A native of Harlem and the son of Jamaican immigrants, Ralph Johnson is a seasoned leader in education with over 25 years of experience dedicated to college access, college success, and equity for underserved students. A proud graduate of NYC public schools, Ralph has built a distinguished career spanning college admissions, school leadership, and nonprofit management.

Ralph’s passion for education began early. His first meaningful experience in youth development was facilitating a program called The Brotherhood in Providence, RI, the precursor to The Brotherhood Sister Sol in New York City. This work solidified his commitment to using community-based initiatives to support young people. He then began his professional career at Brown University’s Office of Admission, where he gained valuable insights into the barriers preventing underrepresented students from accessing higher education. This experience led him to leadership roles in organizations dedicated to expanding college opportunities and increasing student success.

At Big Picture Learning (BPL), Ralph played a critical role in college counseling, alumni programming, and academic advising. He developed a data collection strategy that demonstrated a 15% increase in college persistence rates across BPL schools. He later joined the Brown University corps of the College Advising Corps (CAC) as Program Manager, where he led a team of 23, managed grant reporting, engaged with state and local leaders, and helped boost college matriculation in partner schools by 17%.

Building on his success, Ralph joined the senior leadership team at Democracy Prep Public Schools (DPPS), where he led college access and success programs. Under his leadership, DPPS schools consistently surpassed national college matriculation and persistence rates, with students outperforming their peers—particularly those from similar socioeconomic backgrounds—in admission to selective colleges and overall graduation rates. Recognizing the need for a more comprehensive approach to advising and instruction, Ralph spearheaded the development of a four-year social-emotional curriculum that integrates civic engagement, global citizenship, character development, and post-secondary success.

Throughout his career, Ralph has been committed to excellence, innovation, and measurable impact in education. He has successfully managed teams, cultivated strategic partnerships, and leveraged data to drive student outcomes. His ability to build programs that deliver lasting results has made him a trusted leader in the field.

Ralph holds a BA from Brown University and an MPA from Baruch College. He is married and the proud father of three daughters.