monsanto Scholars and the Lumina Foundations Grant. She was the chair for the Martin Luther King Scholars Program.

In 1984,  Johnson founded SLU’s Black Alumni Association, which began as a mentoring program for Black students on campus. She also created the Dr. Celerstine Johnson Book Fund to support TRIO students.

The book fund is open to full-time undergraduate students in any major who are enrolled in one of the collegiate TRIO Programs at Saint Louis University, are in good academic standing with the University, and demonstrate a financial need. Funds for the Dr. Celerstine Briggs Johnson Book Fund are raised through individual gifts as well as revenue from various events. All gifts, regardless of the amount, help students gain access to necessary educational tools. 

She received many awards, including being named the Saint Louis University Woman of the Year in 1992; the Dr. Arnold L. Mitchem Lifetime Achievement Award; the Sumner High School Hall of Fame Award; and the YWCA’s Racial Justice Award. 

Johnson was a member of the St. Louis alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, a member of the Education Bureau of the Charmaine Chapman Society for the United Way, and the past chair of the Board of Directors of the Legend Singers. 

A memorial service will be Saturday, Nov. 18, at at Shalom Church City of Peace, located at 5491 N. Hwy 67, in Florissant, MO.

The wake will be at 9 a.m. followed by the Delta Sigma Theta Omega Omega service at 9:30 a.m. The memorial service will begin at 10 a.m.