Laura Ruth Johnson Northern Illinois University, USA

Laura Ruth Johnson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment in the College of Education at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL. She teaches classes in qualitative research methods, including courses in ethnographic research, interview methods, and community-based and participatory action research. Her research focuses on civic engagement and community involvement among Latino and African American youth, with a focus on young mothers. In her research, she collaborates with staff and students at an alternative high school in Chicago’s Humboldt Park community to help strengthen services and develop initiatives that focus on youth activism and intergenerational mentorship for young parents. Her teaching and research also focus on the creation of community-university partnerships and the engagement of graduate students in community-based research projects.