Sophia N. Johnson, phd

Political Economist

For more than 15 years, Dr. Sophia N. Johnson (political economist) has been on the frontlines - developing and implementing scalable solutions for inclusive growth, identifying business opportunities and leveraging company assets to solve critical global issues.

Dr. Johnson was appointed Chair of the Green Policy Task Force in the Village of Ardsley, New York, in January 2025. In this role, she focuses on developing, implementing, and advocating for policies that promote environmental sustainability, address climate change, and support green practices. Previously, she served as the leader of Columbia University’s Program for Economic Research, one of the world’s foremost economic research programs. There, she led strategic engagement with key public and private sector partners, developed an institutional grant-making framework, and spearheaded a major campaign aimed at diversifying and enriching the field of economics. Additionally, Dr. Johnson was the host of Columbia University’s Live Economics Series, a weekly webinar that brought together finance and business thought leaders to share their insights on critical global economic issues.

She has taught at New York University, Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), Pace University, and Seton Hall University’s School of Diplomacy and International Affairs. She has also served as Visiting Scholar at the American Institute of Indian Studies (AIIS), the Developing Countries’ Research Centre at Delhi University, Population Research Centre at the University of Kashmir, and the Centre for Development Studies, also in India.

Dr. Sophia Johnson is the host and executive producer of Sustainable Living with Dr. Sophia Johnson, a six-part series that explores practical solutions for a more sustainable future, and premiering on select PBS stations in Spring 2025. Her debut TV series, The Feminist Perspective - examined the economics and politics of women’s rights, received broad acclaim and aired on several PBS stations including WPBS-TV (Watertown), WNED-TV (Buffalo), WCFE-TV (Mountain Lake), KRCB-TV (North Bay), KPJK-TV (South Bay).

A scholar-visionary, she is deeply committed to building inclusive economies, and thereby shaping global agendas and enabling meaningful, enduring impact.