ENMU's 12th President

Welcome Dr. James Johnston

By Todd Fuqua

Eastern New Mexico University has often been referred to as “the friendly university,” as a family, where even the most senior staff member or administration is approachable, and every student feels essential.

Dr. James and Mrs. Stephanie Johnston

Courtesy Photo

Dr. James Johnston took all of that seriously when he was named chancellor of the ENMU System and president of the Portales campus in January 2023.

“Once I got into higher education, giving back to students drew me to working in administration,” said Dr. Johnston. “We don’t all start in the same place, but we want to show students they can succeed in college and belong here.”

Dr. Johnston understands the apprehension some students feel when starting a university education. As the son of hard-working farmers in the Slaton, Texas area, he and his siblings were challenged by their parents to finish high school. He did that and kept going.

“I remember having doubts about whether I was doing the right thing when enrolling in community college,” he said. “Once I got in, I realized I had that ability, and I look forward to helping similar students get the start they need in higher education.”

Making the jump from a higher education degree to administration wasn’t immediate. His first degree was an associates in radiological sciences. With that degree, he began his career at MD Anderson Center in Houston, Texas. There, Dr. Johnston worked in interventional radiology, assisting with minimally-invasive procedures using x-ray, fluoroscopy, ultrasound, or other means.

In his work, he was part of a team that invented a compensating filter to improve image quality and was convinced to publish his research. It was then that he discovered how much he loved research.

“It convinced me that research was in my future, and I needed more education to continue doing that,” Dr. Johnston said. “I taught radiological physics for many years, and many students told me they understood that subject much better after I had explained it to them.”

Eventually, he co-authored the text “Essentials of Radiographic Physics and Imaging,” now in its third edition. He did so only under the condition that he write it his way.

“I agreed to write the book, but only on the condition that I write it as if I was talking to the student. It had to have a conversational tone,” Dr. Johnston said.

“I was already under contract to complete a fourth edition, so I needed permission from the Regents to complete that. Updating new editions is much easier than starting from scratch.”

Since starting at ENMU in January, the University’s 12th president hit the ground running, traveling to Santa Fe during the New Mexico State Legislative Session to advocate for ENMU and further funding for its mission. In his whirlwind tour of the state’s legislative process and meeting the officials representing Eastern New Mexico, Dr. Johnston said he is concerned with the state’s funding formula and how to secure more of it for ENMU’s many projects.

Dr. James and Mrs. Stephanie Johnston talk with U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernandez during the ENMU Legislative Reception in Santa Fe.

Photo by Rey Coss

Something that struck him was how many Eastern alumni live in the Albuquerque and Santa Fe area and how enthusiastic they are about their alma mater.

“They say they’re ENMU graduates with a pride that’s infectious,” Dr. Johnston said. “When I say I represent ENMU, it’s met with enthusiasm and respect. They all take pride in their degrees and the work we’re doing.”

It hasn’t been all work and no play for Dr. Johnston and his wife, Stephanie. They’ve also found time in their lives for equestrian events and competitions.

Dr. Johnston is highly ranked in a competition known as Western Pleasure, in which horse and rider are judged based on a mutual level of communication. Horses are expected to move through an arena at different gaits without obvious cues from the rider.

“Stephanie has been doing this her whole life, and she introduced me to this,” Dr. Johnston said. “I’ve learned a lot, but she’s a natural. I thought it would be easy to learn, but it’s taken me seven or eight years to work my way to a competitive level.”

Dr. James Johnston and Halo, in preparation for the first of their numerous equestrian events together.

Courtesy Photo

It’s an endeavor just as time-intensive as being a university president, meaning he likely won’t be competing again soon. But that doesn’t mean he won’t be in the saddle.

“I talked to ENMU Rodeo coach Albert Flinn to see if there are some horses we can ride a little bit and get to know,” Dr. Johnston said. “I don’t bounce like I used to, so I’m not looking forward to getting tossed off a horse. But if there’s a horse close by we can ride and have that interaction again, we may do that.”