News from SUNY Cortland

For more information contact: Jean Palmer, 607-753-2232

Vicki Johnson Appointed Protestant Campus Minister at SUNY Cortland

CORTLAND, NY (07/22/2008; 1131)(readMedia)-- Vicki Johnson of Binghamton, N.Y., was appointed SUNY Cortland Protestant campus minister and executive director of the Cortland County Council of Churches on July 1.

Johnson, who will remain pastor of the First Congregational Church in Chenango Forks, N.Y., has served in that capacity since 2007. She replaces Donald Wilcox, who retired on Dec. 31 after 22 years of serving SUNY Cortland students.

A native of Selinsgrove, Pa., who graduated from Selinsgrove Area High School, Johnson has a bachelor's degree in music education from Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pa., and a Master of Divinity from Drew Theological School in Madison, N.J.

"I hope to bring a ministry of presence to SUNY Cortland," Johnson said. "I want to know people and be known. I am so happy that my office is in the Interfaith Center because I have a passion about being inclusive. No matter what someone's religion is, I want to be a person who can serve as a sounding board or as a companion on the journey."

Johnson was a permanent substitute teacher in the Sidney (N.Y.) Central School District from 2007-08.

As director of connectional ministries in Endicott, N.Y., from 2000-06, she coordinated program ministries on behalf of the 68,000 United Methodists in the region, supervised a staff of seven and coached volunteer leadership. Johnson planned all major conference events, including a three-day annual meeting and oversaw the development of the conference's $2.3 million budget.

From 1992-2000, Johnson was program director at Sky Lake Camp and Retreat Center, a ministry of the Wyoming Conference of the United Methodist Church in Windsor, N.Y. She coordinated a 10-week summer program for 1,000 children, youth and persons with special needs and recruited, trained and supervised 30 summer staff members and more than 100 volunteers.

Johnson was the pastor for an affiliation of churches in Gibson, South Gibson and Lakeside, Pa., called Gibson Charge, from 1988-92.

Among her numerous musical leadership positions, she was the song leader for the Liturgical Artists Retreat and the United Methodist Regional School of Christian Mission and the choral director for the Association of Chenango County Music Educators and the Scranton District Festival Choir.

Johnson has traveled to South Korea, Israel, Greece, Turkey, Scotland, England and Cuba.

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Vicki Johnson