Faculty/Staff Directory
Abby Johnson
912-308-0150
Part Time Instructor
Credentials: MA
| Office Hours: | Abby M. Johnson Middle Georgia State University Phone Number: (912) 308-0150 E-mail address: abby.johnson1@mga.edu Office hours: By Appointment via Online Interactive Classroom- Students are required to obtain the appropriate device(s) to interact via computer in an online interactive classroom -- web cam, headset, or microphone and speakers - NO EXCEPTIONS. NOTICE: Please use the internal course e-mail for general correspondence. I provide my external e-mail address for emergencies only. I cannot answer questions, accept assignments, or discuss grades via external e-mail so please use it for emergencies only. Response Time: Unless you are notified otherwise, I will work to respond to all student questions and emails within 48 hours. Be sure to TEXT ME for an immediate response. |
| Locations: (Campus & Office) |
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| Website: | https://youtu.be/rNUOFtnHNwY?si=vSpknuC0NrYPNd6Q |
| Biography: | Abby M. Johnson is an accomplished sociology educator and social work professional with over 17 years of higher education teaching experience. She currently teaches Deviance and Social Control, Introduction to Sociology, and Introduction to Social Problems at Middle Georgia State University, and also instructs with Bellevue University’s General Education Program and the University System of Georgia’s eCore. Ms. Johnson has held faculty positions at Georgia Southern University, serving in both the Department of Sociology and the Online Interdisciplinary Program. She has designed and taught diverse courses including Aging, Death and Dying, Criminology, Medical Sociology, and Race and Ethnicity, and has mentored undergraduate sociology interns. Her professional background includes work as a Social Work Associate at Georgia Regional Hospital’s Forensic Criminally Insane Unit and as a Clinical Team Associate with Hospice Savannah, experiences that shaped her expertise in gerontology, grief, and social services. Ms. Johnson’s scholarship and outreach include publications, conference presentations, and public programming such as co-hosting Your Mind Matters on WRUU Savannah Community Radio. Her service extends to curriculum development, faculty evaluation, and Quality Matters online course design, as well as active involvement in the Center for Social Gerontology. A dedicated community volunteer, she has led initiatives with the Junior League of Savannah, Frank Callen Boys & Girls Club, YMCA Fit Kids Fest, and numerous nonprofit organizations. Ms. Johnson holds an M.A. in Sociology and a B.A. in Sociology with a minor in Public Relations from Georgia Southern University, and has completed extensive graduate coursework toward an M.S.W. at Savannah State University. She is a member of the American Sociological Association, National Association of Social Workers, and Alpha Kappa Delta International Sociology Honor Society. |
| Syllabi: | |
| Courses: | Deviance and Social Control SOCIOLOGY 4110: This course is a study of deviant behavior from a sociological perspective. The course will focus upon definitions and theories, problems of research, the creation and maintenance of deviant categories, and the development of deviant identities, careers, and subcultures. Introduction to Sociology 1101: An introduction to the discipline of sociology, this course will offer a look at sociological concepts and perspectives applicable to the social phenomenon of everyday life, offering a new, more rational way of viewing human society. Sociologists study the broader social contexts that underlie human behavior. These include the social groups that influence human behavior and the larger society that organizes it. The overall goal of this course is to aid in the development of critical thinking skills and cultural awareness using the sociological perspective, a view of the world. The sociological perspective provides a better understanding of societies and our role in them. |
| Education: (All institutions attended and degrees or credentials earned) | 2007 - 2008 Completed 39 hours of coursework for Master of Social Work, Savannah State University, Department of Social Work 2004 - 2006 Master of Arts, Georgia Southern University, Department of Sociology 1998 - 2003 Bachelor of Arts Sociology, Georgia Southern University Minor, Public Relations |
| Professional Experience: | 2006 – 2008 Social Work Associate, Georgia Regional Hospital Forensic Criminally Insane Unit 1 Savannah, GA 2006 –2008 Clinical Team Associate, Hospice House, Savannah, GA Referral Center Coordinator, Hospice Savannah, Inc. |
| Publications and Scholarships: (Last 5 Years) | Junior League of Savannah, Community Advocates of Savannah, GA, national broadcast, November 2024. Macionis, J. & Johnson, A. (November 2024). Development of Social Problems, presented to Introduction to Sociology course at MGA. Johnson, A. & Wilson, R. (October 2020). What to Expect When The Unexpected Happens: Planning the Unplanned Funeral of a Loved One, Center for Social Gerontology 5th Annual Conference. Smith, Roger & Johnson, A. (October 2020). “As If They Were Your Parents”: Personalizing Client-Driven Senior Programs, Center for Social Gerontology 5th Annual Conference. Harris, Dr. Adam & Johnson, A. (October 2020). It’s a Family Affair, Center for Social Gerontology 5th Annual Conference. Johnson, A. (October 2019). Diversity and Aging Presentation, Dr. Janie Wilson Graduate Seminar, Georgia Southern University. Harris, Dr. Adam & Johnson, A., (October 2019). Keynote Presentation, Aging and Sex, Center for Social Gerontology 4th Annual Conference. Harris, Dr. Adam & Johnson, A. (October 2019). Good Grief: 3 part series. WRUU Savannah Community Radio 107.5fm. Johnson, A. (Accepted September 2018). Good Grief. WRUU Savannah Community Radio 107.5fm. Harris, Dr. Adam & Johnson, A. (October 2018). Your Mind Matters: Chronic Pain and Depression, Center for Social Gerontology 3rd Conference. Stewart, A., Long, J., & Johnson, A. (February 2018). Initiated and led successful advocacy campaign "Eliminate Sales Tax for Feminine Hygiene Products in Georgia" to pass HB 731. The bill eliminates sales tax on feminine hygiene products, a tax that is solely borne by woman who are already economically disadvantaged in our state. Johnson, A. (April 13, 2018). FYE 1220 Faculty Symposium. IDEAS FOR TEACHING A THEMATIC FYE COURSE, Georgia Southern University Armstrong Campus. Johnson, Abby M. (October 2016 and October 2017). Journey through Dying: An exercise in understanding, Center for Social Gerontology 2nd and 3rd Conference. Pino, N. & Johnson, A. (2009). College women and the occurrence of unwanted sexual advances in public drinking settings. The Social Science Journal 46 (2), 252-267. Johnson, A. (2008). The influence of spirituality on bereavement. Presentation at the National Social Work Convention in Philadelphia.. Assisted Research includes: Smith, W. & Hendry, B. (2004) “American Irish in Savannah, Georgia” Pino, N. (2003).“Voter Trends of Georgia Southern University Students” |
| Professional Affiliations: | MGA’s Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning. Accessibility: The Basics workshop by Chiorescu, Corneliu (August 20, 2025). USG Guide to Generative AI Literacy course (August 20, 2025). Momentumu@usg. Bellevue University. Teaching with AI: A practical guide to a new era of human learning, book club, July – August 2025. Alby, Cynthia. (Recorded on October 17, 2023) The Impact of Artificial Intelligence In Higher Ed: Shaping the Change (10/16/23) Cynthia Alby, Georgia College and State University Faculty Learning Community (FLC). Motivation & Assessment: Pilot innovative changes to your online course, University System of Georgia. October, 2021 to April, 2022. Annual eCampus Faculty Conference. University System of Georgia, November 2021 and 2022. Ethics 2020. University System of Georgia. Completed December 7, 2020. FERPA for Higher Education. University System of Georgia. Completed December 7, 2020. Annual eCampus Faculty Conference. University System of Georgia, November 11, 2020. 2020KnowBe4 Security Awareness Training. University System of Georgia. Completed October 23, 2020. Southern Gerontological Society. Poverty, Income Security and Hardship in Later Life: What can we learn from simulation? Presented by Kathie Erwin. Understanding the Role of Financial Capability Presented by Yang Li. July 22, 2020. AJLI. Member Engagement: The Show Must Go on COVID-19 or Not! Covid-19: Building a New Normal. Amber Levy, Senior Vice President, League Initiatives, July 15, 2020. Georgia Department of Human Services. At-Risk Adult Mandated Reporter Webinar. Forensic Special Initiatives Unit, Division of Aging Services, May 5, 2020. AJLI ODI Conference Omni Orlando Resort at Championship gate, Orlando, FL, February 23-25, 2018. AJLI. Your Volunteer Experience Says a Lot About You – Let Your Resume Do the Same! Lakeisha Mathews (licensed career coach), January 24, 2018, https://vms.ajli.org/?nd=resource_detail&resource_id=2666#.WzZmLaknZTY Build a Bridge Foundation of Georgia volunteer training, DIVA Mentoring Program Certification, August 12, 2017. Quality Matters official review by independent QM-certified peer reviewers of online course, SOCI 3135 Aging, May 2017. Centers for Teaching and Technology at Georgia Southern University Quality Matters Rubric Online Workshop Certification, February 2017. 8th Annual Conference on Quality Assurance in Online Learning Portland, OR, October 30 - November 2, 2016. 35th Annual FYE Co |
| Organizations: | Blessings in a Bookbag 2025 AMBUCS Bowlapalooza, 2024 Park Place Outreach, volunteer, 2020-present Junior League of Savannah, 2006-present Frank Callen Boys & Girls Club, chair 2017-2020 YMCA, Fit Kids Fest Chair 2019-2020 Loop It Up, volunteer, 2018-2019 Community in Schools (CIS), Fit Kids Fest Chair 2016-2019 Second Harvest: Back Pack Buddies, Chair 2016-2019 Build a Bridge Foundation of Georgia, DIVA 2016-2018 Girl Scouts of Savannah, 2015-2017 Children’s Hospital at Memorial Medical Center, Chair 2015 Ronald McDonald House, weekly meals 2013-2015 Association for Retarded Citizens (ARC), 2009 |
| Awards and Honors: | 2025 Quality Matters Designing Your Online Course (DYOC) certification 2021 University Team Award of Excellence, Center for Social Gerontology 2020 Junior League of Savannah Volunteer Award, December 2019 Frank Callen Boys & Girls Club Volunteer Award (presented November 21st) 2018 Junior League of Savannah Volunteer Award, June 2017 Achieved Quality Matters certification for online course, SOCI 3135 Aging, among the first ten at Georgia Southern to receive official Quality Matters recognition and certification. 2015 Outstanding Advocate for First-Year Students Award 2013 Women’s and Gender Studies Research and Project Award 2010 Affiliate of the Graduate Faculty Georgia Southern University, Jack N. Aberitt College of Graduate Studies |
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