McNair Scholars Research Conference and Graduate School Fair
October 11-12, 2012  •  University of Delaware

Keynote Speaker

Jeff Johnson
Journalist, MSNBC contributor, and White House correspondent for theGrio.com

Jeff Johnson is an award-winning investigative journalist, social activist, motivational speaker, political commentator and author who has established himself as an authentic voice for change and a trailblazing social entrepreneur.   

Johnson was the only American reporter to interview Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first elected female head of state and Liberia’s first elected female president. He was one of only two news correspondents to interview Sudanese president Omar Al-Bashir, who had not granted interviews with American media outlets for 13 years.

Originally known as BET’s “Cousin Jeff,” Jeff Johnson has parlayed his commitment to making the world a better place into a diverse career, shedding light on the issues that matter most. He has spent the last decade merging the worlds of politics and popular culture, working as senior advisor for media and youth outreach for People for the American Way, as National Director of the Youth & College division of the NAACP, and as the Vice President of Russell Simmons’ Hip Hop Summit Action Network.

He regularly contributes commentary and analysis about important issues facing the nation related to race, politics, popular culture and socioeconomics for news broadcasts and publications and is a regular contributor to MSNBC, CNN Headline News, CNN International, Huffington Post, and the White House Correspondent for theGrio.com.