Dawn Marie Johnson
Dawn Marie Johnson is a passionate advocate, educator, and community leader dedicated to creating environments where all people can thrive. Serving as a member of the Sioux Falls School Board and Interim Executive Director of Bridging the Gap, she works tirelessly to bridge the gap between potential and opportunity through mentorship, leadership development, and community engagement. With an MSW in macro social work from the University of South Dakota, Dawn Marie combines her lived experience with expertise in policy, program development, and cultural competency to drive lasting social change.
Throughout her career, Dawn Marie has held numerous leadership and advisory roles, including positions with the Governor’s Correctional Rehabilitation Task Force, Southeast Technical College Board, Girl Scouts Dakota Horizons, and multiple justice-impacted and educational initiatives. Her work emphasizes empowerment, equity, and the transformation of systems that serve youth, justice-impacted individuals, and marginalized communities. Recognized as an emerging leader by the University of South Dakota and multiple community organizations, she is also the recipient of the Friend of AFSCME Local 1025 Award and several Tribute to Women nominations.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Dawn Marie is deeply committed to mentorship, storytelling, and human connection. She actively facilitates programs supporting youth and justice-impacted adults, volunteers with Midwest Street Medicine, and supervises social work students, all while balancing life with her partner and children in Sioux Falls. Driven by her personal experiences and a profound understanding of systemic barriers, she shows up authentically to empower others, champion equity, and cultivate communities where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
• Emerging Policy and Advocacy Leaders Series
• School Board Partners Fellowship
• Leadership Breakthrough One
• Author of My Life
• Leader of Tomorrow
• Dreamstarter Academy
• First Aid & CPR Certified
• Emergency Preparedness
• South Dakota Orientation to Child Care
• IBM Cognos Workspace Advanced Relational Authoring and Dashboard
• Life Skills Training Certified
• Suicide Prevention
• Systems of Care Certification
• University of South Dakota - MSW
• Friend of AFSCME Local
• Alumni Achievement: Unleash Your Legacy, Emerging Leader
• Anna and Broady Foundation Scholarship
• USD Alumni Class of 2019 30 Under 30
• WHITE-RILEY-PETERSON POLICY FELLOWSHIP Nomination
• Patriotic Employer Award
• Next Generation of AfterSchool Leader of 2019
• Selected Student Presenter at Native American Health Disparities Conference
• School Board Partners
• Leadership for Educational Equity
• South Dakota Afterschool Network
• National Afterschool Association
• Girl Scouts Dakota Horizons
• Think 3D Solutions
• Levitt at the Falls
• National Partnership for Student Success
• Enemy Swim Day School
• Veteran Affairs
• South Dakota Afterschool Network
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to building strong relationships, drawing on lived experience, persisting through challenges, and fostering trust. As a first-generation college graduate and the first woman of color elected to my school board, I understand the importance of showing up authentically and remaining accountable to the communities I serve.
My areas of expertise include social work, education systems, policy advocacy, prison education, reentry programming, community consulting, and equity-focused leadership. I focus on creating systems that uphold dignity, access, and long-term success, particularly for marginalized populations. Since 2012, I have brought over a decade of experience across social services, education, governance, and community-based consulting, consistently advancing advocacy and systemic change.
Among my proudest accomplishments is my work improving education and governance programs for incarcerated individuals, including serving as creative director on a video project highlighting incarcerated voices and successful reentry stories. Breaking barriers in public office is also a defining achievement, helping to pave the way for broader representation and inclusion. Today, I work as an independent consultant while serving on my local school board, with a professional focus on policy change, reentry support, prison education, community storytelling, and systems-level advocacy that creates sustainable pathways for underserved populations.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received hasn’t come from a single mentor, but from the community leaders, advocates, and lived experiences that have shaped my journey. They’ve reinforced the importance of representation, resilience, and speaking truth to power—especially for those whose voices are often unheard.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this field is to stand firmly in your purpose, build trust through integrity, and recognize the power of representation. Visibility matters—not only for your own growth, but for creating opportunities and paving the way for others who come after you.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field is transforming systems that were not originally designed for equity or inclusion. At the same time, I see tremendous opportunities in storytelling, policy reform, and community-led solutions—especially when the voices of those directly impacted are at the center of the conversation.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide me in both my work and personal life are equity, trust, service, courage, and accountability. I am deeply committed to uplifting others and striving to leave systems better than I found them.
Outside of my professional work, I am passionate about running and mental health advocacy, including participating in cross-state runs to raise awareness and funds for mental health causes. I also enjoy thoughtful media, such as NPR and Michelle Obama’s podcast, which reflect my interests in leadership and social impact.