IMPACT
RAVING FANS Ann(Johnson) ’95 and Eric Johnson ’94 Olivet The Magazine (OTM): How did you first hear about Olivet? Eric: ONU was always my first choice for college, having grown up in the Galesburg First Church of the Nazarene and attending many regional youth events. Our church and district had a strong heritage of students attending ONU, and they mentored and guided me on my journey. Ann: When I was a sophomore in high school, my family started attending a Nazarene church. My pastor and his wife, Dennis W. Foor ’65 and Carol (Moore) Foor Watson ’66, encouraged me to go to ONU. I also attended church camp on the Northeast Indiana district and, while there, I felt God tug at my heart to attend Olivet. OTM: Did any faculty or staff members significantly influence your life or career path? Eric: The chemistry faculty were some of the most compassionate and Christlike individuals in my time at Olivet. Drs. Doug Armstrong, John Hanson ’57 and Larry Ferren showed me how to excel in the profession of science but also be humble and Christlike. Leaving ONU for graduate school, the faculty gave me great advice: ‘Your success in graduate school is not dependent on your prior schooling but on how hard you work.’ I left ONU with a solid foundation to engage in graduate school and practice my faith in the corporate world. After graduation, I obtained my Ph.D. in organic chemistry at Purdue University [and] joined the research and development team at Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati, Ohio, and have been there for more than 23 years now. Ann: My nursing professors, Dr. Paul Dillinger ’71, professor Susan (Odell) Draine ’76 and professor Charlotte (Shugart) Keck ’68, were amazing in teaching the discipline of nursing but also applying Jesus
to our daily lives. I also appreciated Dr. Woody Webb ’86/’89 M.A and the time I spent recruiting with him for ONU my sophomore year. Kimberly (Watson) Campbell ’91 was an amazing example for Jesus as my resident director in Williams Hall when I was a resident assistant. My interpersonal skills grew through my campus jobs, which also helped prepare me for my future in nursing and working with people. After graduation, I worked as a registered nurse for three years on a medical-surgical unit and 23 years between labor and delivery and postpartum. OTM: How have you stayed connected to Olivet over the years? Eric: We have returned for many of our class reunions and have brought our kids, which is how they fell in love with the University. Nathan is a senior majoring in mechanical engineering and Sarah is a freshman studying business and minoring in ministry. Three years ago, I helped start Catalyst ONU, the alumni connections group for the sciences. This has provided new connections for science alumni and propelled student research projects. We are so impressed by how ONU remains relevant to the students year after year. The campus is constantly upgraded to make it look beautiful but also pushed to be on the cutting edge with technology and curriculum. We are proud of the education that we received in the ’90s and even more proud of the education that our children are receiving today. Ann: I love attending Homecoming and any chance to connect with friends from our Olivet years. They are truly friends for life even though we are scattered across the country and world. Also, I love staying connected to ONU through live streams such as chapel, revivals and music events. OTM: What is unique about the Olivet experience? Would you recommend the University to families in their college search?
Eric and Ann Johnson live in Ohio. They are the proud parents of senior Nathan and freshman Sarah.
18 OLIVET.EDU