Dr. Brad S. Johnson serves as the 17th President of College of the Ozarks, a nationally
acclaimed Christian liberal arts Work College known as “Hard Work U.” Under his
leadership, the College continues to earn prestigious recognition for its commitment to the
Christian faith, academic excellence, character development, vocational training, and
patriotism.
The Wall Street Journal ranks College of the Ozarks among the top 6% of institutions
nationwide, and The Chronicle of Higher Education has named it a Great College to Work
For. The College consistently earns top accolades in U.S. News & World Report’s Best
Colleges Rankings, and both Money Magazine and Forbes recognize it as one of America’s
premier institutions. Additionally, the College stands as the nation’s only POW/MIA
campus.
Dr. Johnson was elected President at College of the Ozarks after a decade of service at
Southwest Baptist University as Vice President for Institutional Advancement and later as
Interim President. He previously held key leadership roles at Howard Payne University,
Hardin-Simmons University, and McMurry University.
He is active in the Branson community and serves on the Ozark Mountain Legacy Board of
Directors. He is the Vice Chair of the Work Colleges Consortium and Vice Chair of the
Sooner Athletic Conference, Council of Presidents.
Dr. Johnson earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education from Baylor
University, two master’s degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
(Marriage and Family Counseling and Religious Education), and his Doctor of Education
degree in Higher Education Administration from Baylor University. He is a Certified Fund
Raising Executive (CFRE).
He and his wife, Laura, have been married for 28 years and have two adult children
