Dr. Valerie Ann Johnson is a scholar/activist. She has experience connecting undergraduate and graduate students, especially at HBCUs, with community groups working on health equity and environmental justice issues. Dr. VJ works locally, nationally, and internationally to preserve cultural and historic heritage through service on several statewide and non-profit organizations, including the NC African American Heritage Commission (as Chair), NC Historical Commission; Preservation NC (as outgoing board chair), NC Maritime History Council Advisory Board and National Registry Advisory Committee. Promoting public participation in science research as a board member for the Association for Advancing Participatory Sciences and through grants funded by NASA and the National Science Foundation is a core aspect of Dr. VJ’s ongoing activist work.