The love of literature and the opportunity to share her passion with others guided Kimberly Johnson (B.A. ’96) from the Bronx, New York, to The University of Tulsa. “I have always valued and sought to expand my knowledge and understanding of the world through the pages of books,” she said. “As a kid, I read to the children in my Bronx neighborhood and taught several of them to read. I got a great deal of satisfaction from seeing their achievements. That passion never left.”
On campus, experiences in her African literature course with Professor Lars Engle and African American novel course taught by Professor Isabella Matsikidze helped her define her area of interest and led to her starting a book club in 1992 with students from both classes. Another impactful experience at TU came the semester she took a Major British Writers class. Johnson recalls that on the last day, after the final exam, the professor revealed that S.E. Hinton (B.S. ’70), the author of “The Outsiders,” had spent the semester in the class under a different name.
The rigorous course of study in liberal arts sharpened her critical thinking skills, enhanced her analytical skills, and prepared her for leadership. “The liberal arts concentration also trained me to evaluate complex situations, leading to innovative solutions,” she said. All of this, including the emphasis on extensive writing and discussion, strengthened her communication skills and enabled her to convey ideas clearly – all essentials for effective leadership.
Johnson double majored in English and education and turned her two passions into the perfect career. She has worked for the Tulsa City-County Library (TCCL) for 26 years, starting as the first coordinator of the African American Resource Center. She has held seven positions in her career including chief operating officer in 2015 and chief executive officer in 2017, the first Black woman to lead the library, overseeing 430 employees in 24 branches.
During her time with TCCL, Johnson established the library’s first countywide public tour of Oklahoma’s historically all-black towns in 1998. She also is credited with creating the first countywide public reading project, known as One Book, One Tulsa, and led the effort to modernize TCCL’s branches and service offerings to meet the demands of today’s library users.
“One of my biggest accomplishments is offering library services that have a significant impact on our neighbors in Tulsa County,” Johnson said. “I am passionate about empowering library users to achieve their entrepreneurial, educational, and recreational goals. Providing resources that help individuals start a business or earn their high school diploma brings me great joy. Leading an organization that offers these essential services to improve our community’s quality of life is a privilege. Removing barriers and finding more convenient ways to make library resources accessible is a top priority for me.”
Johnson ensures that the library remains relevant and continues to evolve to meet the public’s changing needs. Under her leadership, in 2022, the award-winning library system received a five-star rating, placing TCCL in the top five of 5,359 public libraries in the country.
Johnson recently initiated an ambitious effort to rebuild four of the 24 branches. The Brookside, Rudisill Regional, South Broken Arrow, and Owasso libraries will expand their capabilities for the next generation of library users. When these projects are complete, they will improve library service offerings in three cities within Tulsa County.
She is deeply committed to advancing literacy and access to information through her affiliations with the Dolly Parton statewide Imagination Library initiative, the Oklahoma Center for Community & Justice, Oklahoma Library Association, and American Library Association.
Johnson is married to Tulsa native Earl Johnson (B.F.A. ’89). Their daughter, Ashley Oletu (B.S. ’09, M.S. ’11), is also a TU alumna and is married to Vincent Oletu. Kimberly and Earl are the proud grandparents of Cairo and Nile, and they enjoy spending all their free time with their grandchildren in Colorado.
On campus, Johnson has served on the Kendall College of Arts & Sciences’ Board of Visitors and TU Alumni Association’s Tulsa Chapter Board of Directors. She also serves on the Public Radio Tulsa Advisory Board.