Khadijah Johnson ’13
2025 Alumni Service Award Recipient
The Alumni Service Award is presented to an individual who demonstrates outstanding service to Grand Valley and the alumni community.
Khadijah Johnson has built a career and a calling around strengthening the communities she calls home. From her early days as a Grand Valley student to her current work in Detroit, she has consistently turned compassion into action.
Johnson graduated from University Prep Academy High School in Detroit, a charter school authorized by GVSU. She earned bachelor’s degrees in health communications and public and nonprofit administration from Grand Valley before completing a Master of Public Health degree at Western Michigan University. Johnson's professional journey began with an internship at the UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust, where she discovered a passion for health care access and benefits. In 2019, she joined Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, where she now serves as a Senior Analyst for Operational Readiness.
Outside of work, Johnson leads with purpose. In 2019, she became the Detroit chapter lead for "Hashtag Lunchbag," a global service initiative that delivers bagged lunches and handwritten notes to individuals experiencing food and housing insecurity. Under her leadership, the chapter continued monthly operations even through the COVID-19 pandemic, distributing meals and hygiene kits to hundreds of Detroiters through 2022.
“Khadijah was always the clarion call to get us involved. She exemplifies what it means to get involved and stay involved. That has continued in her alumni service. She's always comes back to mentor students. If you think of pulling people together for service and engagement, that's absolutely Khadijah.”
—
Darius Jordan '13
In 2024, Johnson launched Black Girls Who’ve Lost, a support initiative that creates safe spaces for Black women to grieve while building a new community together. In 2025, Johnson started Grain Giving, a service initiative leveraging sustainability efforts to create accessibility for communities in need.
Johnson, who received the Thompson University Preparatory Academy Scholarship as a Grand Valley student, remains a dedicated alumna, especially in the Southeast Michigan region. She frequently volunteers for alumni outreach events, speaks on panels and offers guidance to prospective and incoming students. Her story has inspired many and her presence continues to strengthen the Laker network.
Through her professional impact and heartfelt community service, Johnson uplifts others and embodies the values of leadership, compassion and service that were instilled at Grand Valley.
Khadijah Johnson Spotlight Video
For more information about the GVSU Alumni Awards, visit gvsu.edu/alumni/awards.