Cassius O. Johnson

Associate VP, National Education Policy

Contact Cassius O. Johnson

Cassius Johnson leads JFF’s education policy development, advocating nationally for policies that improve pathways to and through college for youth and adults. His work includes advancing policies that improve the educational options and outcomes for the large and growing numbers of low-income youth and adults struggling in today’s economy.

Johnson originally joined JFF in 2005 and played a key role in establishing JFF’s DC operations. In 2010, he testified before the Senate Health Education, Labor and Pensions committee on improving America’s secondary schools.

Before joining JFF, Mr. Johnson was chief of staff for a member of the Texas House of Representatives. He handled legislation focused on enhancing student disciplinary laws, improving alternative education programs, and addressing the overall quality of education available to out-of-school youth populations in Texas. He worked to build a diverse coalition of stakeholders to frame and pursue legislative and policy solutions, including organizing a statewide legislative summit to launch reform efforts.

Mr. Johnson received an A.A. in liberal arts from Bevill State Community College in Hamilton, Alabama, a B.A. in political science and honors studies from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, and a Master’s in Public Affairs from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, where he was a Barbara Jordan Scholar.