Truman College’s Mike Johns Selected for Chicago Urban League’s IMPACT Leadership Development Program

Associate Dean of Student Services at Harry S Truman College Mike Johns has been selected as a fellow in the Chicago Urban League’s 12th Class of the IMPACT Leadership Development Program.

The nine-month program brings together 47 mid-to-senior career professionals from across industries to strengthen their leadership skills, expand their networks, and build strategies to address challenges facing the Chicago community.

Johns has worked at City Colleges since 2013, when he began his career at Olive-Harvey College as the Male Mentoring Coordinator. After a few years away, he returned as Student Activities Director at Kennedy-King College before joining Truman College as Associate Dean in 2024.

In his current role, Johns is a champion for students, committed to motivating them to reach their goals and supporting them through challenges.

“I see a lot of myself in our students,” Johns shared. “They just need people to champion them wherever they are in their path to success—and I want to be that person for them.”

Fellows participate in monthly workshops, leadership assessments, and a capstone project while working closely with senior business and civic leaders who serve as mentors. Once he completes the nine-month program, Johns will join a network of nearly 450 IMPACT alumni who now shape Chicago’s civic, corporate, and nonprofit landscapes.

For Johns, being selected for the program is both exciting and humbling.

“It still feels surreal,” he said. “To be in a room with so many talented leaders across Chicago is inspiring. I’m looking forward to learning from their experiences and bringing back new ideas, resources, and insights that will benefit Truman students and the broader City Colleges community.”