Noelle J. Johnson
Noelle J. Johnson is a dedicated chemist, public health scholar, and environmental scientist whose career reflects a strong commitment to protecting community health and advancing scientific excellence. Based in New Orleans, Louisiana, she currently serves as a Water Quality Scientist with the Jefferson Parish Water Department, where she plays a critical role in monitoring and maintaining the safety of drinking water for nearly half a million residents. Her work involves testing raw and treated water sourced from the Mississippi River, evaluating fluoride, phosphate, and chlorine levels, and ensuring compliance with EPA and federal water quality standards. As the senior water quality chemist in her laboratory, Johnson combines technical expertise with a deep sense of public responsibility, helping safeguard one of the region’s most essential public resources.
Johnson’s professional journey began in veterinary medicine, where she worked as a Registered Veterinary Technician specializing in critical care, surgery, radiology, and laboratory procedures. Inspired by a family connection to the veterinary field, she pursued an Associate of Applied Science degree before continuing her studies at the University of New Orleans, initially as a pre-veterinary biology student. During her undergraduate studies, she discovered a passion for chemistry that ultimately reshaped her career path. She went on to earn both a Bachelor of Biological Science and a Master of Science in Chemical Science from the University of New Orleans, while simultaneously serving as a teaching assistant and chemistry lab instructor. Her academic and professional experiences gave her a strong interdisciplinary foundation that bridges chemistry, biology, environmental science, and public health.
Today, Johnson continues to expand her impact through advanced study and leadership in public health. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree at Capella University, with an anticipated completion date of 2029. Her work and studies reflect a philosophy grounded in integrity, accountability, ethical leadership, and service to the community. In addition to her scientific expertise in water chemistry and treatment compliance, she remains passionate about education, collaboration, and improving public well-being through science-based solutions. Through her evolving career, Noelle J. Johnson exemplifies the intersection of environmental stewardship, healthcare, and scientific innovation.
• Certified in Public Health (CPH)
• Registered Veterinary Technician
• University of New Orleans - MS
• Deans List
• N.S.L.S
• Phi beta kappa national honor society
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to having a really solid foundation, and by foundation I mean my family. Good morals, good values, good ethics - that's the basis of it. Having that strong family support and being raised with strong ethical principles has been fundamental to everything I've accomplished.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I ever received was honestly to be yourself. I know that sounds very general, but I believe when you're a genuine person, you attract those genuine relationships, and you show genuine interest, and people can see that. When you're a genuine person with genuine interest, people can feel that, and they want to reach out and mentor you or help you find resources. I was also told to get a good education, which was definitely important foundational advice.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice would be to find what you're interested in and go into those environments. Start to network and get to know people, ask questions, be inquisitive. It may be difficult initially, but just putting yourself in that environment, I find, leads you to where you need to be, and the people you need to know. Those relationships and the people you need to know tend to gravitate towards you when you put yourself in those environments. If professors have office hours, go visit, communicate, and ask for help - that's how I was able to get into chemistry. Make yourself known and be present in the spaces where you want to be.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I believe a specific challenge would be someone accepting of her expertise and knowledge. Another challenge is access to resources, particularly mentors in the chemical field or science. When I was starting out at UNO, I really had to be adamant about it, and by sticking with them and fostering relationships with the biology and chemistry professors, I was able to break into the field. You have to make yourself known and be persistent. The field has tended to be male-dominated for a really long time, though in the lab I work in now, it's mainly women. I believe that women are very dynamic thinkers and people, and if we put our expertise in science, biology, chemistry, engineering, or any of the scientific realms, we may be able to make a very big positive impact or change for the future, as well as for other women coming behind us. We need to give them an example that it is possible for us to do the same thing, whether it's engineering or science.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that matter most to me are integrity, great ethics, and accountability. I have to be accountable for a lot because I also help the public, so I have to be credible. Being ethical and doing the right thing is fundamental to everything I do. Having clarity and being a clearly defined person is also important to me. These values apply both personally and professionally.
Locations
Jefferson Parish Water Department
New Orleans, LA 70126